As the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Whataburger, Debbie leads restaurant strategy and operations and the 51,000 Family Members who make the brand come to life across its 14-state footprint.
Debbie is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the restaurant and retail industry, most recently as Senior Vice President, U.S. Retail Operations for Starbucks Coffee Company.
Prior to Starbucks, Debbie spent 27 years with McDonald’s, where she served in numerous financial roles and transitioned to operations in 2003, ultimately serving as vice president and general manager in the U.S. Southeast.
Debbie joined Whataburger in February 2023 and is responsible for the leadership of over 970 Whataburger restaurants during a time of great expansion for the brand. As a testament to operational efficiency, QSR Magazine’s annual 50 list recently ranked Whataburger as the fourth-highest chain earning the most per restaurant in 2022.
Whataburger has become a nationally recognized brand growing locations in 14 states with fan-favorite products on grocery shelves in 25 states. This is the most ambitious growth plan the brand has seen to date. That means innovations like the Whataburger Digital Kitchen, new menu items like the Chili Cheeseburger and the Banana Pudding Shake, even adding National Whataburger Day to the calendar. Recent media accolades for the brand include QSR Magazine’s Best Brands to Work For in 2023, and its annual 50 list, ranking Whataburger as the fourth-highest chain earning the most per restaurant in 2022. The brand has risen to #34 in the Franchise Times Top 400 this year.
Debbie holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois Wesleyan University and has previously served on the Women’s Foodservice Forum and other nonprofit organizations.
