Shari’s Restaurants announce the hiring of Joan Hansen as corporate Director of Marketing. Hansen will oversee the promotional and marketing efforts for not only Shari’s, but also the Coco’s Restaurants and Bakeries, and Carrows Restaurants as well. Shari’s, the Beaverton, Oregon-based family-dining chain brought Hansen aboard in early August to lead the marketing department for all three brands.

Hansen is a restaurant professional with more than 25 years of progressive operations and marketing experience. Her restaurant background includes long-term stints at Mimi’s Café, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse and, most recently, Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery. She is known for taking on large-scale initiatives including curbside take-out, online menu versioning, national sponsorships, comprehensive local restaurant marketing programs, and check-boosting menu redesign projects from concept to launch.

Hansen has won awards at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, including Team Member of the Year, and the Innovation Award at Dale Carnegie. Joan holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton, and has completed seminars in internet marketing at University of California, Irvine, and menu development at the Culinary Institute of America.

“I am thrilled to be part of the ongoing rebrand initiative of these legacy brands,” Hansen says. “The love and passion our guests feel for each is exciting.”

Shari’s CEO, Sam Borgese, adds, “Joan’s wealth of knowledge about the restaurant industry is a tremendous asset to Shari’s, Coco’s, and Carrows. Her hospitality marketing expertise will surely provide a positive experience for all of our guests in addition to guiding our brands toward the success we’ve begun in 2018 and are looking forward to continuing into the near and distant future.”