University of North Texas 
CMHT Symposia: Transformational Leadership in Sustainable Food and Fiber
2026 Leadership Symposium
Leadership Lessons From the Drive Thru: Real World Insights in Modern Hospitality
February 12, 2026
The Transformational Leadership in Sustainable Food and Fiber team, supported by the USDA-NIFA-HSI, hosted the 2026 College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism (CMHT) Leadership Symposium on February 12, 2026. This event featured the powerful industry duo Adam Griffith and Ashleigh Griffith as they shared "Leadership Lessons From the Drive-Thru: Real World Insights in Modern Hospitality."
As a distinguished HETM alumnus and current VP of Technology at Uncommon Brands (overseeing concepts like Fuego Tortilla Grill and The Rice Box), Adam shared his experiences in digital transformation and operational excellence. Ashleigh Griffith, Senior Marketing Manager at Quality Brand Group, discussed strategic branding for major franchises including Dunkin’, Baskin Robbins, and Buffalo Wild Wings GO. Both shared unique perspectives from their leadership journeys, offering students and professionals alike a front-row seat to the innovation and adaptive leadership driving today’s hospitality and retail landscapes.
Ashleigh Griffith
Senior Marketing Manager, Quality Brand Group
Ashleigh Griffith is a strategic brand builder for Quality Brand Group, the largest Inspire Brands Dunkin’ franchise network in the Western U.S. A 2023 Brand Innovators “40 Under 40” honoree,
Ashleigh has built a career defining the narratives of global leaders across the foodservice, hospitality, and entertainment sectors, including Yum! Brands, Wingstop, and Well Go USA. At Quality Brand Group, she spearheads industry-leading innovation, having pioneered the organization’s first enterprise-wide AI analytics program to maximize local store ROI and a drone delivery partnership that reduced fulfillment times to nine minutes. By integrating a frontline SMS communication suite, she has bridged the gap between corporate strategy and field execution, driving double-digit comparable sales growth.
Her previous tenure at Yum! Brands was marked by the creation of “The Originals,” the first-ever global employer brand playbook for KFC, used to recruit team members across 145 countries and 30,000 locations. A graduate of Drew University and an alum of the McKinsey Management Accelerator, Ashleigh is a former board member of the IABC Dallas Chapter and a frequent speaker on adaptive leadership for the University of North Texas. A Texas resident and advocate for the Plano Public Libraries, she continues to shape the next generation of marketing leaders through her seminar work and community engagement.
Adam Griffith
Vice President of Technology, Uncommon Brands
Adam Griffith is a veteran technology executive with nearly two decades of experience scaling high-growth restaurant brands through digital transformation and enterprise-level innovation. Currently serving as the Vice President of Technology at Uncommon Brands, Adam oversees the technological strategy for a portfolio of "uncommonly good" restaurant concepts.
Throughout a career spanning 20 years, Adam’s leadership has been instrumental in major brand evolutions, including scaling Original ChopShop from 3 to 25 locations, laying the digital groundwork for 900+ Smoothie King franchises, and driving the nationwide expansion of Cafe Rio Mexican Grill. A former consultant for Radiant Systems (now NCR), Adam specializes in building robust IT infrastructures that enhance guest experience and operational profitability. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas and an MBA from the University of Utah.
