A closer look at 2017 Golden Chain winner Randy Garutti

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Peter Mauss/Esto

Randy Garutti has worked with Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality Group for years as a general manager at Union Square Cafe and Tabla, and director of operations for the group’s restaurants. In 2004, Meyer opened a hot dog cart in New York City that eventually became Shake Shack, now one of the country’s leading fast-casual chains. Garutti became CEO of the restaurant brand in 2012.

Knoxy Knox

Garutti (left) says his mentor and Shake Shack chairman Meyer is “better than anybody in the world, all day, every day, at telling people what’s important.”

Shake Shack

A Shake Shack opening in Christiana, Del., late last year

Yuxi Liu

Garutti speaking at the Shake Shack annual leadership retreat last September at Skytop Lodge in the Poconos.

Mary Costa

Randy Garutti addresses employees during the opening of the first California Shake Shack in West Hollywood in 2016. The company aims to develop a culture of “enlightened hospitality" and gives workers raises well above local minimums in an effort to attract and keep employees, which has translated into better service.

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