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.

RANDY PIEBES

President
Randy’s career in the industry started as a dishwasher. He worked to become an Executive Sous Chef before moving to FOH roles. He later obtained a BS in Restaurant & Hotel Management from Johnson and Wales University in RI. This prompted a 17-year career with Hilton Hotels, where Randy traveled across the Northeast to open hotels and build restaurants.

Since joining the Q39 team as President in June 2022, Randy became a certified Kansas City Barbeque Society judge, and enjoys judging and even participating in competitions to honor Q39’s heritage.

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.

JOHN BEDDALL

Director of Catering
John joined the Q39 team in early 2023 with over 20 years spent in the service and hospitality industry. Combined with his go-getter attitude, excellent operations management skills and a passion for fostering relationships, John found a perfect match in his role as Director of Catering.

When he’s not working with guests and partners planning events, John steps in the spotlight and performs live music at shows all over Kansas City. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for Member at Large, a non-profit that builds schools in rural Honduras. As Director of Catering, John gets to infuse both his creativity and passion for making an impact in his local community.

OPerations

JAKE BRAMLET

Recruiting Manager
Jake brings a unique mix of skills to Q39, blending fast food management, military service, recruiting and talent booking. He joined the team in 2023 as the first recruiting specialist and quickly moved into a key management role. In his "Frankenstein" position, he oversees everything from interviews to orientation, making sure new hires feel right at home. Jake is proud to be part of Q39 and believes strongly in its high standards and competitive edge. Outside of work, he serves in the Army Reserves, loves hiking and fishing and enjoys playing soccer.

JOEL HATZFELD

Controller
Joel served in the Navy for 10 years before earning his accounting degree at KU. Specializing in tax and small business accounting across public and private sectors, he excels in data-driven decision-making for small business growth. Since joining the Q39 team in March 2024, Joel oversees accounting operations to achieve financial goals and meet reporting requirements, valuing Q39 for its exceptional food and team spirit. In his free time, Joel and his wife enjoy hosting board game nights and exploring local Kansas City dining, parks and cultural venues like the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Union Station and the River Market Farmer's Market.

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.

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.

BRETT JAMES

Assistant General Manager
With over 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry, including 10 in management, Brett has been with Q39 since November 2021. His dedication and versatility earned him the title of Assistant General Manager in July 2024. Known as the "Swiss army knife" of the team, Brett thrives on helping staff and customers alike, ensuring smooth operations. A die-hard Chiefs fan, Brett spends his free time with his two German Shepherds, off-roading, vacationing in the mountains and exploring national parks.

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.

Lawrence

MASON PRUETT

Kitchen Manager
Mason joined Q39 in June 2024 and is training to be the Kitchen Manager for the upcoming Lawrence location, set to open in 2025. Before joining Q39, Mason served as Kitchen Manager at HyVee for over a decade, where he honed his skills in planning, organizing and directing kitchen operations. He set department standards for customer service, cleanliness and profitability, worked closely with chefs for provisioning and purchasing, and supervised food portioning to minimize waste. Now at Q39, Mason is committed to learning every aspect of the kitchen and supporting the team wherever needed. His pride in delivering a high-quality product is matched only by his love for the people and environment at Q39. Outside of work, Mason enjoys cooking, exploring new music, hitting the gym, traveling and spending time outdoors.

Careers

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

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