Carin Stutz is a public company board director and a veteran C-level operating executive with deep experience in the hospitality and consumer sector. Stutz was previously the President and CEO or COO of several well respected restaurant companies including Native Foods, Red Robin, McAlister’s Deli, Cosi, Brinker, and Applebee’s.
She serves on the board of directors for Kura Sushi, Hawaiian Bros, as well as chair of the board of trustees for Western Illinois University. She is a member of the Fast Casual Industry Council, the treasurer for the Illinois Restaurant Association and a founding board member and treasurer of the GLEAM Network, a mentoring platform for the foodservice industry, and the LEAD committee. She is a member of the Lunchbox Food Tech council.
She is a Past Chair of the Women’s Foodservice Forum; Top 25 Executives in Fast Casual; received the distinguished alumni award from WIU, and was inducted into the inaugural class of the Fast Casual Hall of Fame in 2022.
Stutz and her husband Rodger have two adult sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law and four grandsons. They enjoy music, theater, golf, and travel.