16+ years of progressive restaurant leadership. Now I help restaurant brands scale with clarity, build stronger teams, and operate with excellence.
Caroline Skinner
16+ Years · Restaurant Leadership
“Success is where vision and strategy meet execution.”
I'm Caroline Skinner — a proven C-suite executive with 16+ years of progressive leadership experience in the restaurant industry. I specialize in driving unit expansion, operational transformation, and strategic planning across multi-disciplinary teams.
Most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Tupelo Honey, I built a track record of unit-level expansion, integrating people-first technology, building P&L accountability, driving customer loyalty, and creating high-performance cultures that deliver measurable results.
As a fractional leader through The C Society, I bring financial acumen, operational rigor, and customer-focused strategy to founders, executive teams, and investment-backed portfolios. I'm well-versed in navigating high-stakes moments — leadership transitions, organizational restructures, and critical transformation.
B.A., University of North Carolina Asheville · M.S. Business & Human Resources, Western Carolina University
Connect on LinkedInI haven't just consulted from the sidelines — I've run the shifts, managed the teams, and navigated the chaos of multi-unit restaurant operations firsthand.
Every recommendation I make is grounded in operational reality. I understand the margins, the pace, and the pressure because I've worked within them for over 16 years.
Restaurants run on people. I build systems that empower teams, develop leaders from within, and create cultures where people want to stay and grow.
Inaugural Council Member
FSR NextGen Casual Council
Jan 2023 – Sep 2023
Board of Directors – Workforce Readiness
Western North Carolina Human Resources Association
Jan 2016 – Jan 2017
Non-profit HR Consultant
Homeward Bound Asheville, NC
During WCU Graduate Studies
Three ways to work together — each tailored to where you are and where you're headed.
Operational clarity for growing restaurant brands
I partner with restaurant brands to solve their most pressing operational challenges — from systemizing for scale to fixing what's broken.
Elevate the leaders who run your restaurants
I coach restaurant executives and emerging leaders to think bigger, lead better, and build teams that thrive under pressure.
Delivered through The C Society — hospitality's fractional collective
For brands that need senior operational leadership but aren't ready for a full-time hire, I step in as a fractional COO or VP of Operations — backed by The C Society's network of proven hospitality executives.
From managing single locations to overseeing multi-state operations — every role has deepened my ability to help restaurant brands thrive.
Tupelo Honey
Joined Tupelo Honey to build the people infrastructure needed for multi-market expansion. Designed hiring systems, onboarding programs, and culture frameworks as the brand grew beyond Asheville.
Tupelo Honey
Led the people strategy across all locations during a period of aggressive national growth. Launched the Fair Start Wage and began building the Honeypot employee benefits platform.
Tupelo Honey
Scaled workforce programs enterprise-wide, created the Biscuits for a Cause employee relief fund, and built the leadership pipeline that would support national expansion to 25+ locations.
Tupelo Honey
Led the organization through pandemic recovery, operational restructuring, and national expansion to 25 restaurants across 14 states. Drove initiatives around efficiency, culture, and guest experience excellence.
Caroline Skinner Consulting · The C Society
Advising restaurant brands on operational excellence, coaching executives, and providing fractional C-suite leadership for growth-stage, turnaround, and investment-backed portfolios.
Tupelo Honey Cafe
Where it all started — Asheville, NC
Initiatives I created and led at Tupelo Honey — now part of my consulting playbook for restaurant brands ready to invest in their people.
An innovative guest loyalty program empowering general managers to personally identify frequent guests and invite them into an exclusive experience. Each selected guest receives a honeybee coin unlocking special benefits — building personal connections while driving repeat visits and brand advocacy.
A comprehensive benefits platform including health insurance, mental health resources, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and emergency financial assistance — designed for the real lives of restaurant workers.
Converted Tupelo Honey's signature biscuit into a fundraising engine, directing all biscuit profits to an employee relief fund. Raised over $700,000 for team members facing unexpected hardships.
A year-long mentorship and development program for underrepresented employees, producing a 75% promotion rate and building a more diverse leadership pipeline across the organization.
I partner with restaurant brands at critical inflection points — whether you're scaling, stabilizing, or transforming.
You built something special and you're ready to grow — but you need operational systems and strategy to do it right.
You're scaling from 3 to 30 locations and need someone who's navigated that growth before to help you avoid costly mistakes.
Your GMs and directors are talented but need executive coaching to become the leaders your brand needs at the next level.
You need fractional executive leadership to drive operational performance, prepare for growth, or navigate a turnaround.
“I don't just tell you what to fix — I help you build the operational muscle to sustain it.”
— Caroline Skinner
Industry recognition for advancing restaurant leadership, operational excellence, and people-first culture.
Most Engaging Training Content
LEARN
Business Intelligence Group
Business Intelligence Group
NextGen Restaurant Summit · 2022, 2023, 2025
Building Brand Resilience — Strategies for Navigating Economic Shifts
QSR Evolution Conference · 2023, 2024
Speaker & Panelist
Olo Webinar Panel · 2025
Emerging Restaurant Trends for 2025
Branded Hospitality Media · 2023
Industry Panel Discussions
FSR NextGen Casual Council · 2023
Inaugural Council Member
Articles, press features, and insights on operations, people-first culture, and scaling hospitality brands.
Whether you need an operational audit, leadership coaching, or a seasoned COO on your team — let's find the right path forward together.
Whether you have a specific challenge in mind or just want to explore how we might work together, I'd love to hear from you. Fill out the form and I'll be in touch within 24 hours.
Based in Asheville, NC
Working with brands nationwide
Response Time
Within 24 business hours
Get in Touch
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