Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Yaeger.
Hi Keith, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After “stalking” Jenny for 18 months (not really stalking), suggesting I’d love to help her grow her Souper Jenny restaurant business, Jenny hired me, as Director of Operations, in January of 2014. The past 12 years have best of my working career, and, along with the most compassionate, talented team, we have grown the business from one location and ten employees to five locations and over fifty staff members. I am proud that Souper Jenny serves some of the most delicious food in the city and has the most caring service of any restaurant around.
Apart from the success of the company, my highlight here has been the growth and work of our 501(c)3 non-profit, The Zadie Project. Jenny founded The Zadie Project in December of 2017 with its mission to help feed and educate children, families and seniors affected by food insecurity in Atlanta. I have been the President of TZP for the past three years and working alongside Jenny, our amazing volunteers, incredible board, and all the groups we provide soup too has been the most rewarding time of my life. I love helping lead our fun fundraisers, such as SoupFest, and The Souper Walk, all to help those in need. We have gone from donating 75 quarts of soup per week to nearly 1,000 quarts per week to children in Title 1 schools, to multiple shelters and pantries in town, and to senior citizens, all facing food insecurity issues right here in our community. The need for healthy, nutritious food is greater than ever, and we are so proud to be making a difference.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing is ever smooth, but as long as you keep “showing up”, willing to take chances and make mistakes and learn from them, things usually work out for you.
One of the biggest struggles was, obviously the time during COVID when we pivoted to a take-out only restaurant. Another challenge, which never goes away is working through higher costs of goods and food.
Finally, learning to grow in a smart, efficient way was strenuous at times. Jenny had one location for 14 years and then we hit the ground running and opened three the first year I came aboard. We knew we had a great product and moved forward with a “copy and paste” approach. We surrounded ourselves with kind, creative, like-minded people and we have been rewarded in ways we never imagined.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the Director of Operations at Souper Jenny restaurant group. I am mostly Jenny’s minion (:)), but I help in all of the day-to-day operations and help oversee a staff of 53. Jenny, our CFO Eric, and I meet weekly to make sure we are all on point with service and food issues, our staff is in a good place and aware of what is expected, review costs and business numbers, as well as plan for any future undertakings.
I am known for a few things…my willingness to show up, no matter the day. time or location, and for my “servant leadership” approach where our staff’s well-being takes priority over all other things. I will do whatever is needed to help the company and all staff. This could be slinging soup, sweeping the dining room, taking out trash, or just checking in with them to make sure they happy and have all they need to perform at highest level. On a lighter side, I am known for my corny dad jokes and for showing up throughout the city in my Spoon Man persona.
One of the things I am most proud of is that our staff’s average length of tenure at Souper Jenny is 9 1/2 years. This is pretty incredible for a restaurant. It has been so rewarding to watch our staff grow not only as employees but as human beings and becoming strong members of our community.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
That by putting other’s needs ahead of mine, willing to show up always, and surrounding yourself with caring, creative, hard-working individuals, will result in an environment that is successful and feel more like fun than work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.souperjennyatl.com and www,thezadieproject.org
- Instagram: souperjennyatl
- Facebook: Souper Jenny
