Dave Schmidt, President of Keke’s Breakfast Cafe: I was a huge fan of Keke’s long before I ever joined the brand. I used to go to the location near the north side of Tampa in Citrus Park Mall with my family — we were regulars, going once a week, even while I was running a different casual dining concept.

One thing I always noticed during every visit was how attentive the service was. I was so impressed that I actually tried to recruit some of Keke’s staff to work night shifts at my casual dining restaurant!

So, when the opportunity to join Keke’s came up, it was a no-brainer for me.