Bios

Head Noodles.


Kevin Reddy
President, Chairman & CEO

Kevin Reddy joined Noodles & Company as president in April 2005 with more than 20 years experience working for two of the restaurant industry’s most successful concepts. He was named CEO in May 2006, chairman in May 2008 and provides leadership for more than 230 company and franchise owned restaurants in 18 states. In addition, he serves and has served on various nonprofit and for-profit boards of directors.
 
Kevin is focused on growing the concept the right way. He is passionate about creating a “genuine” experience by serving fresh and wholesome food, and building strong personal relationships with guests and communities. Kevin’s vision is evident in the experience being delivered in each Noodles & Company restaurant every day. His high standards and expectations of strategic thinking, aligned with disciplined execution, are critical to successful growth in any economic environment.
 
Prior to joining Noodles & Company, Kevin was Chipotle’s chief operating officer, chief operations officer and restaurant support officer. He was the company’s first hire when it had just 13 locations in one major market after McDonald’s purchased a majority stake in 1998. Kevin was instrumental in designing and building the infrastructure and culture to propel Chipotle to 420 units in 22 states in just seven years.
 
Kevin joined McDonald’s in 1983 where he began as regional controller and moved into positions of escalating responsibility, including domestic field management, international staff management and home office operations positions. While at McDonald’s, he gained significant experience in company and franchise operations, and other critical disciplines including real estate, marketing and finance. All of which aided his successful leadership role as senior regional manager responsible for more than 310 restaurants representing more than $420 million in sales.
 
Kevin’s distinguished career and achievements have been recognized most recently by Nation’s Restaurant News being named a 2010 “Top 10 Who to Watch” executive. At the end of 2009, Kevin was named Restaurant Business Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year for his ability to grow the brand and have success in the midst of a recession – a feat very few restaurant concepts have been able to achieve. Under his direction Noodles & Company also has been the recipient of several notable awards and accolades. In 2009, the company was named a top family friendly restaurant by Parents magazine and one of America’s healthiest fast-food restaurants by Health magazine. In 2008, ColoradoBiz magazine named Noodles & Company a Top Company of the Year award winner. And for several years running, the company has been included on Inc. magazine’s prestigious Inc. 5000 list recognizing America’s fastest growing private companies. 


Keith Kinsey
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer

Keith Kinsey is a seasoned restaurant executive with more than 30 years of domestic and international operations, financial and executive experience. Keith joined Noodles & Company in 2005 as Chief Financial Officer and in 2007 also was named Chief Operating Officer for the company. In addition, he serves on Noodles & Company’s board of directors. Keith is charged with managing the company’s finances and business model, and is instrumental in financing growth and supporting the delivery of exceptional financial results. As COO, Keith is responsible for aligning the field organization with the growth of Noodles & Company through strategically opening new restaurants in proven, developing and new markets. Keith most recently hails from Chipotle, where he served in an operations leadership role. While there, he was instrumental in growing the company to more than 400 units and was directly responsible for building the west coast region from three to 70 units. Prior to that, Keith served as president and COO for Big Sky Bread, and CFO and COO for Checker’s Restaurants. In addition, Keith has held finance leadership positions with both Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald’s. In 2009, Keith was named a CFO of the Year by the Denver Business Journal in the large private company category. He received his bachelor’s of science degree in accounting and CPA from the University of Illinois.


Wayne Humphrey
Vice President of Franchise Initiatives

 
Wayne Humphrey oversees the company’s franchise sales, development and operations. He has 25 years of experience in all aspects of operating both company and franchise owned restaurant groups. Wayne joined Noodles & Company in 2002 as a restaurant manager and received promotions to area manager, market director and regional director of operations prior to leading the franchise team. Wayne owned and operated restaurants for the 12 years prior to joining Noodles & Company. He has also held key franchise management positions with companies such as Pizza Time Theater, Sizzler and Harvest Restaurants.
 


Dawn Voss
Chief Administrative Officer

Dawn Voss is responsible for guiding Noodles & Company’s restaurant development, training, supply chain and restaurant and culinary services, with a keen focus on delivering a brand-building guest experience. Dawn has 25 years of operational, development and training experience with a number of high-growth public and private restaurant companies. She was formerly division vice president of operations with Wendy’s and vice president of operations at Checker’s. Dawn also worked with Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald’s in diverse positions of escalating responsibility. 

Paul Strasen
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

Paul Strasen oversees the Company’s legal department and strategies, including developing and negotiating real estate leases and contracts, negotiating and drafting vendor contracts, handling employment-related legal issues, providing business legal advice, and managing the company’s securities transactions, franchise contracts and compliance, intellectual property and corporate governance needs. Paul is a graduate of The University of Chicago Law School. He was in private practice for 14 years until 1995. Since that time he has worked in the restaurant industry serving as general counsel for Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp., and then as general counsel of Houlihan’s Restaurants, Inc.

The guys in charge, past and present.