ABOUT SLB OF IOWA 

Mike began his journey with Panera in February 1998, back when the company was still known as St. Louis Bread Co. At the time, there was only one local café in operation for SLB of Iowa—the Davenport, IA location on Elmore Avenue. That café was one of the earliest Panera locations nationwide, and the first to open in Iowa. Today, Panera has grown to more than 2,200 cafés, and Mike has proudly been part of key milestones, including the openings of the 500th, 1,000th, and 2,000th locations.

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Originally hired with the intention of becoming an Operating Partner, Mike was committed to first learning the business from the ground up. After assisting with the opening of the Moline café in May 1998, he joined the Coral Ridge location as an Assistant Manager when it opened in July of that year. Within a few months, he was promoted to General Manager, and later went on to open and manage the Cedar Rapids East café. Mike then served as a District Manager, overseeing operations for multiple cafés including Davenport, Moline, Coral Ridge, Cedar Rapids East, Westown, Urbandale, University, and Sycamore. By the time the 9th location—Cedar Rapids West—opened, Mike had officially stepped into the role of Operating Partner.

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His decision to gain hands-on experience at every level—from Assistant Manager to District Manager—was one of the most impactful in his career. It gave him a deep appreciation for the heart of Panera's business: the café bakers, associates, and managers who serve guests every day.

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What Mike enjoys most about working at Panera is the enthusiastic reaction he gets from people who learn where he works. Hearing how much guests love the brand, how frequently they visit, and which menu items they enjoy most reaffirms the pride he takes in being part of such a beloved company.

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Outside of work, Mike cherishes time spent with his growing family, especially his four granddaughters—ages 6, 3, 2, and 6 months—with another on the way. Whether it's Grandma teaching them to cook or Grandpa indulging their every request, they are a constant source of joy. When he's not with family, Mike enjoys golfing and traveling.

Dave is a seasoned restaurant professional with over four decades of industry experience, including nearly 25 years with Panera Bread. Throughout his career, Dave has been recognized for his exceptional leadership, earning numerous accolades such as General Manager of the Year (three times), District Manager of the Year (twice), and the prestigious Mother Bread Award in 2014.

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Dave is passionate about building strong teams and cultivating a positive, guest-focused culture. He thrives on daily interactions with associates, managers, and guests, and believes in leading with purpose, energy, and a competitive spirit. His commitment to service—both internal and external—is at the heart of his leadership style.

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Outside of work, Dave enjoys quality time with his wife, Bonnie, and their dog, Max. He credits the restaurant industry for shaping his life and continues to find joy in helping others grow and succeed.

With deep roots in the food service industry, Cynthia began her career at the age of 16 as a hostess in her hometown of Dubuque, Iowa. After earning a degree in English and French from the University of Iowa, Cynthia moved to San Francisco, where she worked as an Event Planner for two prominent North Beach restaurants—organizing everything from weddings and rehearsal dinners to a high-profile Nintendo launch party for The Legend of Zelda.

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Cynthia's career journey next took her to Chicago, where she served as a General Manager for an Italian restaurant group while attending the Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago. There, she earned a certificate in Baking and Pastry Arts with high honors. In 2001, she relocated to Des Moines, continuing to refine her leadership skills across various restaurants before joining Panera Bread in 2007.

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Over the years, she has held multiple leadership roles at Panera, serving as both Assistant Manager and General Manager for nearly a decade before being promoted to District Manager in 2016. What she values most about working at Panera is the strong sense of family and community.

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Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, baking, and candy making, as well as exploring nature through plant, flower, and insect identification on long walks.

Jim joined Panera Bread in 2005 and has been serving as a District Manager for the past decade. He began his career with Panera as a Training General Manager, successfully leading three different café locations. Prior to his time at Panera, Jim gained valuable experience in the restaurant industry through various leadership roles at Cheddar’s, where he advanced from bartender to Assistant Manager and ultimately General Manager.

 

With a passion for the dynamic nature of the restaurant business, Jim thrives in environments where no two days are the same. Outside of work, he is an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Denver Broncos. In his free time, Jim enjoys golfing, boating, camping, attending IndyCar races, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Lee joined Panera Bread in September 2006 as an Assistant Manager, quickly establishing himself as a dedicated and effective leader. In 2007, he was promoted to General Manager at the Cedar Rapids Edgewood location. Over the years, Lee brought his leadership and operational expertise to several key cafés, including Iowa City Marketplace, Coral Ridge Mall, and Cedar Rapids Council Street.

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In June 2024, Lee was promoted to District Manager for the I-380 corridor. In this role, he is passionate about driving performance through hands-on leadership, coaching, and leading by example. He takes pride in seeing the positive impact he can make on café culture, team development, and guest experience.

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Outside of work, Lee enjoys hiking with his wife, Jodi, and spending quality time with their two daughters, Liz and Bre, whenever possible.

Justin recently celebrated eight years with Panera Bread, beginning his journey as an Assistant Manager and advancing to General Manager of three different cafés. Over the years, Justin has consistently demonstrated a commitment to leadership, team development, and operational excellence.

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In July 2024, Justin stepped into a dual role, co-managing three locations while also serving as their acting District Manager. In February 2025, Justin was officially promoted to District Manager of the Des Moines North region. In this role, Justin is passionate about making a meaningful impact on team members and café performance across the district.

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What has kept Justin at Panera for nearly a decade is the strong support from upper leadership and mentors, as well as the company’s commitment to career growth and work-life balance.

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Outside of work, Justin enjoys traveling with his family and making the most of time spent together.

Cyndi joined Panera Bread of Iowa as HR Manager on September 2, 2025, bringing with her more than 20 years of comprehensive human resources experience across multi-state operations and fast-paced service environments. With a deep commitment to people-centered leadership, Cyndi is passionate about building strong teams, fostering positive workplace culture, and supporting both employees and managers in achieving their best.

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Originally from Minnesota, Cyndi spent five years in Arizona before settling in Iowa in 2011. She and her husband, Gene, now live in Robins with their six beloved cats—Cookie, Squeak, Moose, Mouse, Luke, and Wally. When she’s not partnering with café teams or enhancing HR processes, Cyndi enjoys fishing, diamond painting, cross stitch, and watching crime and history documentaries.

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Cyndi is thrilled to be part of the Panera Bread of Iowa family and embraces the company’s warm, people-first culture. She looks forward to supporting team members across the state, strengthening operations, and helping maintain a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

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Fun Fact: Cyndi has watched every Gunsmoke episode and movie—and while she’s a devoted fan of classic westerns, she’s equally enthusiastic about Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who.

Emily joined the Panera Bread team in October 2024 as the Recruiter/HR Assistant at the SLB of Iowa Franchise Office. As a longtime customer, Emily has always admired Panera’s mission to serve with warmth, respect, teamwork, and a commitment to high-quality food and service. Being part of a company that aligns with those values has been incredibly rewarding.

 

Emily brings over a decade of recruiting experience across multiple industries, including customer service and hospitality. What she enjoys most about her role is the opportunity to build meaningful connections with a wide range of individuals and the satisfaction that comes from helping others take the next step in their careers. As the sole recruiter supporting over 20 café locations, Emily thrives on the challenge of ensuring each location is staffed with talented, high-performing individuals, and takes pride in contributing to the overall success of each team.

 

As a new mom to her almost one-year-old daughter, Emily truly values Panera’s family-friendly and flexible work environment, which allows her to balance professional responsibilities with the joys of parenthood.

 

Outside of work, Emily is passionate about the arts, cooking, and music. She enjoys relaxing with her two large dogs, watching true crime documentaries, and exploring new places. One of Emily’s most meaningful experiences was traveling to Nigeria in 2022 where she met her now-husband. During her second trip to Nigeria in 2023, she discovered they were expecting their daughter, Naya. Their goal as a family is to continue traveling between countries so their daughter can build strong connections with her extended family around the world.

Ambyr joined Panera Bread of Iowa in September 2025 as the Administrative Assistant, bringing years of experience supporting busy offices, managing schedules, coordinating events, and keeping operations running smoothly. She enjoys learning new things every day and contributing to a welcoming, organized, and efficient workplace.

 

Outside of work, Ambyr is a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs, and Green Bay Packers. She loves spending time with her husband and their three boys, sipping espresso over ice, and cheering on her favorite teams. On a crisp fall day, she can often be found enjoying a warm bowl of Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup.

Tara began her career with Panera Bread over 21 years ago in Tampa, Florida. After five years, she and her family relocated to Denver, Colorado, where she continued her journey with Panera for an additional 15 years. She is now excited to support the growth of the Iowa market and help drive sales across the region.

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Tara values the meaningful connections she builds with her team members, guests, and the communities she serves. She is passionate about fostering strong relationships, sharing Panera’s warm culture, and supporting sales growth across the 20 cafés she oversees.

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Outside of work, Tara enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, their three children—Kai, Luna, and Xavi—and their two energetic dogs, Melody and Willow. She loves traveling and exploring beaches around the world, cooking healthy and flavorful meals for family and friends, and is actively involved in dog rescue efforts. One day, she hopes to open a dog rescue near the beach.

Kara has been a dedicated member of Panera Bread of Iowa since 2009. As Payroll Manager and a key member of the Accounting team, Kara plays an essential role in ensuring accurate and timely payroll operations across the organization. She values the balance her role provides between structure and problem-solving, which keeps her work both engaging and rewarding.

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Outside of work, Kara enjoys spending quality time with her husband, their two children, and their chocolate lab. She especially loves cheering on her kids at their sporting events and being an active part of their activities.

Valerie joined Panera in December 2011 as a Staff Accountant. In this role, she manages a variety of essential financial responsibilities including weekly sales entries, daily bank reconciliations, rent payments for multiple café locations, sales tax maintenance, and food cost invoicing. Valerie also plays a key role in customer service, assisting guests with credit card inquiries and refund requests, and providing ongoing support to bakery-café teams.

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Known for her attention to detail and reliability, Valerie is a valued resource across departments and is committed to maintaining accurate financial operations that support Panera’s continued success. Her favorite menu item is the Fuji Apple Salad.

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Outside of work, Valerie enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, biking, and attending sporting events. A personal passion of hers is visiting as many Major League Baseball stadiums as possible.

Ash joined Panera Bread of Iowa the end of March 2025.  Most recently Ash was the Business Manager for the Sinclair Broadcast Group stations in Cedar Rapids, CBS affiliate KGAN and FOX affiliate KFXA for eight years.  He has been a finance professional for over 30 years.  Prior to that he taught high school social studies, and started the soccer program in his hometown high school and coached baseball.

 

A Michigan transplant to Iowa Ash bleeds Maize and Blue and is a die-hard Lions and Red Wings fan.  He is an avid reader who always has three or four books in progress at the same time.  In his spare time Ash spends his time golfing, swimming, Crossfitting, doing Rotary service projects, and hanging out with his granddaughter.