Cherie started her 25-year restaurant career early, prepping for her New Orleans native grandmother. While working her way towards a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of New Orleans she learned the pizza business, the burger business, the fast casual business, full service casual and fine dining. During her extensive education in the field she realized two passions, the restaurant business and people development.
Cherie settled in New Orleans, Louisiana in the early 90’s. There she worked for Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse and Dickie Brennan’s Palace Café, Copeland’s, and Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro. She held positions as service manager, kitchen manager, Manager of Management Training, Manager of New Restaurant Openings, and then for both companies grew into the Director of Training.
In August 2000 Cherie went back to Al Copeland as the Manager of New Restaurant Openings. At Copeland’s and Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro, Cherie met her mentor Mike Vucurevich. Along with Mike and his team, Cherie assisted in developing a comprehensive Management Development Path that includes supporting people, product and profit systems. She reengineered the new restaurant opening process to effectively reach a 59 day or less up and running profit model. Cherie wore many hats for ACI, also impacting information technology, staff level development, and a company culture shift.
In 2005, Cherie was recruited to Massachusetts to work for the 550-unit chain, Friendly’s as the Director of Training. There she effectively implemented a management development model, revived the training department as one of the company’s leading go-to departments, and re-worked the entire new restaurant opening process. She also began development on the company’s e-learning model.
Cherie joined VSAG full-time in 2006, where she holds the position of Vice President of People and New Restaurants Opening.
