In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Lance Juhas.

Lance talks to us about how to build a brand that differentiates itself in market.

Lance Juhas serves as Co-Chief Executive Officer of PIADA Italian Street Food, a position he assumed in December 2024, while also holding the titles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Development Officer. In this expanded leadership capacity, he oversees the company's operations, operational services, and real estate and development strategy, with full responsibility for driving performance, ensuring scalability, and delivering consistent execution across the organization. His role places him at the center of PIADA's growth strategy, where he aligns operational excellence with disciplined expansion to support long-term value creation.

With more than 36 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Lance brings deep expertise as a seasoned operating executive known for guiding multi-unit brands through periods of growth, transformation, and increased operational rigor. Since joining PIADA in 2016, he has been instrumental in shaping the company's operating model, focusing on building repeatable systems, enhancing unit-level performance, and establishing a strong foundation for scalable growth. His leadership has helped position the brand to expand thoughtfully while maintaining consistency and quality across its footprint.

Before joining PIADA, Lance spent 16 years with The Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, where he served as an Executive District Partner. In that role, he led complex regional portfolios, consistently delivering strong operational results while managing large teams and multiple locations. His ability to balance high-level strategy with day-to-day execution made him a key contributor to the company's performance during his tenure.

Earlier in his career, Lance held leadership roles with J. Alexander's and Houston's, where he further developed his expertise in high-performance restaurant operations. These experiences helped shape his disciplined, hands-on leadership approach and deep understanding of what drives success at both the unit and enterprise levels. Notably, Lance began his career working in restaurants at the unit level, an experience that continues to influence his practical, performance-driven management style and commitment to operational excellence.

Lance holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Ferris State University and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

You can connect with Lance here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-juhas-702a044b/