Room for Seconds Turns One: 5 Unforgettable Moments from a Yea…

Room For Seconds

Room for Seconds Turns One: 5 Unforgettable Moments from a Year of Game-Changing Conversations

April 16, 2025

We’ve hit a major milestone—one full year of Room for Seconds—and to celebrate, we’re bringing you five unforgettable moments from the past 53 episodes that showcase the grit, growth, and game-changing ideas shaping the restaurant industry.

From Super Bowl champ turned restaurateur to the minds behind Big Chicken and Badass Breakfast Burritos, these conversations are packed with leadership insights, brand-building wisdom, and stories you won’t want to miss.

Takeaways:

Indulging in High-Quality Treats - Super Bowl Champion Ndamukong Suh has successfully pivoted from dominating the NFL to building an impressive entrepreneurial portfolio. One standout move? Investing in Kinnamōns, a cinnamon roll concept focused on premium ingredients and indulgent quality without compromise.
Preserving Core Values in Virtual Brands - As co-founder of Dog Haus and visionary behind The Absolute Brands, André Vener has pioneered a new approach to virtual restaurants—one that doesn’t sacrifice brand DNA for the sake of scale.
Reaping the Rewards of Good Mentorship - Hospitality veteran Amy Hom dropped one of the most powerful leadership lessons of the season—mentorship isn’t about control, it’s about growth. She shared a story of supporting a regional director through a tough promotion decision. The experience didn’t just teach leadership lessons—it shaped a future VP.
Jimmy John’s Influence - In this heartfelt episode, Bob Norman reflects on his deep-rooted journey at Jimmy John’s and the mentorship he received from founder Jimmy John Liautaud. Beyond business, Jimmy’s hands-on support and generosity shaped Bob’s outlook on leadership and loyalty.
Listen and Learn From Your Customers - Sam Stanovich, Senior VP of Franchise Leadership at Big Chicken, opened up about how Shaquille O’Neal built the brand with humility, letting the food speak for itself. But it was the customers who brought Shaq’s story back into the spotlight.

Episode Links:

About Ndamukong

Ndamukong Suh is a household name for sports fans across the country. His tenacious approach and domination on the defensive line both in college at the University of Nebraska and the NFL afforded him a 13 year career that saw him reach five Pro Bowls, named to the All Pro team five times, win Defensive Player of the Year, a member of the 2010s All Decade team, and a Superbowl. As a youngster in Portland, Oregon, Suh knew early that he wanted a life beyond football. Now, as a businessman, he is the Founder of House of Spears Management and the Generals Restaurant Group. Suh currently resides in Portland with his wife and twin boys.

About Andre Vener

André Vener co-founded Dog Haus in April 2010 with his two business partners, aiming to transform stadium food classics into gourmet delights. Over the past decade, Dog Haus has grown from its roots in Pasadena, California, to nearly 50 locations nationwide. Vener and his partners have driven the brand's expansion through strategic alliances with top ghost kitchen networks, a partnership with Live Nation, and the creation of The Absolute Brands—a collection of virtual restaurant concepts featuring popular Dog Haus menu items like the Bad Mutha Clucka.

Before Dog Haus, Vener was the executive producer at Pasadena Entertainment, organizing events at notable venues such as The Rose Bowl and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. He also founded redwhite+bluezz, an acclaimed restaurant and jazz club, and served as CEO and president of the California Philharmonic for a decade, leading performances at venues like the Walt Disney Concert Hall. As a recognized restaurant industry expert, Vener has been featured on CNN, FOX News Channel, and MSNBC, and his work with Dog Haus has been highlighted in Entrepreneur magazine and Food & Wine.

About Amy Hom

Amy Hom brings over 25 years of impactful leadership in the restaurant industry and technology innovation space, Amy is currently the COO at Barcelona Wine Bar. Previously, Amy served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer for Bluestone Lane, where she played a pivotal role in shaping operational strategies and fostering a culture of excellence. Before her tenure at Bluestone Lane, she held the position of Executive Vice President of North American Retail and Kitchens at REEF Technology, where she led transformative initiatives to convert static neighborhood spaces into dynamic community hubs, including building a food safety team, training department, and an operational excellence strategy.

With a keen eye for operational efficiency and a passion for nurturing talent, Amy has contributed in key leadership positions at prominent restaurant brands. She served as the Vice President of Operations at sweetgreen, providing operational support to over 100 locations. In her role as VP of Operations for Red Robin saw her instrumental in the development of over 250 locations internationally. Amy's journey also includes significant contributions to Wolfgang Puck's Compass Group, where she served as the Senior Director of Operations.

Committed to fostering the next generation of industry leaders, Amy founded the LEAD program in 2019, providing education and mentorship to emerging talent. Her dedication to industry development extends to her involvement with the GLEAM Network, where she serves on the Board of Directors.

Amy's thought leadership and contributions to the industry have been recognized through numerous accolades, including the Top 30 in Tech award and being named one of the 30 Top Women in Food by Lunchbox. She is the Chair of the Lunchbox Advisory Council where she focuses on connecting tech with what the end users need in the hospitality space as well as sitting on the Fast Casual Industry Council. Amy's unique blend of industry expertise, strategic leadership, and dedication to excellence make her a valuable addition to the Barcelona Wine Bar team.

About Bob Norman

Bob Norman is a seasoned restaurant operations expert best known for his influential tenure at Jimmy John’s, where he played a key role in scaling one of the most iconic sandwich chains in the country. With a deep understanding of operational systems, leadership development, and franchise support, Bob helped build a culture of speed, simplicity, and relentless execution.

Starting his journey on the ground floor and rising through the ranks, Bob worked closely with Jimmy John Liautaud himself, gaining firsthand mentorship from the brand’s legendary founder. That experience shaped Bob’s people-first leadership style and instilled a lifelong commitment to empowering teams, streamlining systems, and never losing sight of the guest experience.

During his time at Jimmy John’s, Bob was instrumental in refining store-level processes, driving franchisee success, and helping the brand expand nationally. His legacy is marked not only by operational excellence but by the close relationships he built—with colleagues, franchisees, and the leadership team alike.

Today, Bob continues to be a sought-after advisor and mentor in the restaurant world, known for his authenticity, operational discipline, and belief in building lasting business cultures through trust and transparency.

About Sam Stanovich

Sam Stanovich is the Senior Vice President of Franchise Leadership at Big Chicken, bringing extensive experience in the restaurant and franchising industries. He has a background as a Firehouse Subs franchisee and area developer in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Prior to his franchising career, Stanovich spent nearly a decade with the National Restaurant Association, helping shape the strategic direction of partner products. He is also the co-host of "The Takeout, a Delivery and Catering Show" on the Foodable Network and serves on the advisory board for the Illinois Restaurant Association. With his deep industry knowledge, Sam plays a key role in Big Chicken’s franchising initiatives as the brand expands nationally and internationally.

ABOUT GREGG MAJEWSKI:

Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands.

Connect with Room for Seconds

NOMINATE A GUEST — Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us at roomforsecondspodcast@gmail.com or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands

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Room for Seconds is a weekly digital series where some of the most captivating personalities in business, sports, and hospitality join host Gregg Majewski to share stories and invaluable lessons that’ll inspire a generation of dreamers and doers.

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Room for Seconds Turns One: 5 Unforgettable Moments from a Year of Game-Changing Conversations

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