Bethany Strong

Bethany Strong is a seasoned restaurant industry executive known for her leadership in hospitality, brand growth, and multi-unit operations. She began her career in restaurant operations at Disney World and Disneyland, where she developed a strong foundation in guest experience and operational excellence. Bethany went on to open and operate Corner Bakery locations in Washington, DC for Brinker International before serving as Northeast Operations Director at Chipotle, where she was responsible for opening and expanding the brand from New Jersey through New Hampshire. She later held executive leadership roles as Vice President of Operations at Le Pain Quotidien and Chief Operating Officer at Taïm, driving scalable growth and operational discipline across expanding portfolios. Currently, Bethany serves as Chief Operating Officer at NAYA, where she is leading the company’s strategic expansion with a vision to grow to 200 restaurants by 2030, while maintaining a strong culture rooted in hospitality, people development, and operational excellence.