All Slim Chickens
October 5, 2026
How benchmarking, shared performance data, training and franchisee input shape the next phase of Slim Chickens growth
August 3, 2026
Development Fund Program Invests Up to $200,000 Per Restaurant to Support New and Existing Franchisees Through 2028
Sam Rothschild joined the Slim Chickens team in October 2013. He is a knowledgeable restaurant professional who has achieved superior results within company and franchise-owned locations around the world. A Johnson and Wales culinary graduate, he embarked on his career by owning his own restaurants in his early twenties before hitting his growth spurt into the big brand arena with Metromedia Group. He spent 13 years with Bennigan’s as the Regional Vice President and was then promoted to VP of International Operations. From there, Rothschild went on to become the Senior Vice President at Applebee’s and DineEquity heading up the operations and franchise development teams managing over 500 corporate and 1,500 franchise locations. He eventually left DineEquity to partner with Tom and Greg to help mature and cultivate the Slim Chickens brand. Furthermore, Rothschild has had a hand in pioneering the franchise opportunity and its unique and advanced systems that continue to surpass record barriers.
Erin Kieffer brings more than a decade of international franchise operations and development experience to Slim Chickens, including leadership roles with Ruby Tuesday before joining the brand in 2019. As Director of International Operations, she supports franchise partners across markets including the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia, helping new locations open successfully and existing operators perform at a high level. Erin’s collaborative style and genuine enjoyment of working with franchisees help operators around the world build thriving Slim Chickens businesses.
Mr. Gordon is a founder of the Slim Chickens System and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Co-Manager since our formation in June 2011 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mr. Gordon also concurrently serves as a Director and the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Manager of SC Global (since its formation in June 2019), Holdings (since its formation in August 2006) and a Manager of SCR (since its formation in June 2019), all in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mr. Gordon also served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of HSG from December 2002 to June 2019 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Mr. Smart is a founder of the Slim Chickens System and served as our Chief Concept Officer since September 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mr. Smart served as our Chief Brand/Marketing Officer from our formation in June 2011 to August 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mr. Smart also concurrently serves as a Director and Co-Manager of SC Global (since its formation in June 2019), Holdings (since its formation in August 2006) and a Manager of SCR (since its formation in June 2019), all in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mr. Smart also served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of HSG from December 2002 to June 2019 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mr. Smart now serves as our Chief Brand Officer.
Christina Vaughan is President and Chief Operating Officer of Slim Chickens, where she leads the brand’s U.S. operations, performance strategy, and franchisee support as the company continues its rapid domestic expansion.
With more than two decades of experience in franchising and restaurant operations, Vaughan is known for building strong operating systems, aligning franchise partners, and scaling brands while maintaining a consistent, high-quality guest experience.
She joined Slim Chickens as Senior Vice President of Operations and quickly became a key leader in strengthening systemwide execution and supporting growth across new markets and development formats. Vaughan was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2024 and later named the company’s first President, reflecting her expanding role in guiding the brand’s next phase of domestic growth and operational excellence.
Prior to joining Slim Chickens, Vaughan held senior leadership roles with Sonic Drive-In and Steak ’n Shake, where she worked closely with franchisees and field teams to improve restaurant performance and drive sustainable system growth.
Matt Green has successfully led store development for a high-growth global Fortune 500 company as well as execution of multiple operating formats to include franchising, licensed partnerships, and company-owned. Matt’s passion to enable organizational success through inclusion, collaboration, and team / people development has contributed to a track record of impact.
Matt joins Slim Chickens from Starbucks where he spent 19 years in a variety of leadership roles spanning multiple functions, but most recently serving as Vice President Store Development. His unique and diverse experience brings accretive value to an organization such as strategic vision, AI & data-based profitable growth, and world-class execution.
From 2020-24, his passion for innovating how data intersects with human decision making enabled 444 new stores with annual year-over-year acceleration and improved performance predictability, transformed portfolio health to adjust for post-pandemic norms, accelerated renovations of existing stores while recreating construction workflow to minimize downtime, and championed prototype solutions that embraced consumer behavior shifts toward digital convenience.
Prior to Starbucks, Matt spent a combined 13 years contributing to the success of legacy brands such as 7-Eleven and Albertson’s Grocery.
Matt holds a BS, Business Administration with emphasis in Operations Management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Mr. Ladusky has served as our Chief Systems Officer since January 2026 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From February 2025 to January 2026, Mr. Ladusky served as our Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Information Technology in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From January 2024 to February 2025, Mr. Ladusky served as Vice President of Information Technology in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From April 2022 to January 2024, Mr. Ladusky served as Chief Technology Officer of Pieology Pizzeria in Miami, Florida. From March 2022 to April 2022, Mr. Ladusky served as Vice President, US Procurement & Global Capex for Restaurant Brands International in Miami, Florida. From January 2021 to March 2022, Mr. Ladusky served as Sr. Director, Procurement US & LAC & Global Capex for Restaurant Brands International in Miami, Florida. From May 2020 to January 2021, Mr. Ladusky served as Head of US Procurement & Global Capex for Restaurant Brands International in Miami, Florida.
Mr. Tremellen served as the Vice President of Franchise Performance and Growth for Slim Chickens since November 2024 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From May 2022 to January 2024, Mr. Tremellen served as the Chief Operating/Marketing Officer for Pieology Pizzeria in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. From June 2021 to April 2022, Mr. Tremellen served as Head of Franchising Development for ServiceMaster Brands in Atlanta, Georgia. From November 2019 to November 2020, Mr. Tremellen served as the Head of Franchising for Popeyes North America in Miami, Florida. Mr. Tremellen now serves as Senior Vice President of Operations and Training.
Mr. Markel has served as our Senior Vice President of Finance since February 2026 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From January 2016 to February 2026, Mr. Markel served as Vice President of Finance in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Shak Turner serves as Vice President of Domestic Franchise Growth at Slim Chickens, bringing experience in franchise development, business development and new market expansion. She leads efforts to grow the brand’s U.S. footprint, with a focus on identifying new market opportunities and building relationships with operators pursuing regional and national multi-unit development. Shak’s collaborative approach supports Slim Chickens’ strategy of growing with experienced franchisees across new and existing markets.
Maureen DiStefano brings more than 20 years of franchise development experience to Slim Chickens, with a career spanning leading restaurant and retail brands. As Director of Franchise Development, she focuses on building relationships with prospective franchisees and identifying experienced operators who can grow with the brand. Maureen is passionate about the people behind franchising and the opportunity business ownership can create for generations.