Kat Cole

Cole was born the eldest of three sisters in Jacksonville, Florida, and raised in Orange Park, Florida. Her mother divorced her father (a Vietnam War veteran) when Cole was nine years old, and raised the three girls as a single mother.[4]

Cole received her MBA in 2010 from Georgia State University.[5] She had dropped out of her undergraduate engineering program at the University of North Florida to focus on her global career at Hooters, so she had to take the GMAT and extra interviews to apply.[6] She was only allowed to attend the Georgia State MBA program, since they are one of the few schools that allow experienced students who did not receive a bachelor's degree to apply.[7] She also asked ten CEOs, including Ted Turner, for letters of recommendation to the business school program.[8]

Following her mother's divorce, Cole began working to help pay some of the family expenses.[9] Cole worked at The Body Shop before starting her career at Hooters as a hostess.[10][11]

During her first year waitressing at Hooters, Cole covered varied positions from manager to cook, nearly every position at the restaurant.[12][13] Upon her manager's recommendation as the Jacksonville franchise's best employee, Cole was sent to Sydney to train and motivate the new owners and employees at the opening of the first Hooters in Australia.[10][14] She continued to travel overseas to train employees in Hooters Restaurants abroad.[15]

She became a vice president at age 26.[16] As the vice president of training and development, Cole oversaw the growth of Hooters, from approximately 100 locations and $300 million in revenue to 500 locations in 33 countries and $1 billion in revenue.[10][17]

In November 2010, Cole was hired by Cinnabon Inc., and was named president in January 2011.[3] During the first three years of her tenure, Cinnabon added 200 bakeries, created partnerships with grocery stores and restaurants like Taco Bell and Burger King, and became a global brand in 56 countries.[18][19] Cinnabon's 2013 sales was estimated at a billion dollars.[13]

Cole worked anonymously in several of Cinnabon's retail and production roles during her appearance on the American television show Undercover Boss.[20] At the time the show aired in 2012, she was 34 years old and the youngest CEO to appear on Undercover Boss. Among a number of other awards and accolades,[3] Cole was also recognized by Fortune Magazine in 2013 for its 40 under 40 list.[21]

In the winter of 2015, Cole moved to become group president of Focus Brands, the company that owns Cinnabon as well as Moe's and Auntie Anne's.[22]

Cole in Ethiopia

Cole has worked in Africa for sustainable development of women and children in need.[23][24] She has also volunteered and advocated for many food service related organizations.[3][16] Additionally, Cole serves as a mentor to young women and entrepreneurs.[12]

• A part of the board of directors for the Women's Foodservice Forum[25]
• Motivator of the year award by Elliot Leadership Institute (2008)[25]
• Serves as the chair of the Certification Governing Board for the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF)[25]
• Awarded Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Award (2010)[25]
• Serves as past chair for Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) on the executive committee[25]
• Women's Foodservice Forum volunteer of the year award (2007)[25]
• She has been a chair for many committees and projects of organizations dealing with food service and hospitality[25]
• Ranked No. 40 in Fortune's 40 under 40 top young business stars (2013)[26]

In 2015, Cole became engaged to Daley Ervin. The couple married in 2016 at Burning Man.[27]