Member Spotlight Interview with Ali Buchanan

This week we are spotlighting Ali Buchanan, Director of Strategy with 4Top Hospitality, a multi-concept independent restaurant group with 14 locations across the Southeast US. Check out her answers below!

Q: How does your business benefit from membership with GNHA? 
A: The connection to other like-minded professionals in the industry is invaluable. Through networking and educational opportunities, we are able to share resources, stay abreast of legislative efforts, and tackle some of the biggest challenges our industry faces collectively. 

Q: Nashville is experiencing rapid growth. How is your business evolving to meet demand? 
A: Like many other restaurants, we have had to pivot to meet the needs of our guests over the years. Advances in technology have helped us expand our bandwidth to reach more people through online ordering, direct private dining and catering bookings, and marketing and recruitment efforts. But what it really boils down to is our simple mission statement: "Make guests happy."  Our goal remains to create an environment where we are putting guests first, and to empower our team to take whatever steps are necessary to achieve that. We also have a new location on the horizon to expand our reach! The second location of etch will open this winter in The Factory at Franklin.
 
Q: What makes you proud to be part of the hospitality industry in Nashville? 
A: As a Nashville native, I have had the distinct opportunity to experience the growth in the industry firsthand. I started working in restaurants in 2000, long before we were considered a culinary destination. Since then, I've seen the demand and reputation for quality restaurants blossom into what it is today. It hasn't always been a smooth ride, but an exciting one to be a part of! For 4Top, our footprint has tripled in size and transitioned into an employee-owned company during my tenure; I am beyond proud to have been part of this team that has accomplished such growth amidst the competition and challenges our industry has faced.