Rob Smith

Veradale, WA

Aaron "Rob" Smith

Operations Executive. Entrepreneur. U.S. Marine Corps Veteran.

25+ Years in Hospitality Multi-Unit Leadership Franchise Consulting Foodie Spokane USMC Veteran
View Experience Get in Touch
25+
Years in Hospitality
$15M+
Revenue Overseen
10
Units Led as VP
5×
Partner of the Year
20+
Leaders Developed

About

Who I Am

I'm a multi-unit restaurant operations executive with 25+ years of progressive leadership — from Managing Partner at some of the highest-performing Outback Steakhouse locations in the country, to Vice President overseeing a ten-unit, three-state franchise generating $15M+ in annual revenue.

My career has been built on one thing: developing people. I've promoted 20+ hourly employees into management and 11 into Managing Partner roles. That kind of pipeline doesn't happen by accident — it's built through structured coaching, accountability, and genuine investment in the people around you.

In 2026 I launched Foodie Spokane, a digital dining platform connecting consumers with local restaurants, culinary events, and food culture across the Inland Northwest — putting my industry expertise to work for the community I call home.

Before any of this: six years as a U.S. Marine Corps NCO, including embassy security assignments in Yemen and Denmark. That's where the standard was set.

Core Competencies

P&L Ownership Multi-Unit Operations Franchise Consulting Talent Development New Restaurant Openings Culture Change Field Leadership Coaching Compliance & Risk Strategic Planning Stakeholder Engagement

Experience

Where I've Led

Jan 2026 – Present

Co-Founder & Digital Media Strategist

FoodieSpokane.com

Launched and lead a Spokane-based digital dining platform connecting consumers with local restaurants, culinary events, and food culture across the Inland Northwest — driving engagement through curated content and strategic partnerships.

Jan 2018 – Jan 2026

Managing Partner / Proprietor

Outback Steakhouse & Bonefish Grill

  • Led distributed, multi-unit management teams through performance management and organizational culture change.
  • Built a leadership pipeline that promoted 20+ hourly employees to management and 11 into Managing Partner roles.
  • Owned full P&L responsibility across multiple units — budget development, financial analysis, payroll, and HR administration.
Jul 2017 – Jan 2018

Vice President of Operations

Chili's (Northwest Franchisee)

  • Multi-site, multi-state leadership across 10 restaurants in 3 states generating $15M+ in annual revenue.
  • Reduced turnover by 30%+ through targeted culture-building, coaching, and succession-planning initiatives.
  • Spearheaded rollout of a new inventory management platform delivering a 5% reduction in food & beverage cost.
  • Ensured consistent execution of brand standards and regulatory compliance across a multi-state territory.
Aug 1997 – Nov 2016

Managing Partner / Proprietor

Outback Steakhouse

  • Operated one of the top three Outback Steakhouse locations nationally for nearly two decades.
  • Developed a grassroots community marketing strategy deepening relationships with local charities, universities, and civic organizations.
  • Directed a full IT/POS system upgrade and facility modernization while minimizing operational disruption.
Nov 2016 – Aug 2017

Fly Fishing Guide

A Classic Journey Outfitters

Managed client safety and satisfaction on guided river expeditions, delivering a high-quality, service-driven experience.

Jun 1989 – Jul 1995

Assistant Detachment Commander, E-5/Sergeant

United States Marine Corps

  • Marine Security Guard at U.S. Embassies in Sana'a, Yemen and Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Supervised and evaluated a six-Marine squad responsible for interior embassy defense.
  • Managed all classified material security protocols within the Embassy.
  • Meritoriously promoted for leadership and performance above peers.
Rob Smith, USMC

Dress blues — U.S. Marine Corps

Skills

What I Bring

Operations

  • Multi-Unit / Multi-State Management
  • P&L Ownership & Financial Discipline
  • New Restaurant Growth & Openings
  • Compliance & Risk Mitigation
  • Brand Standards Execution

Leadership & People

  • Talent Development & Succession Planning
  • Culture Change & Coaching
  • Franchise Consulting & Development
  • Performance Management

Business & Strategy

  • Strategic Planning
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Community & Grassroots Marketing
  • Digital Media & Content Strategy

Certifications

  • ServSafe Proctor Certified
  • 5× Partner of the Year — Outback
  • 4× President's Club — Outback
  • "Putting People First" Award
  • Meritorious Promotion — USMC

Community

Giving Back

Education

Academic Background

Bachelor of Business Administration

University of Montana

Associate of Arts

Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, WA

Contact

Let's Connect

Whether you're looking for an experienced operations leader, a franchise consulting partner, or want to connect over food and the Spokane dining scene — I'd love to hear from you.

✉ rob@foodiespokane.com ☏ (406) 544-8081 🍽 foodiespokane.com in LinkedIn