Sponsored By

Tijuana Flats names new CEO, directorTijuana Flats names new CEO, director

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

August 18, 2009

1 Min Read
Nation's Restaurant News logo in a gray background | Nation's Restaurant News

Ron Ruggless

MAITLAND Fla. Tijuana Flats Burrito Co., owner of the 68-unit fast-casual Tex-Mex chain, named Brian Wheeler, a co-owner of the company, to the post of chief executive, succeeding J. Camp Fitch, who will be chairman.

Wheeler formerly served as chief operating officer. An additional co-owner, Chester Wheeler, remains as chief financial officer.

All three serve on the board of directors and will be joined by Rick Van Warner, president of The Parquet Group LLC restaurant consulting firm of Orlando, Fla.

The company also said this week that Nicole DiPietro, who has been with the chain since 1997, was named vice president for finance and Jeffrey Rettig Sr., who has been with the chain since 2004, was named vice president of human resources. Tony Sperrazza, a 20-year restaurant industry veteran, was named director of operations.

Tijuana Flats has units in Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.