MOD Pizza announced recently that they have added three experienced executives to their leadership team who will support operations and store development as the company accelerates its growth into new markets. MOD is currently operating 14 locations in Washington, Oregon and California with plans to more than double its store base by the end of 2014. The executives joining MOD are:
Brad Baker, Vice President of Design and Construction
Brad joins MOD from Starbucks Coffee Company, where he served as a director of store development managing a range of functions including construction, global special projects, land acquisition, and regional growth and capital strategies. Prior to Starbucks, Baker spent 22 years with McDonald's Corporation in construction and real estate management. Baker remarked, “It is exciting to join a successful local company that is focused on aggressively growing a brand, while remaining committed to creating one great store at a time.”
Greta Pass, Vice President of Real Estate
Formerly vice president of retail real estate for JP Morgan Chase, Greta has spent her entire career in corporate real estate. She brings nearly 25 years of multi-unit retail real estate experience to MOD including 10 years with Skipper’s Fish and Chips, 10 years with Jack in the Box and four years with Starbucks Coffee Company. Greta notes, “I am so excited to join the passionate team at MOD and help build the MOD brand as we accelerate our store growth across the U.S. and beyond.”
Steve O’Neill, Director of Operations Services
Steve has held executive positions with Outerwall, Starbucks, The Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios Japan. As a member of the Starbucks leadership team for licensed stores, Steve was responsible for building the support teams that were critical to growing this division from 500 to 4,500 stores. With a passion for customer experience, Steve remarks “I love that our MOD Squad consistently delivers exceptional service, while maintaining a spirit of individuality that is the essence of MOD.”
MOD brought the “build your own pizza” concept to market in 2008 with the opening of their first restaurant in downtown Seattle. The company was founded by a small group of entrepreneurs led by Scott and Ally Svenson, who were inspired by their love of Italian street-style pizza, coupled with their desire for authentic and affordable fast casual dining options for their busy family. MOD is “simple food for complex times”.
About MOD Pizza
MOD’s artisan-style pizzas are Made-On-Demand (MOD), using organic fresh-pressed dough and signature sauces. Customers can create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of 30 featured toppings, or they can choose from a menu of MOD classics. Pizzas are the same price regardless of the number of toppings and are hand-cooked in an 800 degree oven in less than three minutes. MOD also offers local draft beers, wine, sweet and savory knots, milkshakes, and house-made lemonades and iced teas.
MOD celebrates self-expression, genuine hearts, and individual spirits who are committed to enjoying life’s journey and creating not just a cool place to eat, but an inspired place to work. MOD takes pride in connecting with the local communities it serves by “Spreading MODness”, and in 2013 donated over $20,000 to local food banks, meal programs and shelters.
MOD Pizza operates 14 company-owned stores in Washington, Oregon and California. The company has been recognized as one of the “Top 50 Breakout Brands” by Nations Restaurant News and ranked as a “Fastest Growing Company” and “Best Places to Work” by the Puget Sound Business Journal.
