About Kat

Kat Cole is Vice President of Training and Development for Hooters of America, Inc., the international and privately held corporation, which operates and franchises restaurants, manages the Hooters Brand Entities and generates approximately $1 Billion in annual revenue. She reports directly to the CEO as a member of the Executive Team and has directed projects, departments and initiatives with budgets ranging from $30,000 to $5 million, contributing to growth of brand extensions and restaurant units to the current 460+ in 27 countries.

Ms. Cole has over a decade of multi-disciplined experience in Change Management, Communications, Service, Sales, and Brand & Organizational Leadership and is a featured speaker and panelist on these topics for various industries, associations and universities. As a results-focused executive, Ms. Cole has successfully created and evolved relevant, cost effective training and development programs, contributing to increased sales, profits and talent retention. She has played a key role in research, strategy and integration for various non-traditional brand extensions and revenue-building initiatives, has led training on 4 continents, and was instrumental in evolving Hooters’ Corporate Universities and Development Programs for International and Domestic Operations. She created Hooters of America, Inc.’s Diversity and Inclusion Training, founded the Hooters Women’s Forum and developed various Hooters University workshops for International and Domestic Operations. She partnered with her executive team to lead research, training and communication strategy for the transition to a “full spirits” business model, currently driving millions in revenue and profit increases across the Hooters system.