2025 Headliners Luncheon | Cooking Up Culture: How First Watch Creates Amazing Opportunities for Its People
Event Sponsors
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Date and Time
Wednesday May 14, 2025
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Location
Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club
7650 Legacy Blvd
Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
Fees/Admission
$45 | Manatee Chamber and MYP Members with confirmed reservations prior to May 13
$60 | Future Members and Guests
$60 | Day-of/Walk-In -- Note: based on space availability
$275 | Reserved half table of five with priority seating together
$550 | Reserved full table of ten with priority seating together
$2,500 | Annual Corporate Sponsorship that includes two seats at each monthly luncheon as well as significant exposure throughout the year through Chamber and event promotion.
Cancellations after May 3 must still be paid as guarantees have been made on your behalf.
Contact Information
Carey Miller, 941 748-4842 ext. 113
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Description
You know First Watch as your favorite breakfast, brunch and lunch spot – but did you know this Bradenton-based company employs more than 15,000 team members across 30 states and was recently named “America’s Most Loved Workplace” by Newsweek?
First Watch is also often recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing companies – and its “You First” culture is a critical part of what makes that aggressive growth possible. With a vision to “create amazing opportunities for our people,” First Watch leads by example, personifying a set of values, including the promise to “Be Kind.”
At our May Headliners Luncheon, Karen Sainsbury, VP of Talent at First Watch, will talk about the business of culture – specifically how it impacts recruitment, retention and ultimately, a company’s bottom line. She will explore what makes – and breaks – a culture, and why it’s so important to align your talent experience with your company’s vision.
Karen has spent more than two decades helping restaurants grow and thrive by investing in their people. After getting her start in restaurants, and eventually moving onto the training side at the corporate level, she has dedicated her career to helping others do the same as they explore growth and development opportunities in the field and Home Office. In her current role, Karen leads a team that curates the full lifecycle of the employee experience, including employer branding, building an internal talent pipeline, and talent acquisition.
Embedded within one of America’s fastest growing brands, Karen and her team specialize in talent pipeline strategy, with a specific focus on how employees advance from one position to another so that they can continue to grow and develop at First Watch. She has been with the Daytime Dining leader for more than six years. Prior to First Watch, she held roles within other nationally recognized restaurant concepts, including almost 20 years at Chili’s Grill & Bar.
