Jackie Reed Appointed CEO of TS Restaurants

Leilani’s Restaurant is part of the Whalers Village shopping center located on Kaanapali Beach, Maui. File photo.

T S Restaurants has promoted Jackie Reed from vice president of California operations to chief executive officer. Reed has dedicated over 25 years to the company, climbing the ranks from hostess to CEO.

She succeeds Bill Parsons, who retired as CEO/chairman, culminating a 38-year career of service to the organization.

TS Restaurants is a family-owned, privately held company with 14 restaurants in California and Hawai‘i, including Leilani’s on the Beach in Kā‘anapali on Maui.

“We are so excited for the future at TS Restaurants,” said Susie Saxten, chairman of the board. “Jackie has extensive experience and she excels at creating operational efficiencies and empowering the people she works with. Given her success as VP of California operations and her deep understanding of our TS culture, she was the natural choice as chief executive officer.”

As CEO for TS Restaurants, Reed develops, implements and leads the company’s high-level long and short-term strategies, is responsible for leading the executive team to set and accomplish operational and financial objectives, and also acts as the central point of communication between the board of directors and corporate operations.

Reed began her restaurant career in 1989 as a hostess at Leilani’s. Though the hostess position was meant to be a part-time, transitionary job, Reed fell in love with the values, spirit, and opportunities that existed within T S and never left, spending her entire career thus far with the company.

Reed worked in two other TS Restaurants before moving to the California home office as controller in 1998. She has been involved in five restaurant openings and was an integral part of developing TS accounting systems, human resource policies and adopting restaurant technology.

After 10 years as controller, Reed was able to realize her passion for working in operations as VP of California operations, a position she held until becoming CEO on November 1, 2015.

While working her way up in the company, Reed earned a bachelor of science in business administration, and in 2015, graduated from the executive MBA program at San Diego State University, earning valedictorian honors.

She works with the SDSU L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management as a guest lecturer, assessor and is a current member of their advisory board.

Reed is also involved in the Polynesian community, teaching dance and participating in cultural activities and education, as a way of staying in touch with her Samoan heritage.

For more about TS Restaurants, visit www.tsrestaurants.com.