Operations Director and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Specialist in workflow efficiency, staff training, construction management, and reducing variable costs in high-volume units.
Mike Kowalski is a battle-hardened operations expert who began his career flipping burgers and rose to become the COO of a regional fast-casual chain. He specializes in the gritty reality of execution: optimizing labor schedules, reducing food waste variance, and enforcing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that teenagers will actually follow. Mike brings a "boots on the ground" perspective, helping franchisees navigate construction delays, supply chain shortages, and the psychological challenges of managing a transient workforce. His advice is practical, blunt, and focused purely on protecting net margins through operational discipline.