Café Yumm! hired Sarah Mitchell for the new position of Project Manager. Mitchell has 11 years of experience managing various restaurant concepts in California and Oregon. She fell in love with the hospitality industry while earning a degree in Psychology and Social Behavior at UC Irvine. Until recently, Mitchell was the District Manager for an Oregon chain of Italian restaurants.

“I’ve worked in the hospitality industry for 16 years. Great food and service have always been my passion,” Mitchell says. “As Project Manager, I can help Café Yumm! develop and work through initiatives that are all about food and service. When the position came open, I was thrilled to work for a company whose stated purpose, to ‘Nourish Humanity and the World,’ aligns so closely with my passions.”

In another development, Café Yumm! has hired Mike Slaton for the new position of Facilities Manager. Slaton studied business at Minot State University. He has worked in project development and facilities management for 15 years. Most recently, Slaton was a District Facilities Manager for Sears and Kmart stores where he managed a team of technicians and third-party service providers in multiple states.

“I will further develop a preventive maintenance program,” Slaton says. “This is increasingly important as Café Yumm! opens restaurants throughout the Northwest. The restaurants range from brand new to 20 years old, all with different configurations. My goal is that Team Members never have to apologize for something not working properly so guests can enjoy uninterrupted service.”

Slaton adds, “I am also developing a more evolved construction program that will improve timeline accuracy and help lower our costs when building or remodeling units.”

Mark Beauchamp, CEO and co-founder of Café Yumm!, says, “Sarah and Mike were strategic hires who were brought on to help us better serve our two most important customers: the restaurant guests and the franchisees who own and operate Café Yumm! restaurants in 12 cities … with more to come next year.”

Slaton is based out of the Café Yumm! business office in Eugene. Mitchell works in a new office that Café Yumm! opened earlier this year in downtown Portland.