Hiring and promotional news from across the restaurant development and design community includes new hires at //3877, CBX, CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, Jack in the Box, Rave Restaurant Group, Smashburger, SONNY+ASH and Toppers Pizza.
D.C.-based //3877 announced the addition of two new hires: Project Manager Samantha Bennett joins the team with previous experiences at Juli Russel Interior Design Group and Cooper Carry in restaurant, hotel, and high-end residential architecture and design. Interior Designer Jessica Matthews graduated Magna Cum Laude in May from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Interior Design and experience interning at KSA Interiors in Glen Allen, Va.
Nan Richardson joined brand agency and retail design consultancy CBX as engagement director, branded environments. Prior to joining CBX, she was West Coast director, business development at Core States Group, a firm specializing in the hospitality, retail, restaurant and corporate sector.
Aaron Ruben was named vice president of real estate and development for CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, operator of nearly 200 franchised and company-owned restaurants, including Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants.
Jack in the Box Inc. promoted Vanessa C. Fox to corporate vice president and chief development officer for the company. Since 2014, Fox has been responsible for all company and franchised restaurant development for the Jack in the Box brand, including construction, real estate and architecture. Earlier this year, she began overseeing development for Qdoba Mexican Eats. She also oversees franchise business development and asset management for both brands, as well as nontraditional restaurant development.
Brett Heinen was named new director of franchise development for Rave Restaurant Group. Most recently, Heinen served as a founding partner and Vice President of Development for the Golden Chick area developer in the Houston region.
Smashburger named Mark H. Ramage its new director of franchise development. He was most recently with Rave Restaurant Group.
Mike Gajdorus was named to the newly created position of director of client experience at SONNY+ASH, a firm specializing in, among other things, creative communication development and visualization services. He started with the company in 2012, serving as a 3D artist for hospitality projects for the studio.
David Biederman was named chief development officer of Toppers Pizza. He most recently served as chief development officer for Smashburger but has held leadership roles at Quiznos and McDonalds as well.