About Full course

We are agents of change.

We're building an equitable and inclusive restaurant industry, where all faces and flavors have a seat at the table. We do this through education, development, and early-stage investment in people and brands who represent the cultural fabric of this country.
Powered by our purpose, we believe people are the heart of our industry.
Lauren Fernandez

Lauren Fernandez

CEO

Former General Counsel of FOCUS Brands turned restaurant operator, Lauren brings nearly 20 years experience in brand licensing; franchising; and consumer product development.
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James Kahler

James Kahler

COO

Successful multi-unit operator dedicated to coaching and mentoring business owners and their teams to maximize top line sales growth and bottom line profitability.
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Lissa Bowen

Lissa Bowen

Chief People + Culture Officer

Lissa Bowen has over three decades of experience in restaurant operations, talent recruitment, retention, and company culture.
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our investments

The Stories We're Helping Tell

Naanstop

Opening the doors to Indian food and culture
Naanstop

Fripper's

Making people nostalgic for real food
Fripper's
our services

How We Do It

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Learning
Our education platform is designed for emerging and seasoned business owners, and provides a range of resources to improve and grow your business.
explore resources
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Consulting
As your consultants, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you, implementing best practices to create efficiencies and higher profitability.
navigate forward
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investment
Our investment in your business starts with you. This means defining your role and building the right team around you. With your team, we create a growth plan that realizes your dreams.
chart your course
Stephanie in growth planning workshop
why i do this

“Food tells our story. The story of people, and communities. You are our storytellers and culture keepers.”

Stephanie Rachmeler, Dir. of Marketing + Creative
On the importance of independent restaurants to our communities.
why i do this

“Food is a beautiful way to create connection between people and cultures. Restaurants are the perfect ambassadors.”

Lauren Fernandez, CEO
On Full Course's mission to create a more inclusive, equitable restaurant industry.
Lauren on client retreat
Lissa showing off growth planning game
why i do this

“People think our industry is about food. Actually, we're in the people business. Food is our product.”

Lissa Bowen, Chief People + Culture Officer
On Full Course's guiding principle of building restaurants and cultures that put people first.
why i do this

“Let's get you out of working in the business so you can work on the business. Servant leaders are forged in the trenches and rise up to lead.”

James Kahler, COO
On the importance of leaders getting out from behind the line.

Read, Watch + Listen

Listen

Unity, Drive, and Diversity with Lauren Fernandez

with
Lauren Fernandez
Learn how to inspire unity and inclusion in your professional environment with our CEO and Founder, Lauren Fernandez.
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Listen

LENZ on Business

with
Lauren Fernandez
Lauren joins Jon Waterhouse to talk about the company’s consulting, development, educational services, and how she focuses on helping clients grow through conscious capital and coaching.
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Watch

GLEAM Network

with
Industry Expert
GLEAM Network is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to provide mentorship and leadership development to the underserved community in the restaurant and foodservice industry.
see more
Read

Mentorship Program ebook

with
Lissa Bowen
Access our free e-book with some helpful tips for starting a mentorship program for your organization.
see more
Watch

citybiz CEO Interviews

with
Lauren Fernandez
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Watch

On positive affirmations, work life balance, and entrepreneurship

with
Lauren Fernandez
see more
Listen

Growth is About More Than Money

with
Lauren Fernandez
see more
Listen

Know Yourself, Be Aligned, and Grow

with
Full Course Team
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Listen

Who Comes First: The Employee or Guest?

with
Lissa Bowen
see more
Listen

Restaurant Trends

with
Lauren Fernandez
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Listen

Creating Systems for Restaurant Growth

with
Lauren Fernandez
see more
Listen

Getting the Most out of Your Restaurant

with
Lauren Fernandez
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Listen

Coming Into Your Power

with
Lauren Fernandez
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Listen

Who's That Lady

with
Lauren Fernandez
see more

In the Press

August 17, 2022

Good Impressions: How to Simplify Restaurant Openings

A solid plan for your grand opening is critical to the future success of your restaurant. Don't let the key details that can make or break a successful opening get lost in the shuffle.

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July 25, 2022

Meet Full Course’s Lissa Bowen

Lissa Bowen has been in the restaurant industry for nearly 30 years and feels the current retention practices do not always meet the real needs of the employees the industry is serving.

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July 5, 2022

Want to Start a New Concept or Expand Big Time?

Everyone with the dream of starting a restaurant also has a dream of money falling from the sky to get those doors open. Lauren Fernandez, founder and CEO of Full Course, an Atlanta-based restaurant development and investment firm, knows her job is to shake off some of the stardust.

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July 5, 2022

Restaurants Are Moving Toward a Fast Casual Model and Why Investors Love It

“Our restaurants have certainly taken many hits these last few years,” explains Fernandez. “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented hurdles that our restaurants continue to overcome. As a result, they want to operate smarter and contribute to their overall guest experience in the very best way.”

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June 29, 2022

Why Restaurants Are Moving Towards a Fast-Casual Model

One trend is many restaurants are moving toward a fast-casual model. Lauren Fernandez, Founder and CEO of Full Course, is a veteran of the restaurant and beverage industry and offers her expertise in why this trend is important to the future of the industry.

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June 17, 2022

Full Course Founder Lauren Fernandez on positive affirmations, work life balance, and entrepreneurship

The Female Founder is a show all about helping women grow their businesses and reach their full potential. Each episode will highlight inspiring stories and advice from female entrepreneurs to help you build and grow your business.

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June 14, 2022

4 Qualities Restaurant Franchisors Look For in a Franchisee

Good restaurant franchisees have "an aptitude towards service to others," says Lauren Fernandez, founder and CEO of Full Course, "because you can train anyone to run a restaurant, but it's very hard to coach somebody to be a nice person."

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May 31, 2022

What's Hot in Restaurant Franchising Right Now? Two Industry Experts Weigh In

"I have worked with brands where there was no online ordering, but you no longer can get away with ignoring technology in restaurants," says Lauren Fernandez, founder and CEO of Full Course.

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March 29, 2022

Lissa Bowen and James Kahler Join Full Course

Full Course, an innovative restaurant investment firm dedicated to growing emerging brands through education and resources, is expanding its executive leadership team by welcoming Lissa Bowen and James Kahler.

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March 14, 2022

How to Create Positive Restaurant Employee Culture

“A positive company culture is one where employees feel valued and supported,” says Bowen, a recruiting expert with nearly 30 years of experience in acquiring and retaining restaurant industry talent.

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March 1, 2022

Full Course Introduces LAUNCH: The Playbook to Successfully Open, Own and Operate Your First Restaurant

Full Course, an innovative restaurant investment firm dedicated to growing emerging brands, introduces LAUNCH: The Playbook to Successfully Open, Own and Operate Your First Restaurant, a 12-module workshop designed to help entrepreneurs opening their first location.

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January 18, 2022

Lauren Fernandez named to Nation's Restaurant News Power List 2022

Selected by the editors of Nation’s Restaurant News, the 9th annual Power List is the definitive list of people who are evolving the restaurant industry through fresh ideas and game-changing approaches.

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December 22, 2021

4 Keys to Retaining Restaurant Talent During ‘The Great Resignation’

In today’s competitive market, employers should make sure they are educating prospective hires about their employee value proposition—the rewards and benefits employees receive in return for their contributions to the business.

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November 4, 2021

Restaurant Investment Group Launches to Support Restaurateurs

Full Course is a restaurant investment group dedicated to changing the way new and emerging restaurants grow their brands. The company focuses on the people who make restaurants successful, by taking a hands-on approach to business.

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join the revolution
You didn't open your business to do it like everyone else. Neither did we.
We're here to build a restaurant industry that values people over profit, champions diversity of homogeny, and celebrates real food.
Reach out to learn more about how we're doing it and how you can get involved.
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