Dawn Gillis

Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Golden Corral

Speaker

Dawn Gillis is currently Sr. Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Golden Corral Corporation, one of America’s favorite buffet chains. Her mission? To lead Golden Corral into innovative spaces by leveraging cutting-edge technology systems and applications.

Dawn enjoys cooking, travel and DIY projects and always enjoys watching a good movie with her husband of 30 years.

Early Career and 7-Eleven Tenure:

• Provided technology programming and consulting services to the insurance, travel, and tech industries during her tenure at HP/EDS
• 15 years at 7-Eleven, where she held multiple senior-level roles. She achieved remarkable milestones:
• Technological Integration: She led the integration of over 1,030 convenience stores after an acquisition, streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency.
• Business Transformation: Dawn led the deployment of the Business Transformation Program, which combined logistics and store simplification measures, driving positive change across the organization. She was awarded with the recognition of being one of the BIG 3 contributors to the 7-Eleven organization.
• Centralized Support: She centralized technology services support functions for all 7-Eleven locations in North America, ensuring seamless operations.
• Top Women in Convenience: In 2018, Dawn was recognized as one of only five recipients of the prestigious Top Women in Convenience award.

Freebirds World Burrito and Torchy’s Tacos:

• As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Tavistock Freebirds, LLC, Dawn navigated turbulent market conditions, transforming Freebirds World Burrito’s technological infrastructure. Her efforts maximized sales efficiencies and improved customer service.
• At Torchy’s Tacos, she faced the unprecedented challenge of evolving the brand during a global pandemic. Dawn successfully transitioned Torchy’s business model from 20% pick-up and delivery to a remarkable 100% in record time.

Golden Corral and the Future:

• Now, as the CIO of Golden Corral, Dawn Gillis is tasked with:
• Leading the brand’s digital growth strategy.
• Modernizing Golden Corral’s technology stack.
• Positioning the company as a front runner in the ever-evolving restaurant industry.
• Contributing to exciting developments like Golden Corral’s upcoming fast-casual concept, Homeward Kitchen.