Trailblazer Award

 

Rosalyn “Roz” Mallet

President and Interim Chief Executive Officer

Caribou Coffee Company

 

From Cashier, Management Trainer, Manager and General Manager at El Chico Restaurants in Dallas, TX to interim Chief Executive Officer, President and Board member at Caribou Coffee in Minneapolis, MN, Roz’scareer achievements and leadership is an inspiration and model for women and peopleof color in the restaurant industry.

 

Roz’s path to the top has been through a combination of successful careers in both staff functions – human resources and marketing – and operations positions, including development of franchisee operations for Applebee’s. Because of her personal values and how she thinks and acts, she has assured that the organization she is with thinks differently, more broadly and more inclusionary.

 

At Caribou Coffee today, Roz leads the nation’s second largest coffee company in terms of coffeehouses with 432 company owned stores and 52 franchised stores. She brings with her to this role more than 30 years of experience as a leader and visionary in the food service industry.

 

During her tenure at Carlson Companies as SVP of Human Resources, Roz made a significant impact by successfully leading the qualification process and earning recognition for Carlson Companies Inc. as one of Fortune’s “100 Best Places to Work” and “Working Mother’s Best Places to Work.” In addition, she helped transform Human Resources from an administrative function to a strategic business partner, creating and implementing programs which changed benefit offerings, increased retention and ultimately saved money for the organization.

 

Roz’s experience in operations, franchising, HR and training has earned her recognition from a variety of industry organizations and publications. She has been recognized as a “Motivator of the Year” by the Elliot Group, and was featured by Nation’s Restaurant News as one of the “Fifty New Players” and as one of the “25 Most Powerful Women.” She has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hospitality Industry Diversity Institute and an Honorary Doctorate of Food Service by the National Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers.

 

She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association and is the Lead Director on the board of Share Our Strength, a national organization whose mission is to end childhood hunger. She has

also served on the Advisory Board of People Report, as President of the Roundtable for Women in Foodservice and Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry Skill Standards Board.