What does it take to grow from flipping burgers at 15 to leading a successful restaurant brand built on people, purpose, and consistency? On this episode of The Grounded Podcast, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with David Youngberg, CEO of Stonefire Grill, to talk about leadership, growth, and staying grounded in the fundamentals of hospitality.
From helping BJ’s Restaurants expand from 20 to 200 locations to now steering Stonefire Grill through its next era of innovation, David shares lessons on building great teams, scaling responsibly, and creating lasting guest loyalty. He also opens up about leading with a fitness mindset, and how personal health can directly impact energy, focus, and leadership effectiveness.
Takeaways:
- Why consistent systems and processes are the backbone of sustainable growth.
- How investing in people leads to long-term success and brand loyalty.
- Why local vendor partnerships strengthen operations and community connection.
- How leveraging technology enhances guest feedback and real-time improvements.
- The link between personal fitness and effective leadership decision-making.
Quote of the Show:
- “I've really driven into my team that I need challenge partners. I need someone that if they feel I'm going in the wrong direction, someone stands up and says let’s talk this through.” - David Youngberg
Connect with David:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dyoungberg/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tridavetri/?hl=en
- Company website: https://www.stonefiregrill.com/
- The Rich Roll Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ethan-suplee-on-shedding-300-pounds-ditching-drugs/id582272991?i=1000714160129
Ways to Tune In:
- Transistor: https://www.groundedonthepod.com/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2I7EoKaVff3SnW3CoIXjJ6
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded/id1680909033
- Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/451edb13-5534-43ee-b46c-be36a7581460
- iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-grounded-281280581/
- Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/grounded-5259267
- Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1064441
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Grounded-Podcast
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