Cheryl Whiting-Kish accepted a job as a Hooters Girl in the late 80s after serving as an assistant manager with another chain with the intention of joining HOA’s leadership team—and she did just that. At HOA, Whiting-Kish progressed through various operation leadership roles and was promoted to vice president of human resources and training (the company’s first female vice president). She also served as a national company spokesperson, focusing on empowering the women of the brand, leading the “100 Hooters Girl March on Washington” in the mid 90’s.
In 2002, Whiting-Kish founded her consulting firm, which focuses on helping organizations across industries like Hospitality, Manufacturing, Retail, Transportation, and technology define and maximize human potential and optimize business results. Over the years, working with clients like Aaron’s, Foreword Companies, Hooters, Krispy Krunchy Chicken, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Steinbrecher and Associates, Yahoo, and many others, the Define Consulting Team serves their clients and their thousands of team members in short and long-term initiatives which include Executive Coaching, Vision and Culture, Leadership Programming, Talent Development, and Succession Planning.
Whiting-Kish rejoined HOA from 2019 to 2024 as senior vice president of organizational development and then as Chief People Officer, focusing her energy on initiatives to celebrate, elevate, educate, and empower the brand’s women and men. She initiated the IAM, a Hooters Girl / Hooters Girl Alumnae empowerment movement, and the Hooters Women in Leadership Forum, honoring the over 500,000 amazing women who have worked for the brand in its 40-year history.
Today, Whiting-Kish focuses her professional energy on Define Consulting, where she is passionate about the company’s mission; she states: “Our bottom line is the betterment of people. Our network impacts generations. From the front line to the CEO, We listen, learn, align, and optimize. We care about your progress. Who are you? What’s in your DNA? What is your vision? The most important thing you will ever invest in is your legacy. What is your next step? We will help you Define it.”