10 Panera Bread regional operations leaders
Regional vice president, regional director of operations and director of operations are the roles held today by these ten Panera Bread regional operations leaders, who oversee operations across multiple Panera bakery-cafes. A reader can learn how regional operations leaders run their areas at Panera Bread from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Asta Gass
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President · Panera Bread
Asta Gass has been Regional Vice President at Panera Bread since March 2025. They were Director- Retail Operations at Panera Bread (2020–2025), and Director of Operations (2015–2020) and General Manager (2014–2015) at Harry Caray's Restaurant Group. The listing places them in Charlotte Metro.
Cody Meader
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President of Operations Southern California · Panera Bread
Cody Meader has been Regional Vice President of Operations Southern California at Panera Bread since March 2025, and their profile headline names California, Idaho and Washington. They were Director - Area Operations Partner at Panera Bread (2008–2025). The listing places them in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.
Danny Causey
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President · Panera Bread
Danny Causey has been Regional Vice President at Panera Bread since March 2023. They were AOP at Panera Bread (2019–2023), Regional Manager (2011–2018) and General Manager (2008–2011) at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar. The listing places them in Pelham, Alabama.
Don DePasquale
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Operations · Panera Bread
Don DePasquale has been Director Of Operations at Panera Bread since June 2016, and their profile says they lead, train and motivate a team of 6 bakery/cafes in South Carolina. They were Manager at P.F. Chang's (2012–2016) and Event Coordinator at Tommy Bahama (2008–2012).
Don Williams
LinkedInExperience: Regional Director · Panera Bread
Don Williams has been Regional Director at Panera Bread since April 2002, the current role the listing shows for them. The listing tags that role at the director level in the general management department and places them in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point Area.
John Donahue
LinkedInExperience: Director of Retail Operations · Panera Bread
John Donahue has been Director of Retail Operations at Panera Bread since May 2024, and their profile says they lead strategic and operational initiatives across a multi-unit region of Panera Bread. They were District Manager at Starbucks (2022–2024) and Regional Manager at Nordstrom (2015–2019).
Lisa Greco
LinkedInExperience: Regional Director of Operations · Panera Bread
Lisa Greco has been Regional Director of Operations at Panera Bread since February 2026. They were District Manager License (2022–2026) and District Manager (2012–2022) at Starbucks, and Sr. Associate Investigator, Ethics and Compliance at Starbucks (2022–2023).
Michael Faga
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President of Operations · Panera Bread
Michael Faga has been Regional Vice President of Operations at Panera Bread since June 2026. At Panera Bread they were also East Division - Interim Regional Vice President (2026), Director, Retail Operations (2019–2026) and Area Operating Partner (2016–2019). The listing places them in North Arlington, New Jersey.
Peter Ransom
LinkedInExperience: Interim Regional Vice President · Panera Bread
Peter Ransom has been Interim Regional Vice President at Panera Bread since April 2026. At Panera Bread they were also Area Operating Partner (2017–2026) and JV General Manager/ 2.0 Internal Ops Lead Chicago Central (2001–2017). The listing places them in the Greater Chicago Area.
Tim Dugan
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President · Panera Bread
Tim Dugan has been Regional Vice President at Panera Bread since October 2015. They were Regional Vice President Of Operations at Brinker International (1991–2015) and Area Director at Chili's (1997–2000), and served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Restaurant Association (2006–2012).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's level to your question, since a regional vice president and a director over a handful of cafes see the job from different distances. Look at each person's earlier employers as well, because a leader who came up inside Panera and one who arrived from another restaurant or retail chain will compare the work differently.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took over your region or group of cafes?
- 02How do you decide where to spend your own time across the cafes and managers you are responsible for?
- 03What from your earlier restaurant or retail roles still shapes how you lead an area?
Reaching Panera Bread regional operations leaders
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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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