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10 Panera Bread operations leaders
These ten current Panera Bread operations leaders have held vice president and more senior operations roles at Panera Bread. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Panera Bread from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
01—10Asta Gass
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President · Panera Bread
Regional Vice President at Panera Bread since March 2025, a role the profile places at vice president level. Asta Gass was also Director- Retail Operations at Panera Bread (2020–2025), based in Chicago, and Director of Operations at Harry Caray's Restaurant Group (2015–2020), according to the profile.
Chet Wright
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · Panera Bread
Vice President Operations at Panera Bread since July 2019, in New Jersey; the profile headline reads VP of Operations East Division. Chet Wright was also Area Operating Partner at Panera Bread (2013–2019), General Manager at Cracker Barrel (2012–2013) and District Manager at Ruby Tuesday (1998–2012).
Harold Wheeler
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Retail Operations · Panera Bread
Vice President, Retail Operations at Panera Bread since September 2021, a role the profile places in Indianapolis, Indiana, at vice president level. Harold Wheeler was also Area Director Of Operations at Panera Bread (2018–2021), and the profile also lists a General Manager role at Panera Bread.
Jeff Harman
LinkedInExperience: Chief Restaurant Officer · Panera Bread
Chief Restaurant Officer at Panera Bread since December 2025; the profile also lists Interim Chief Operations Officer there (2025–2026). Jeff Harman also held Senior Vice President (2024–2025), Senior Vice President Operations (2021–2023) and VP- Regional Operations (2014–2021) roles at Panera Bread.
John Little
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President of Operations · Panera Bread
Regional Vice President of Operations at Panera Bread since July 2021, in Chicago. John Little was also Director of Operations at Panera Bread (2018–2021), and the profile lists Joint Venture Partner at Carrabba's Italian Grill (2014–2018) and Director of Operations at TGI Fridays (2012–2014).
Jonathan Braatvedt
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Ops Strategy & Innovation · Panera Bread
SVP, Ops Strategy & Innovation at Panera Bread since March 2026. Jonathan Braatvedt was also SVP Mid Atlantic Field Operations & Operation Services Interim COO (2025–2026) and Senior Vice President, Operation Services & New Restaurant Openings (2023–2025) at CAVA, and VP, Chief Food and Beverage Operator at Pilot Flying J (2021–2023).
Joseph Shapiro
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations Strategy · Panera Bread
Vice President Operations Strategy at Panera Bread since May 2026. Joseph Shapiro also held Vice President of Deployment & Program Management (2016–2026), Vice President of Operation Services (2012–2016), Director of Operation Services (2007–2012) and Area Director (2002–2007) roles at Panera Bread, according to the profile.
Matt Atkinson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · Panera Bread
Vice President Operations at Panera Bread since February 2026, in Boise, Idaho; the profile headline reads Vice President, West Division. Matt Atkinson also held Regional Vice President (2020–2026) and Director, Joint Venture Partner (2014–2020) roles at Panera Bread, and Regional Manager at Buffalo Wild Wings (2010–2014).
Michael Faga
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President of Operations · Panera Bread
Regional Vice President of Operations at Panera Bread since June 2026, in New Jersey. Michael Faga was also East Division - Interim Regional Vice President (2026) and Director, Retail Operations (2019–2026) at Panera Bread, and held Area Operating Partner (2016–2019) and Joint Venture Training General Manager roles there.
Ross Spence
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · Panera Bread
Vice President Operations at Panera Bread since September 2019, in Cohoes, New York. Ross Spence was also Area Operating Partner at Panera Bread (2017–2019) and Vice President of Operations at TGI Fridays (2011–2017), and the profile lists a Regional Director role at Palm Restaurant (2007–2011).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope, such as a region, a division or company-wide operations strategy, to the question you bring. Check whether their Panera Bread role is current or past and how long they have held it before asking how operations work there today.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you set priorities for a region of bakery-cafes when every location has different staffing and traffic?
- 02What does a field operations leader review each week to spot a cafe that is falling behind?
- 03How do operations strategy teams test a new process before rolling it out to every cafe?
Reaching Panera Bread operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Panera Bread operations 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: Panera Bread, based on profile data retrieved on October 13, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
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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. 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.
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