Growing up, Damian Jackson dedicated himself to athletics — baseball, soccer and snowboarding. After high school, the six-foot-two-inch man from Las Vegas decided to follow in his brother’s footsteps and enroll in the Navy, where he soon found himself in six months of SEAL training.

After hundreds of hours of drills, thousands of reps of workouts and the infamous Hell Week, Jackson became Lead Breacher in a SEAL platoon, specializing in explosives and obstruction removal. Then after two deployments, Jackson’s time as a SEAL came to an end, and a new journey began.

Despite never playing football before, in 2017, Jackson decided to join the University of Nebraska football team as a walk on, determined to make the roster. After quickly proving himself as a leader, a promising athlete and one hell of a defensive player, Jackson earned himself a spot on the roster. This year, Jackson has played snaps in nine out of 10 of the Cornhusker’s 2021 regular-season games. For Jackson, failure is not a fear and quitting is never an option.

Jackson embodies the spirit and values of Twin Peaks Restaurant, making him a perfect NIL partner for the ultimate sports lodge. As a former military member himself, Jackson shares the same passion for helping veterans in need. That’s why through the partnership, for every touchdown Nebraska scores this season, Twin Peaks will donate $100 to Folds of Honor – a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.

Jackson answered a few questions about his journey from the Navy SEALs to UNL and his new partnership with Twin Peaks:

Twin Peaks: How did your time in the military prepare you for football, and what advice do you give to others who may want to follow in your footsteps?

Damian Jackson: The military made me into the man I am today, and it made me a team player. When I joined the football team, I was a little bit older than the rest of the guys, but I embraced them, and they embraced me the moment I walked into that locker room. It doesn’t matter how we all got to this point because we are now one team with the same goal.

My philosophy for life has always been to do it all for the greater good and learn from each experience. I encourage anyone looking to play college football to soak in the wisdom of the players on your team. Football is much more than a sport. It is an opportunity to grow and develop as a person. I would tell someone to respect your older teammates and coaches and have pride in the fact that you’re able to be there.

TP: Did you play football growing up?

DJ: I didn’t play football at all growing up. That shocks a lot of people, but I only played baseball and soccer. Once I got to the Navy, put on some muscle and received some military-grade conditioning, I knew I wanted to go to college and play a sport. When my service was finished, I put my head down and went for it.

TP: Why did you choose Nebraska, and what is your favorite part about playing for the Cornhuskers?

DJ: I originally learned about Nebraska and its football program from a family friend. When I was starting to look around at schools, I looked at the Top 25, saw Nebraska and the rest was history!

My favorite part is playing in front of our fans at Memorial Stadium. We have the best fan base in the country. After hours and hours of hitting the weight room, practicing and watching film, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing all our hard work come together and the excitement and energy that the fans bring to the stadium.

TP: What’s next for you and what advice do you have for people who are wanting to try something different in their life?

DJ: I am going to take football as far as I can, starting with the extra year of eligibility we received due to the pandemic. My whole life has been full of moments where I just take a leap of faith to see what is possible, and it has worked out well so far. There’s no reason why others can’t pursue their dreams by just going for it. I would tell someone to at least give themselves a chance by putting their foot forward and seeing what happens. Even if you do get rejected at first, instead of looking at it as a failure, you have to view it as an opportunity to try again.

TP: On June 30, 2021, the NCAA introduced new opportunities for athletes by announcing that they will be able to benefit from their name, image and likeness. What are your thoughts on the NIL partnership for college athletes?

DJ: I think it’s a great opportunity for athletes to expand their brand and capitalize on the hard work they have put in to reach this level. As soon as the news broke, I thought, “hell yes!”

NIL partnerships give us athletes an opportunity to partner with brands that align with our values and interests, and we have the chance to express ourselves and achieve a bigger purpose. I’m going to enjoy this process and try to raise as much money as we can for Folds of Honor by playing great football with my teammates this season. Go Big Red!

To learn more about Twin Peaks Restaurant, visit twinpeaksrestaurant.com.

It’s no simple feat for women to reach the top of the corporate summit. But the ascent’s smoother when they work in a culture that promotes career advancement, work-life balance and support for other females each step of the way.

In the foodservice industry in America, women are lacking in leadership roles. According to a study by McKinsey & Company, women represented only 24% of vice presidents, 22% of senior vice presidents and 18% of C-Suite executives. Not only do women face the challenge of climbing the ranks in their company, but they often have to determine how to balance responsibilities at home, too.

But at Twin Peaks, many talented females have worked their way up to the executive level and are one of the driving forces moving the brand forward. In addition to its all-female wait staff, women play key parts in roles throughout the brand’s operations, like management, training, marketing and finance.

Here are three female leaders making a difference at Twin Peaks

LEXI BURNS – Vice President of Human Resources and Learning & Development

After joining the Twin Peaks team as director of training, Burns has been a leader of the company for over 10 years. Having been with the brand since its early stages, Burns had the opportunity to develop the systems and tools needed to be successful while starting out. Now, as vice president of human resources and learning & development, she’s responsible for HR-related processes and polices, talent acquisition, operating polices, the development of training curriculum for all roles to include new store openings and spearheading the importance of female leadership within Twin Peaks.

A mother of three children, Burns believes balance is the key to being a full-time working mom. With a leadership team that’s adamant that every employee take care of their families first, Twin Peaks’ company culture promotes work-life balance.

DESTINEE ROLLINS – Vice President of Marketing

One of Twin Peaks’ longest standing employees, Rollins began working for the brand as a Twin Peaks Girl 13 years ago. After three years working in the restaurant, Rollins joined the company’s marketing department as a marketing coordinator and has since worked her way up to vice president of marketing. In this role, she leads an all-female team, some of whom worked as original Twin Peaks Girls from the brand’s first location in Lewisville, Texas. Rollins is responsible for developing and implementing a cohesive marketing plan to increase brand awareness, conducting market analysis, and executing national and local promotions and events. Overall, she’s charged with ensuring every consumer experience with the brand is consistently top notch.

With two children, Rollins is proud to work at a company that encourages its employees to spend time with their families and be present at their kids’ practices, games and competitions. For Rollins, creating structure has resulted in the most impactful time spent with her family and colleagues, from time watching her daughter on the bars in gymnastics and under the Friday night lights supporting her son in the marching band, to one-on-one meetings with her team members. Rollins’ motto: Get it on the calendar!

HOPE BARNES – Vice President of Finance

Barnes joined the Twin Peaks team five years ago as senior director of finance before being promoted to vice president of finance. She’s responsible for overall financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and analysis for the company. Her team provides business reviews and daily and weekly sales and traffic results to franchisees and shares their analytical tools with them so they can keep a close eye on their location’s performance. Barnes and her team set standards for financial operations for each department that guides Twin Peaks’ successes.

Barnes has one child who’s now an adult, but when he was young, she made a point to be at every activity he was participating in. Holidays are also very important to her family, and they travel annually to spend more time together. She’s fortunate that Twin Peaks stresses the importance of work-life balance. With encouragement from her company and the flexibility of technology in the workplace, she’s been able to give her all to both.

Throughout their careers, Burns, Rollins and Barnes have learned that to gain a leadership position, women must believe in themselves, be confident in their opinions and learn from others around them. The strongest teams are diverse ones, and women bring a unique, different perspective to the table. They’ve also learned that support from each of their teams, and Twin Peaks’ company as a whole, has made being a successful working mother possible.

Led by CEO Joe Hummel, Twin Peaks is “One Team.” Hummel has made it his mission to instill energy and compassion to be a team player within all employees, and it continues to show as he leads, shapes and takes charge of the brand with the many women in leadership positions at his side. Women have reached the peak at the ultimate sports lodge, and they’ll continue to be power players behind the brand’s success long into the future!

This article was published on RestaurantNews on 11/2/20.

Twin Peaks will start serving its delicious made-from-scratch menu, signature 29-degree beer and scenic views to everyone in Mexico City when the ultimate sports lodge opens its doors on Monday, Nov. 2!

Located at Av. Insurgentes Sur 674, Col. Del Valle, Benito Juarez, this opening marks the first Twin Peaks in Mexico City, first in Latin America and 79^th systemwide.

The new 6,000-square-foot sports lodge will house 24 taps at the central interior and at the patio bar, as well as 67 total TVs throughout restaurant.

“We are thrilled to bring our acclaimed sports viewing experience to Latin America,” said Twin Peaks CEO Joe Hummel. “Mexico City’s first Twin Peaks restaurant is part of an eight-unit franchise deal with Operadora 2 Montes. With seven more restaurants in the pipeline for Mexico City, we are really looking forward to impressing the area with the debut of our first location. We have an excellent team of outgoing individuals that’re joining us in providing unmatched service to the Mexico City community.”

Mexico City’s first Twin Peaks will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., but hours are subject to change. For more information, call 551-668-3561.

The health and safety of its guests and team members is Twin Peaks’ top priority. The restaurant has implemented enhanced sanitization standards and processes and will continue to adhere to all federal, state and local guidelines.

Twin Peaks welcomes every guest with primetime matchups, ice-cold 29-degree beer and now, new smoked menu items. The entire menu is prepared in-house, to order and in generous portions to satisfy every appetite. The hearty made-from-scratch comfort food pairs perfectly with a frosty draft beer or a classic whiskey cocktail. 

This article was published on FSR on 2/1/21. It has been edited to fit this format.

A lot has changed in the 11 months since our last Rising Stars report. The coronavirus pummeled restaurants and forever altered the trajectory of both the sector and the people comprising it. Many up-and-comers lost their jobs through no fault of their own, while others had to put big projects on hold.

At the same time, the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 also galvanized these nimble chefs, restaurateurs, managers, consultants, sommeliers, and others to dare the impossible. Whether starting a new venture, organizing relief for those in need, or throwing out the old rules and creating a fresh operating model, these 29 Rising Stars are demonstrating that they, and the greater industry, are tougher than we could’ve imagined.

TWIN PEAKS CHEF IS RISING STRONG

This article was published on RestaurantNews on 1/28/21.

After a year that put restaurant brands into survival mode, Twin Peaks is expanding on successful 2020 initiatives to carry its strong momentum throughout the new year. According to Knapp-Track, Twin Peaks has been in the Top 10 in Casual Dining for the last seven months – June through December 2020.

When states were mandating restrictions but allowing restaurants to operate under some capacity, Twin Peaks acted quickly to extend its premises with outdoor tents and patio enhancements along with restaurant technology upgrades.

“After dining rooms were forced to close, we immediately put a new business plan in place,” said Twin Peaks CEO Joe Hummel. “The first step in our strategy was upgrading technology, then extending premise and leaning into serving our guests off-premise. Doing what’s best for our customers and team members has always been our top priority. When we were planning how to reopen, we wanted to reinforce our commitment to cleanliness and change the dining experience at Twin Peaks to focus on safety, quality and guest engagement.”

In 2020, Twin Peaks introduced its acclaimed sports viewing experience to Latin America when the brand made its debut in Mexico City. In addition, Twin Peaks finished the year by opening a new sports lodge in Hollywood, Florida. The brand has 12-15 new locations set to open in 2021.

On the development side, Twin Peaks unveiled its first-ever franchise incentive program in August due to the current real estate market climate. The aggressive new franchise relief program waives franchise royalties during the first year of opening a new Twin Peaks restaurant.* This program is available to all qualified developers that meet Twin Peaks’ then-current criteria at the time of execution of an Area Development Agreement.

Twin Peaks will continue to lean heavily on maximizing its conversion strategy with their refined conversion program that takes available real estate with a kitchen and looks for cost-effective solutions to rebrand the building. Franchisees take on a lower cost of entry, as well as a lower build-out cost when converting a building into a Twin Peaks, as opposed to building from the ground up.

Twin Peaks remained committed to menu innovation in 2020 with the launch of additional smoked in-house items like its Smoked Brisket Tacos, The Smokestack Burger topped with pulled pork and smoked mozzarella and the Smoked Half-Chicken. Continuing menu innovation into 2021, Twin Peaks plans to enhance several different areas of its beverage menu to include the Tequila Cocktail and Classic Whiskey Cocktail categories. Food innovation remains top of mind for Twin Peaks, with several food tests coming down the pipeline to include some unique flavors like meatballs, street tacos and more.

“Twin Peaks has so much in store for 2021, including more digital enhancements, new locations and even a virtual concept,” Hummel said. “We have what works and a huge part of our brand success is our passionate, raving fans.”

*This franchise incentive program is available at the time of this publication but is subject to change or termination.

This article was published on AZ Big Media on 1/28/20.

Although COVID-19 has had profound effects on many retail properties nationwide,  Tempe Marketplace continues to expand. Twin Peaks, the ultimate sports lodge, has broken ground on a 7,100 square-foot build in the southeast corner of the shopping center near US Bank and Johnson Fitness. Estimated completion is in early 2021.

“With favorite American eats, an inviting lodge feel and a fun sports-focused atmosphere, Twin Peaks brings a unique concept to Tempe Marketplace that complements our existing lineup of dining destinations,” said Taylor Alvey, Vice President of Leasing at Vestar. “We know the brand will find success at our property with our proximity to ASU and Sloan Park, along with easy freeway access to other sports complexes and entertainment venues around the Valley.”

The Twin Peaks construction site is the last available lot at Tempe Marketplace available for a ground-up build. This is a monumental accomplishment for the shopping center during the COVID-19 pandemic. As other local and national shopping centers have seen a downturn in traffic, Tempe Marketplace ranks #73 of 30,872 shopping centers in the United States for traffic. The center continues to attract new tenants during the pandemic, recently welcoming TaylorMade Phades and Creations Boutique, and soon will welcome Sephora, NUTRISHOP and Fox in a Box Escape Room in the coming months.

The Tempe Marketplace Twin Peaks location marks the fourth Twin Peaks location in the Valley from AZ Peaks Restaurant Group franchisees Carolyn Vangelos, Andy Bayless and Jay Schneider.

“Twin Peaks is so much more than the typical sports bar,” said Twin Peaks’ Carolyn Vangelos “As we continue to grow the Twin Peaks brand with our fourth location at Tempe Marketplace, we are both humbled and proud to bring the total lodge experience to our fans, both old and new, while creating over 100 new jobs in the Valley.”

The lodge welcomes every guest with made-from-scratch food, 29-degree draft beer, a broad cocktail menu and the friendly Twin Peaks wait staff. The entire menu is prepared in-house, to order and in generous portions to satisfy every appetite. The Tempe location will feature more than 80 high-definition flat screen TVs and 32 ice-cold beers on tap. A perfect spot to unwind with friends, colleagues or family. The restaurant has a fire pit on the outdoor patio and two bars – indoor and outdoor.

This article was published in the Houston Chronicle on 8/25/20.

Avalanche Food Group is expanding outdoor seating at two of its local Twin Peaks restaurants by setting up open air tents in the parking lots to provide additional safety for staff and customers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The tents, which have been set up at the Twin Peaks Kirby location at 4527 Lomitas near the Southwest Freeway, and in Webster, at 20931 Gulf Freeway, are temporarily being taken down for safety as Hurricane Laura heads toward the Gulf Coast. The tents are expected to be back up for this weekend, according to the company.

“Our number one priority is the health and well-being of everyone who visits our Twin Peaks restaurants, including our staff,” Avalanche Food Group Chief Operating Officer Ricky Rosa said in an announcement. “We’ve been taking every precaution to safely serve our guests and protect our staff since the pandemic began and the new tents offer all the comforts of a traditional visit to Twin Peaks with an additional layer of safety.”

The tents have cooling fans, socially distanced seating and multiple big-screen TVs. Avalanche’s Twin Peaks locations also offer carry-out service and indoor dining with limited seating capacity. The tents will be open from 11 a.m.. to 11 p.m. daily and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Safety protocols inside the restaurants, include mask requirements, body temperature screenings, sanitization stations, socially distant seating, self-parking and additional cleaning and sanitation to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sugar Land-based Avalanche Food Group own several Twin Peaks restaurants in southern Texas and Indiana.

This article was published on PR Newswire on 12/28/20. All photos by John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel from the article published 1/7/21.

Twin Peaks will be serving its delicious made-from-scratch menu, renowned ice-cold 29-degree beer and scenic views to guests at its new location in Downtown Hollywood, Florida. The doors are set to open this week.

Twin Peaks Hollywood is nestled into the downtown Hollywood strip, in a spacious two-story, three-bar mountain lodge!  Located at 1903 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Florida 33020, the new Twin Peaks restaurant will feature high-definition flat screen TVs in every direction, a wide selection of ice cold drafts, an open-air two-level patio and a wide variety of spirits to choose from across an impressively large bar.

To compliment the extensive drink selection, Twin Peaks Girls will serve up a variety of made-from-scratch American comfort foods and tasty, shareable favorites. Whether it’s for lunch, happy hour, or dinner, guests can expect items and freshly made specialties capable of satisfying every appetite.

“This will be a great anchor in Downtown Hollywood. Fun food, drinks, and sports. We especially love the two-level outdoor area. We’re thrilled to welcome Twin Peaks to the new and improved Downtown Hollywood Community,” – Mayor of the City of Hollywood, Josh Levy.

Owned by Jack Flechner, Fred Burgess, Austin Hester of DMD Ventures, LLC. This is one out of five Twin Peaks restaurant locations owned by the Twin Peaks franchisee.

“We couldn’t be more excited to serve the Hollywood Community and are looking forward to creating a memorable sport viewing experience for guests at this new location,” said Jack Flechner.