Staffing

Rock N Roll Sushi names CEO, VP of Ops

Photo: Rock N Roll

December 8, 2023

Building on Rock N Roll Sushi's growth in the sushi space, the company has announced two additions to its executive lineup with Craig LeMieux joining as CEO and Terri Jessen coming aboard as VP of Operations.

LeMieux succeeds CEO Chris Kramolis, who has served in the role since October 2020 and will stay on with the company as chief development officer to focus on franchise development and real estate.

"It's been a great 3-year run as CEO of Rock n Roll Sushi, but it's time for someone else to grab the baton and run," Kramolis said in a company press release. "I'm excited to hand it off to my long-time friend and business partner, Craig LeMieux. He has a long list of accomplishments and accolades and I'm sure his tenure in this new role will only add more."

A stockholder in Rock N Roll Sushi, LeMieux is a partner both in a multi-unit franchisee group and in the Area Representative territories of Arizona and Central Florida.

"It's a huge honor for me to 'take the stage' as CEO for Rock N Roll Sushi," LeMieux said in the release. "I'm excited to join this leadership team and guide the brand to the next level, building on the amazing foundation established by the founders and Chris over the past few years."

Before joining Rock N Roll Sushi, LeMieux was an area developer/multi-unit franchisee for Tropical Smoothie Café. He opened the brand's first Michigan location in 2004, grew the region into its second-largest market and was twice awarded "Area Developer of the Year." He also owns franchise locations for Pet Supplies Plus and Mayweather Boxing + Fitness.

As the VP of Operations, Jessen will be leading a team of five people, overseeing the franchise business consultant program as well as the culinary and procurement/supply chain departments. She and her team will work closely with the Rock N Roll Sushi franchisees across the country to ensure strong unit-level operations with the ultimate goal of increasing sales and franchisee profitability.

Jessen brings two decades of restaurant industry experience to the role and is part of a multi-unit franchisee group for Rock N Roll Sushi in Arizona and Florida, as well as a partner in the Area Representative group for Arizona and part of Florida.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of a legend-in-the-making in the sushi space," Jessen said in the release. "Together with my team, I'm ready to work with our franchisees across the country to make sure our unit-level operations are tops in the business."

Like LeMieux, Jessen was a multi-unit franchisee for Tropical Smoothie Café from 2004 to 2013, owning and operating multiple locations in Florida. She and her husband earned the brand's Franchisee Rookie of the Year Award in 2005. For her demonstrated expertise and elite performance, Jessen was named Area Developer of the Year twice, in 2013 and 2018.

Founded in 2010 by husband-and-wife duo Lance and Gerri Mach Hallmark in Mobile, Alabama, Rock N Roll Sushi has over 50 locations.