Board of Directors | First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc

Kenneth L Pendery, Jr. has served as a director since August 2017 and as Chairman Emeritus of our Board since December 2019. Mr. Pendery has been a key leader of First Watch Restaurants, Inc. for over 30 years. He has been instrumental in evolving the brand from a simple concept into a successful, multimillion dollar enterprise. Today, in his role as Chairman Emeritus, Ken ensures that the company’s principles are upheld daily. He serves as a liaison between First Watch’s management team, board of directors and private equity partner. He is a restaurant-industry veteran with extensive executive experience, including the creation of several restaurant concepts throughout his career. Ken majored in Finance at Indiana University and is an operator at heart.

Chris Tomasso has served as a director since December 2019.

Chris was named Chief Executive Officer of First Watch Restaurants, Inc. in June of 2018 after serving as President since December of 2015 and Chief Marketing Officer from 2006 to 2015. Chris brings more than 25 years of restaurant industry experience to the role, including executive leadership positions at both large-scale public and private domestic and international multi-unit concepts.

Prior to joining First Watch, Chris led national and international marketing efforts for renowned brands such as Cracker Barrel and Hard Rock Café International. He was honored on Nation’s Restaurant News’ Power List in 2017 and named a Top Private Company CMO in 2012 by ExecRank.

Chris earned a B.A. from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and is an active alumna who currently serves on the University of Central Florida Foundation Board of Directors. He was inducted into the university’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media Hall of Fame in 2016.

Michael White has served as director since April 2019. He has served as principal of Advent International Corporation since January 2021. Previously, Mr. White served as vice president of Advent from January 2019 to January 2021 and vice president of TPG Capital from August 2016 to December 2018. Prior to TPG, Michael was a consultant at Bain & Company. He also currently serves on the board of Olaplex, Inc. Michael earned an Honors Business Administration degree with an Ivey Scholar designation from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from Harvard Business School where he graduated with Distinction.

Tricia Glynn has served as a director since August 2017. Tricia has served as a managing director of Advent International Corporation since 2016. Previously, she served as principal of Bain Capital Private Equity from August 2004 to July 2016. Prior to Bain Capital, Tricia was an investment professional with the Private Equity Group of Goldman, Sachs & Co. She currently serves on the boards of Olaplex, Inc. and Savage X Fenty. In addition, she has also served as a director of lululemon athletica inc. from August 2017 to June 2021 and of Burlington Stores, Inc. from August 2012 to June 2018. Tricia earned an AB in Biochemical Sciences cum laude from Harvard College and MBA, with high distinction, as a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School.

Ralph Alvarez has served as a director and as Chairman since December 2019. Ralph is a 40-year veteran of the restaurant industry having served in leadership positions in Europe, Japan, Latin America, Canada and the U.S. He currently serves on the boards of Eli Lilly & Company, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and Traeger, Inc. Previously he also served on the boards of McDonald’s Corporation, Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., Key Bank Corp. and Realogy Holdings Corp. Ralph is an operating partner of Advent International Corporation, a private equity firm. He retired as a director and the Chairman of Skylark Co., Ltd., a public Japanese holding company operating more than 3,000 restaurants, in March 2018. Ralph served as President and Chief Operating Officer of McDonald’s Corporation from August 2006 until his retirement in December 2009. Ralph joined McDonald’s in 1995 and held a variety of leadership positions during his tenure with the company.

William Kussell has served as a director since December 2019. Will has extensive restaurant industry leadership experience as the former President of Dunkin’ Donuts and Chief Operating Officer of Dunkin Brands. He has served as an operating partner of Advent International Corporation since February 2010. Will has also served as chairman of the board of directors of Bojangles’, Inc. from August 2011 to January 2019, and as a director of Extended Stay America, Inc. from June 2010 until June 2016.

Julie Bradley has served as a director since January 2020. Julie has extensive experience in finance, accounting and corporate development. She most recently served as chief financial officer, chief accounting officer and treasurer of TripAdvisor from 2011 to 2015. Prior to TripAdvisor she was CFO at Art Technology Group from 2005 to 2011 and was named CFO of the Year by the Boston Business Journal in 2010. Julie currently serves on the boards of directors of respected brands including GoodRx and Wish and previously served as a director of Wayfair, Blue Apron, Constant Contact and ExactTarget. She is also a member of the board of trustees at Wheaton College and Judge Baker Children’s Center. She earned a B.A. in Economics from Wheaton College.

Lisa Price has served as a director since September 2020. Lisa founded haircare and beauty products company Carol’s Daughter in 1993 with a gentle nudge from her mother, Carol. She began selling homespun products at flea market and then later out of her home. In 2014, the brand was acquired by L’Oreal. To this day, Lisa holds an executive role helping with product development, marketing and creative direction. Carol’s Daughter product are featured on the shelves at national retailers, and she is the face of the brand on HSN. In 2004, she co-authored the memoir “Success Never Smelled So Sweet” which documents her journey from bankruptcy to success.