Corban Nichols serves as the Vice President of Restaurant Excellence at Piada Italian Street Food, where he leads key functions including learning and development, training, operations services, new restaurant openings, and career pathing. Since joining the organization in 2021, following a four-year gap in training leadership, Corban has rebuilt the brand’s training and operational execution systems from the ground up, supporting the company’s growth with a more than 60% increase in restaurant count.
With over 26 years of experience in the restaurant industry across both operations and support roles, Corban champions a people-first philosophy, believing that when teams are prioritized, business results naturally follow. Prior to his time at Piada, he spent a decade at Chipotle, where he led the Operations Integration function, driving the rollout of new menu items, equipment, and digital platforms. He also played a critical role in opening over 300 new restaurants and was instrumental in the development of Chipotle’s certified training program.
Beyond his professional roles, Corban is a current Board Member and active contributor to CHART, an association of hospitality training professionals.
