Denver, CO (Restaurant News Release) On the heels of announcing plans to grow its national footprint via franchising, Chili Shack – the popular Denver-based restaurant chain known for its Mexican-American fare smothered in green chili – has expanded its senior leadership team with the addition of Elizabeth Orona as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
At Chili Shack, Orona will oversee all employees, operational growth, innovation, and franchise scalability across the brand’s rapidly expanding footprint. Her role will focus on streamlining processes, ensuring consistency and efficiency throughout the organization, enhancing customer experiences, and aligning the company’s long-term goals while maintaining brand standards.
Orona previously served as general manager of several Chili Shack restaurants in the Denver area.
“Elizabeth has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of our culture, our guests, and what makes this brand special,” said Chili Shack founder Abraham Olivas. “This promotion is a testament to her hard work and invaluable contributions to our company’s success. I am confident that she will excel in this new role, leveraging her experience and insights to drive operational excellence and elevate our brand to new heights.”
Orona said of her promotion, “I’m incredibly excited to step into this role at such an important moment for Chili Shack. Having worked in the restaurants and alongside our teams in Denver, I’ve seen firsthand the passion behind this brand. I look forward to building on that foundation as we grow, supporting our employees and franchise partners, and continuing to deliver the bold flavors and welcoming experience our guests love.”
The new appointment comes just a few months after Chili Shack announced the launch of its franchise opportunity and plans to expand across the United States. With six corporate-owned restaurants already serving throngs of customers in Denver and Las Vegas, and its first franchise location set to open in suburban Denver in April, Chili Shack recently set sights on opening as many as 100 new locations via franchising across the country in the next several years. The initial growth will focus on select markets throughout other parts of Colorado, as well as Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and New Mexico.
For more information about Chili Shack, visit Chili-Shack.com.