10 First Watch finance leaders
Ashlee Weisser, Senior Vice President Financial Planning and Analysis at First Watch Restaurants, is the most senior of these First Watch finance leaders, a group that also includes directors of accounting and FP&A. A reader can learn how finance leaders work at First Watch from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Ashlee Weisser
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Financial Planning and Analysis · First Watch Restaurants
Ashlee Weisser has been Senior Vice President Financial Planning and Analysis at First Watch Restaurants since October 2023. Ashlee Weisser was Chief Financial Officer at Raney's LLC in 2023 and at Maple Street Biscuit Company from 2021 to 2022, and served as CFO, Outback Steakhouse and Head of Enterprise Analytics at Bloomin' Brands, Inc. from 2020 to 2021.
Blake Hawkes
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Accounting · First Watch Restaurants
Blake Hawkes has been Senior Director of Accounting at First Watch Restaurants since August 2023, working from Layton, Utah. Blake Hawkes also held First Watch Restaurants roles as Director Of Accounting from 2021 to 2023 and Accounting Manager from 2015 to 2019.
Frank Maggio, CPA, CMA, FPAC
LinkedInExperience: Director Finance - Development · First Watch Restaurants
Frank Maggio has been Director Finance - Development at First Watch Restaurants since January 2024. Frank Maggio also held First Watch Restaurants roles as Director Finance - Treasury/Development in 2023 and Director of Financial Planning & Analysis from 2022 to 2023, and was Senior Manager - Financial Planning & Analysis at Publix Super Markets from 2014 to 2022.
Julie Johnson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Accounting · First Watch Restaurants
Julie Johnson has been Vice President of Accounting at First Watch Restaurants since 2014. Julie Johnson was Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at AVI-SPL from 2013 to 2014, Controller | VP Finance at Mister Sparky Electric from 2008 to 2013, and Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis / Director at TriNet from 2002 to 2008.
Katherine Robbins, CPA
LinkedInExperience: VP of Tax · First Watch Restaurants
Katherine Robbins has been VP of Tax at First Watch Restaurants since October 2024. Katherine Robbins held EY roles as Senior Manager Tax Services from 2018 to 2024, Tax Manager from 2015 to 2018, and Senior - tax, state & local income tax from 2014 to 2015.
Kayla Murano
LinkedInExperience: Director of Financial Planning and Analysis · First Watch Restaurants
Kayla Murano has been Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at First Watch Restaurants since August 2026, and also lists a Senior Finance Manager role at the company from January 2026 with no end date. Kayla Murano was Finance Manager at First Watch Restaurants from 2024 to 2026 and Sr. Financial Analyst at Miller's Ale House Restaurants from 2022 to 2023.
Lindsey Schuster
LinkedInExperience: Director of Accounting · First Watch Restaurants
Lindsey Schuster has been Director of Accounting at First Watch Restaurants since August 2023, and also held First Watch Restaurants roles as Director Of Accounting from 2020 to 2021 and Accounting Manager from 2016 to 2020. Lindsey Schuster was Chief Financial Officer at Marduk Asset Management LLC from 2021 to 2023.
Rania Khouri, C.P.A.
LinkedInExperience: Sr. VP Accounting & Financial Reporting · First Watch Restaurants
Rania Khouri has been Sr. VP Accounting & Financial Reporting at First Watch Restaurants since April 2019, working in Bradenton, Florida. Rania Khouri was VP Finance Controller at Hard Rock International from 2017 to 2018 and Head of External Reporting at FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles from 2015 to 2017.
Shannon Zwolak, CPA
LinkedInExperience: Director of Technical Accounting · First Watch Restaurants
Shannon Zwolak has been Director of Technical Accounting at First Watch Restaurants since December 2024. Shannon Zwolak held PwC roles as Assurance Senior Manager from 2023 to 2024, Assurance Manager from 2021 to 2023 and Assurance Senior Associate from 2018 to 2021, and is a CPA.
Tim Garofalo
LinkedInExperience: VP of FP&A · First Watch Restaurants
Tim Garofalo has been VP of FP&A at First Watch Restaurants since June 2026. Tim Garofalo also held First Watch Restaurants roles as Senior Director FP&A from 2025 to 2026, Director FP&A from 2023 to 2024, Manager FP&A from 2021 to 2023 and Senior Financial Analyst from 2019 to 2021.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's finance area, such as planning and analysis, accounting and reporting, tax or development finance, to the decision you face. Check when each person's current role started to judge how recent their view of that work is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you change first after taking on your current finance role, and why?
- 02How do you decide which numbers leadership sees each month and which stay inside the finance group?
- 03Which part of your earlier career best prepared you for your current finance role?
Reaching First Watch finance leaders
How can I contact one of these First Watch finance leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: First Watch Restaurants, based on profile data retrieved on October 25, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
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Can an AI agent ask one of these First Watch finance leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.