Scott Alan Acker, president Stingray Hospitality Management Corporation managing Quaker Steak and Lube
Company address: 4900 S. Moorland Rd., New Berlin, WI 53151
Website: www.quakersteakandlube.com
Industry: Restaurant
Number of employees: 300
Family: Wife, Amy, and son, William.
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“Investing in a training department and hiring an operations director.”
What’s new at your company?
“Our Janesville location. It is only nine months old, so I am still working on that.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“We are always looking for great people and our Middleton location is getting an interior remodel.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“ACA (Affordable Care Act) will be a struggle for restaurant employees and keeping up with the cost of food.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“Craft beer hands down. Our New Berlin location has 33 lines of craft beer.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“I am checklist crazy. A detailed checklist helps employees in getting kitchen procedures done correctly and makes the heart of the restaurant operate efficiently and smoothly.”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“Any and all independent restaurant owners.”
What was the best advice you ever received?
“Get a good accountant. I have two CPAs for partners.”
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your career?
“How fast ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ at the Middleton QSL happened and how much money we raised in four hours for a house that was built just west of Middleton. We raised $36,000 to pay for half the mortgage of the teacher who received the new home. The cast of that show was crazy nice and, just by luck, we got the opportunity to host the show’s mortgage fundraiser. It was a blast!”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“Tractor time and yard work. I know why Brett Favre loves it. It just allows me to think about something other than business.”
