Cheyenne, Wyo. — Taco John’s®, a leading Mexican quick-service restaurant, enhances its leadership team with an internal promotion and new hires. Taco John’s welcomes Tom Perella as vice president of technology and Damian Hanft as vice president of human resources and promotes Kristin Nuss to general counsel and corporate secretary.
Nuss was promoted to general counsel and corporate secretary in January 2025. She joined Taco John’s in May 2021 as associate general counsel and director of franchise compliance and contracts. With over 25 years of experience in the legal field, Nuss will act as a support for the entire Taco John’s system, providing legal oversight on how decisions will affect the business, and finding solutions to enhance efficiency.
Perella joined Taco John’s as vice president, technology, in March 2025. He brings over 20 years of experience in retail technology, beginning his career as a team member in restaurants, working his way onto the corporate side, serving as a leader in technology for GoTo Foods and Duck Donuts. With a deep understanding of the integral role that technology plays in operations, his main focus at Taco John’s is to create, refine and standardize IT processes, building onto the strong tech stack that is already in place.
Hanft joined Taco John’s as vice president, human resources, in April 2025. Prior to joining the team, Hanft was the head of talent at Inspire Brands, playing a key role in the architecture of team member experience.
“We are confident in Kristin, Tom and Damian’s leadership as we drive a new era for Taco John’s,” says Heather Neary, president and CEO of Taco John’s. “As we continue to scale strategically, we are fine-tuning our operations to ensure franchisees are set up for success from Day 1. It’s critical that we have the right people in the right roles — leaders who are fully aligned with our core values and mission such as these three.”
These appointments come on the heels of Taco John’s continued efforts to expand from coast to coast. Partnering with single and multi-unit franchisees, Taco John’s Path to Ownership structure and optimized business model solidify the brand’s franchisee support system, ensuring sustainable growth for the brand and investors.
With nearly 350 locations across 22 states, Taco John’s has identified strong expansion opportunities in the Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountain regions and high-growth suburban markets nationwide. Franchise opportunities are available for new and multi-unit operators, with tailored support to help franchisees scale effectively.
Founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyo., Taco John’s® operates and franchises nearly 350 restaurants across 22 states. For more information, visit TacoJohns.com and https://tacojohnsfranchise.com/.
SOURCE: Taco John’s®