40 Under 40 Spotlight: Cami Lehmann

Who: Cami Lehmann

What: Director of marketing

Where: Maggiano’s Little Italy

First Industry Job: Hostess at Chili’s in San Angelo, TX

Favorite Drink: It varies — I like to say that I am an unbiased drinker!

Cami Lehmann has dedicated the past seven years to turning around the Chili’s beverage program through the Margarita of the Month before moving onto Maggiano’s Little Italy, another brand from parent company Brinker International. She was instrumental in the creation and implementation of its overhauled beverage menu.

Lehmann constantly strives to innovate the beverage program while also maintaining strong relationships with those in the industry and refusing to “play the game” that certain other buyers and companies force suppliers to play.

In addition to leading beverage for Maggiano’s, Lehmann heads up the marketing efforts for the brand including: food and beverage menu innovation and development, media planning and calendar, POP and marketing materials, and the digital guest experience inclusive of CRM, social media, loyalty and website.

Her biggest challenge in recent years? Without question, it was how to sell beverage alcohol (legally) when the Covid lockdowns hit in March 2020.

“It was a long two weeks of constant phone/video calls but I was able to launch Chili’s alcohol program to-go on Chilis.com, offering beer, wine and Margaritas for pick up in the majority of Chili’s 1,000-plus restaurants,” Lehmann recalls. “Our iconic Presidente Margarita to-go was a winner from the start, and the program is still in place today for guests to enjoy Presidentes at home.”

Lehmann, who recently became a first-time mother, says that her passion lies in people. “I get to live that every day with my job in the hospitality industry,” she notes.

“It’s hard to call it ‘work’ when you get to do what you love and your personal successes line up with your professional successes.”

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