COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & DONATIONS

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Meet the Team

Meet the players of the Q39 team!

Leadership

KELLY MAGEE

Owner
Kelly and her husband Chef Rob opened Q39 together in April 2014. Before becoming a restauranteur, Kelly worked in business development roles for over ten years and built a solid foundation of sales and leadership experience. Additionally, Kelly is well versed in strategic planning across a variety of industries, including retail, ecommerce, hospitality and non-profits.

One thing about Kelly— she's always on the move. When she's not leading the restaurant's award-winning team, Kelly has a passion for traveling. You may find her on Safari in Africa, or skiing on the slopes in Colorado with her friends and family.

PATRICK PELUSO

Executive Chef/Director of Culinary
When it comes to smoke, flame and flavor, Chef Patrick Peluso brings the heat—and a whole lot of heart. An East Coast native with global taste, he first fell in love with food in his grandmother’s kitchen, where Sunday sauce and stories simmered side by side. Since then, his journey has taken him from classical training in French and Italian cuisine to national BBQ competitions and executive leadership roles in kitchens across the country.

At Q39, Chef Peluso blends bold, chef-driven ingenuity with Midwestern soul, overseeing culinary operations and inspiring teams to bring their best to the table every day. He’s cooked for celebrities, mentored young chefs, and forged strong ties with local ranchers—because to Chef Peluso, great BBQ always starts with great people.

ANDREW KNEESSY

Brand Expansion
Andrew’s culinary career began at the Culinary Institute of America, leading to roles at Hyatt Hotels and the Occidental Restaurant in Washington, DC. He cooked for Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton before refining his craft in Belgium and the Netherlands. After returning to the U.S., he led kitchens at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, the Historic Georgetown Club, and the Kansas City Country Club for over 16 years.

Since joining Q39, Andrew has focused on expanding the brand and strengthening community partnerships while bringing his passion for curating an exceptional culinary and hospitality experience for our guests.

CARRIE POWELL

Director of Human Resources
Carrie is a Kansas City native with many years of HR experience in the local hospitality industry prior to joining the Q39 team in 2021. Her personal hobby as a robotics coach fuels her passion for mentoring and supporting her team, which is highly reflected in her role as Director of Human Resources.

Carrie has supported the Q39 team through incredible growth, noting this as a dream come true for someone that loves to create, build and nurture. She’s a proud foodie and lover of Q39 BBQ!

XAVIER ECHEVERRIA

Regional Operations Manager
Xavier joined Q39 in August 2024, with 26 years of restaurant and hospitality industry experience. He started as a dishwasher in 1998, working his way up through various leadership roles, including managing partner and area director of operations. Known for his servant leadership, Xavier is passionate about training and developing team members, ensuring they excel both personally and professionally. At Q39, he oversees day-to-day operations, maintaining that the highest standards for food quality, hospitality and cleanliness are met. Outside of work, Xavier enjoys spending time with his wife Tami and their two children, Gabbi and Alex. He’s also a certified BBQ judge through the Kansas City Barbeque Society.

SHAWN CRAFT

Chief Operations Officer
Shawn is a deeply experienced, results-driven operations executive with over 28 years of hospitality industry experience. He has spent the majority of his career helping mature restaurant brands scale while preserving their unique identity and guest experience. He believes passionately in the power of people and holds true to the philosophy that the guest experience will never exceed that of the team. His leadership focuses on building a strong culture where excellence is the standard and every detail matters. Outside the restaurant, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Natalie and his three children. You’ll often find him on the golf course with friends when he’s not at Q39. His go-to meal? The Pit Master Brisket Sandwich with a side of Potato Salad — though he insists every dish is outstanding.

SCOTT KAUTZI

Director of Sales
A Kansas City native, Scott brings over 25 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry to Q39. As Director of Sales, he leads with a passion for authentic connections, strategic growth, and unforgettable guest experiences. Over the past decade, Scott has specialized in business development, building strong relationships, and delivering high-profile events that leave a lasting impression. Scott is involved in many boards and committees and will be taking on the role of President of MPI Kansas City in 2026. Joining the Q39 team is a natural fit—pairing deep roots in the community with a proven track record of driving results in the dynamic world of food and hospitality.

OPerations

HEATHER EDWARDS

Controller
Heather became Q39’s Controller in March 2025, bringing a strong background in both accounting and the restaurant industry. Before joining the team, she managed financial operations for several Chicken N Pickle locations and spent years in food service as a certified trainer. At Q39, Heather oversees accounting functions from the Midtown corporate office, helping drive operational success with a sharp financial eye. In her free time, Heather loves camping, swimming and spending time outdoors with her family. She also has fond memories of living in New Zealand for a year when she was young and enjoys rom-coms, Mexican food and a good laugh with friends.

SCOTT BROWN

Retail Sales Manager
Since 2022, Scott has used his 20+ years of sales experience as Q39's Retail Sales Manager. He started at Q39 in 2015 and has held various roles including Server and Front of House Manager, showing his commitment to Q39's growth. Scott is responsible for managing Q39's retail products across their restaurants, third-party retailers and website. Known as "The Q39 Sauce Boss," he thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys expanding the Q39 brand. Off the clock, Scott loves outdoor activities like gardening, golfing and smoking meats. He shares these passions with his wife, Aimee, by cooking for their family and friends.

RACHEL MULVIHILL

Training & Development Manager
Rachel joined Q39 in August 2024, bringing a rich blend of experiences from her career in corporate journalism, education and public service. She began her journey working at the Sedgwick County District Court before transitioning into corporate communications at NewsLink. Eventually, she found her way into teaching AP language and composition at Olathe East High School. Now at Q39, Rachel applies her diverse background to develop engaging learning materials and leadership training for the team. Outside of work, Rachel is passionate about exploring the local food scene, skiing and reading. She lives with her husband, Harrison, a Pomeranian named Auggie, and two cats, Murri and Wallace. She's an avid Chiefs and Blackhawks fan and serves on the Lenexa Police Advisory Committee.

KRIS STALEY

Systems Technology Manager
Kris joined Q39 in March 2020, just six days after the pandemic shutdown. Today, she's the go-to person for all things tech, assisting the entire staff with everything from fixing handheld devices to managing the online menus guests see when ordering. Her role spans across the restaurant, ensuring seamless technology integration. Kris’s favorite part of the job is working with her coworkers, who feel more like family than colleagues. In her free time, Kris enjoys going to the dog park with her corgi, shopping for deals at the Legends, and exploring Kansas City’s diverse food culture with her significant other.

CASSIDY GALBRAITH

Catering Manager
With over a decade of experience in the service industry, Cassidy joined Q39 at the height of COVID, starting in carry-out and quickly rising into a leadership role. Now serving as Catering Manager, she combines her passion for hospitality and organization to deliver seamless, memorable events. With a background in psychology, Cassidy excels at building strong teams and cultivating meaningful client relationships- all while proudly representing a brand rooted in quality and community.

CAITLYN JOHNSON

Catering Manager
Caitlyn began her journey at Q39 in 2018 as a server and bartender, where she developed a strong understanding of the restaurant’s food, service, and guests. Caitlyn is passionate about creating seamless, memorable experiences for events of all sizes and loves being part of a team that delivers top-quality barbecue with genuine hospitality. When she's not at work, Caitlyn enjoys exploring new restaurants around the Kansas City area, gardening, and spending time outdoors.

Midtown

MARK ADAMS

General Manager
Mark joined the Q39 team in early 2022 as Midtown’s General Manager. He is a hospitality pro with more than 15 years in restaurant management across Chicago and St. Louis. His experience managing multiple BBQ restaurants throughout his career and time as an Executive Chef aligns him with Q39’s mission to serve the best chef-driven BBQ in KC.

The charisma, professionalism and positivity he brings to the restaurant every day is felt across his team and every guest served.

ISAAC MEIJA

Kitchen Manager
Born in Mexico City, Isaac moved to the United States in 2008 and worked his way through the high-volume kitchen at Cheesecake Factory for 13 years as a line cook and supervisor. Isaac joined the Q39 team in 2014 as a line cook, where he mastered all the kitchen stations and became a specialist on the grill before he was promoted to supervisor and later Kitchen Manager in 2021.

Isaac leads the Midtown team of over 35 members and managers and has been an integral part of the success and cohesion of the team.

ALBERTO MARTINEZ

Sous Chef/Lead Pitmaster
Also born and raised in Mexico City, Alberto has lived in Kansas City since 1994 and worked at the Hilton Kansas City Airport where he met Chef Rob in the early 2000’s and helped him create all his original sauces for the Munchin Hogs BBQ competition team.

Alberto learned BBQ techniques from Chef Rob and would eventually join him at Q39 in April 2014, becoming our longest serving employee. Alberto’s 20 years of experience in BBQ makes him the perfect trainer for all of our new pitmasters coming onboard to learn how Q39 does BBQ.

LAURA DOCET

Assistant General Manager
Laura is a California native with over two decades of experience working up the ladder in the restaurant industry. Her passion for exploring new places led her to relocate to Kansas City in 2020, where she fell in love with Q39’s Kansas City-style BBQ.

Laura joined the Q39 team as Assistant General Manager in 2022. She embodies our fans-first culture by going above and beyond to serve each guest and leads the team with an unbeatable spirit.

South

DARIO LARA

General Manager
Dario joined Q39 in August 2024, bringing with him 16 years of experience from Buffalo Wild Wings, where he rapidly climbed the ranks. At Q39, Dario leads by example, fostering a positive and motivating work environment. He’s passionate about coaching his team and watching them grow into confident, happy members of the Q39 family. Outside of work, Dario enjoys spending time with his wife of 16 years and their two children, Dario Jr. and Thalia. As a family, they love exploring nature, going for walks and watching movies together. A devoted cook, Dario takes pride in discovering new recipes and techniques in the kitchen.

EDGAR BUEZO SAGASTUME

Pitmaster
Edgar has been a cornerstone of the Q39 culinary team for years, proudly serving as Pitmaster at the South location. Trained directly by Chef Rob, Edgar takes great pride in honoring his legacy through precision, consistency and care in every smoked dish. His dedication to excellence and respect among the kitchen team make him a leader behind the scenes. Outside of work, Edgar enjoys quality time with his young family and upholds the high standards that keep Q39’s reputation strong.

ZACHARY WEIBE

Pitmaster
Zach joined Q39 in 2024 as Pitmaster for the upcoming Lawrence location, bringing with him a strong background in kitchen management and a passion for BBQ. While preparing for the restaurant’s opening in 2025, he’s training at Midtown under the guidance of Pitmaster Alberto. Previously, Zach worked in culinary and leadership roles at Hy-Vee locations in Kansas City, MO and Lawrence, KS. When he’s not in the kitchen, Zach enjoys hiking the Colorado mountains, staying active and spending time with his two young kids. A fan of action movies and Sons of Anarchy, he’s always up for a bag of Extra Toasty Cheez-Its.

WALTER LANGLEY

Assistant General Manager
Walter rejoined Q39 in 2025 as Assistant General Manager at the Midtown location, returning after a previous tenure at Q39 South. With years of hospitality experience and a deep understanding of Q39’s culture, Walter brings fresh perspective and reliable leadership to the team. Known for his calm demeanor and dedication to excellence, he’s a valuable asset across the company. Off the clock, Walter enjoys golf, Diet Dr. Pepper and dining at his favorite Kansas City restaurant—Lidia’s. He’s also a fan of Breaking Bad and never passes up a trip to Golf Galaxy.

Careers

Interested in joining the Q39 team? Check out our open positions and apply today!

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The Bourbon & BBQ Experience

Calling all fathers and foodies alike–come enjoy this limited-time perfect pairing!

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