Ounce of Wisdom with Lance Trenary, President and CEO of Golden Corral Corporation
How This Restaurant CEO Kept His Entire Leadership Team Through the Pandemic
An extraordinary story of loyalty, culture, and leadership under pressure.
When the restaurant industry was in free fall during the pandemic—buffets hit hardest of all—Golden Corral managed to keep its doors open and its entire executive team intact. In this episode, we sit down with Lance Trenary, the CEO who led them through it.
With nearly 40 years in the industry, he shares what it really takes to build a team that sticks together—even through a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. From intentional hiring to people-first leadership, his approach is a masterclass in long-term success.
“You can’t wait for a crisis to start caring about your people,” he says. “You have to build that loyalty every day.”
What’s even more impressive? In the past four years, not a single member of his leadership team has left—including in high-turnover roles like IT and marketing.
Curious how he did it?
Tune in to hear the full conversation and take away practical lessons for building a culture that lasts.
Ounce of Wisdom with Lance Trenary
