Decision Makers
Board of Directors
Eric Houseman’s extensive experience in the hospitality industry includes an 18-year career with Red Robin. Eric directs overall restaurant operations by executing proven strategies and efficiencies that impact business growth and maximize financial results.
Eric’s experience and knowledge includes operations, financial performance, human resources, recruiting, training, franchise operations and facilities. He began his career with Red Robin in 1988, when he served as a bartender at the Bellingham, Wash. restaurant. Since that time, he has been successful serving in a variety of positions at Red Robin including general manager, regional operations director and most recently, vice president of operations.
Eric grew up in Vancouver, Wash., and received bachelor’s degrees in English and political science from Western Washington University.
Eric’s favorite Red Robin Gourmet Burger is the Bleu Ribbon Burger.
With nearly 25 years of experience in law, Annita is currently responsible for oversight of all legal matters for Red Robin, compliance and corporate governance.
Prior to joining Red Robin, Annita was vice president, secretary and deputy general counsel with Molson Coors Brewing Company (formerly Adolph Coors Company). Annita was formerly in private practice, and has more than 24 years experience in law with an emphasis on SEC and public companies work, mergers, acquisitions and corporate law. Before turning to law, Annita was a commercial artist and graphic designer.
Annita grew up in Denver, Colo. and received her bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, Calif., and her juris doctor from the University of Denver. Annita has chaired and served as an officer on several bar associations and Colorado Supreme Court committees; co-chaired Governor Owens’ Task Force on Business Law Courts; and is actively involved with several community organizations.
Annita’s favorite Red Robin Gourmet Burger is the Whiskey River® BBQ Burger.
With nearly 25 years of finance, accounting and managerial experience, Katie Scherping serves as Red Robin's chief financial officer. In this role, Katie oversees all financial aspects of the restaurant company, including financial reporting and compliance, financial planning and analysis, and investor relations. Katie began her career in Denver in the early 1980's as an auditor with Arthur Andersen. She moved on to various accounting positions within companies in the oil and gas industry, including Apache Petroleum. In 1990, Katie joined the Alert Centre, a security alarm monitoring company, where she led the financial team through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy to emerge as a public company listed on the American Stock Exchange. Alert Centre was sold to ADT Security Services in 1996, at which time Katie assumed the position of corporate controller. In 1998, Katie accepted the role of director of technical accounting and internal reporting with Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI). Katie was instrumental in the integration of TCI with AT&T Broadband after their merger. In 1999, Katie accepted a position with Tanning Technology Corporation, an IT services consulting firm. As director of finance and treasurer, Katie led Tanning through an initial public offering and listing on the NASDAQ. In 2002, Katie was named chief financial officer, and the following year led the company as it was being sold to a private equity buyer. In 2004, Katie spent a year at a privately-held company, Policy Studies, Inc. as its controller before joining Red Robin in 2005. Katie was recently awarded the 2006 Jean Yancey Award for Outstanding Women in Business by the Denver chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Denver Business Journal. Katie grew up in Aurora, Ill. and holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University, and is a CPA. Katie's favorite Red Robin Gourmet Burger is her own customized creation from Red Robin honey mustard chicken, no guacamole, no onion, on a wheat bun.
Michael Snyder, the chief executive of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc., resigned after an internal investigation concluded that he misused charter airplanes and corporate expense accounts. According to Forbes.com, the company said the investigation identified various expenses by Snyder that were inconsistent with company policies or "lacked sufficient documentation." Snyder has agreed to reimburse the company for some of the expenses. Dennis Mullen has been named the new chairman and CEO of the Colorado-based burger chain.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. |
Chief Executive |
Current |
| Franchiselawblog |
Chief Executive of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. |
Current |
Todd A. Brighton. Mr. Brighton joined Red Robin in April 2001 as Vice President of Development. He was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer in August 2005. From August 1999 until his employment with Red Robin, Mr. Brighton worked for RTM Restaurant Group in Atlanta, Georgia as Director of Real Estate.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. |
General Manager |
Current |
| Rancho Mirage |
General Manager of The Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Spirits Restaurant In La Quinta |
Current |
| Rancho Mirage |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Restaurant Association |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Dominus Capital, L.P. |
Senior Advisor |
Current |
| Robin Hood Ventures |
|
Current |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. |
Member of Compensation Committee |
Current |
| Quadc |
Partner |
Former |
| Quad-C Management, Inc. |
General Partner |
Former |
| Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania |
M.B.A. |
Former |
J. Taylor Simonton, 63, joined the Company as a director in September 2005. Mr. Simonton was
appointed chair of the Company’s audit committee in October 2005. Mr. Simonton spent 35 years at
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, including 23 years as an audit partner in the firm’s Accounting and
Business Advisory Services practice before retiring in 2001. Until February 2007, Mr. Simonton served
on the Board of Directors of Fischer Imaging Corporation, a public company that designed,
manufactured and marketed specialty medical imaging systems, and served as its audit committee chair.
James T. Rothe , 64, joined the Company as a director in October 2004. Mr. Rothe has served since January 2004 as Managing Director and co-founder of Roaring Fork Capital Management, LLC, which is the General Partner of Roaring Fork Capital SBIC, LP with offices in Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado and Dallas, Texas. Mr. Rothe is a Trustee since January 1997 of the Janus Funds based in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Rothe is a Professor Emeritus of the College of Business at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs where he served as Professor 1986-2004 and Dean of the College 1986-1994. Mr. Rothe was appointed chair of the Company's compensation committee in January 2005.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Roaring Fork Capital Management, LLC |
Managing Director |
Current |
| Roaring Fork Capital Management, LLC |
Co-Founder |
Current |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Giant Partners |
Executive Partner |
Current |
| Confessions |
Business Strategy Consultant |
Current |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| ONEOK, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| ONEOK Partners, L.P. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| ONEOK, Inc. |
Executive Committee Member |
Current |
| Sonic Corporation |
President |
Former |
| Sonic Corporation |
Senior Vice President |
Former |
| ONEOK, Inc. |
Corporate Governance Committee Chairman |
Former |
| ONEOK Partners, L.P. |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| Sonic Corporation |
Board of Directors |
Former |
Richard J. Howell, 65, joined the Company as a director in September 2005 and serves on the
Company’s audit committee and nominating and governance committee. Mr. Howell was an audit
partner with Arthur Andersen LLP for over 25 years before retiring in 2002. Since January 2004,
Mr. Howell has been an adjunct professor of auditing at the Cox School of Business at Southern
Methodist University, and he served in a similar capacity from August 2002 to December 2003 at the
Neely School of Business, at Texas Christian University. Mr. Howell is a trustee of the LKCM Funds, a
group of mutual funds managed by Luther King Capital Management.
Gary J. Singer, 55, joined the Company as a director in June 1993. Since June 1977, Mr. Singer
has been associated with the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Newport Beach, California and has
been a partner in the firm since 1985. Mr. Singer was appointed chair of the Company’s nominating
and governance committee in October 2005 and also serves on the Company’s compensation
committee.
Executive News
-
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Announces Approval for 2010 New Restaurant Development, and Appointment of Marcus Marc Zanner to Its Board of Directors
Stockwatch - 6/03/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Announces Approval for 2010 New
Business Wire via MSN Money - 6/03/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Continues California Expansion with Opening of Brentwood Restaurant
San Francisco Business Times - 6/03/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers to Present at Investor Conferences
Reuters - 5/27/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Reports Earnings for the Fiscal First Quarter 2009
Restaurant News Resource - 5/27/09 - View Story
-
Revenue Up, Same-Store Sales Down at Red Robin
Chain Leader - 5/23/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (RRGB) reports 2nd Quarter ending June 2009 above estimates
Earnings Whispers - 5/22/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Q1 revenue up, but below 'O8
Denver Business Journal - 5/22/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Reports Earnings for the Fiscal First Quarter 2009
Street Insider - 5/21/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Reports Earnings for the Fiscal First Quarter 2009
Business Wire - 5/21/09 - View Story
-
Red Robin Q1 revenue up, but below 'O8
The Denver Business Journal - 5/21/09 - View Story