COUSINS SUBS® PROMOTES HILARY KREKLING TO VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

MILWAUKEE (November 15, 2023) – Cousins Subs® is pleased to announce the promotion of Hilary Krekling as Vice President of Operations. Krekling, who grew up with Cousins Subs as the daughter of franchisees, has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication throughout her career with the company.

Krekling's journey with Cousins Subs began working in-store in April 2006, before interning at the Corporate Support Center in 2013 and was hired the following year as a Training Coordinator. In less than a year, her commitment and expertise quickly earned her a promotion to Area Director, where she successfully ensured operational excellence and profitability across 11 locations. In June 2020, Krekling was further promoted to Director of Operations, where she skillfully led the operations team through the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. As Director of Operations, Krekling effectively managed 50 corporate locations, spearheaded a team of Area Directors and provided comprehensive support to nearly 1,000 employees across the operations department.

In October 2023, Krekling joined the Cousins Subs Leadership Team as the Vice President of Operations. In this new role, she is responsible for overseeing the operations department at the Cousins Subs Corporate Support Center, further strengthening the brand's commitment to excellence.

"Hilary's extensive experience and dedication to our brand make her the perfect fit for this role,” said Christine Specht, CEO at Cousins Subs. “Her leadership has been instrumental in navigating the challenges of the past few years, and we are excited to see her continue to drive operational success."

Krekling's passion for leadership and community involvement is evident in her background. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business with a focus in management and leadership from the University of St. Thomas – Twin Cities. During her time at St. Thomas, Krekling founded the L.E.A.D. club, a group dedicated to promoting leadership skills among students. Additionally, she has actively participated in volunteer work, including eight mission trips both nationally and internationally.

"I am honored to take on this new role and contribute to the continued success of Cousins Subs as we continue to grow and expand with exciting opportunities on the horizon," said Krekling. "I am committed to upholding our brand's values and delivering exceptional experiences to our guests and franchisees."

As Cousins Subs celebrates Hilary Krekling's promotion to Vice President of Operations, the brand looks forward to her continued leadership and contributions to the company's growth and success.

About Cousins Subs

Wisconsin-based Cousins Subs®, a family-owned, fast casual sub shop established in 1972 by Bill Specht and his cousin, is driven by the mission to Believe in Better – both in the quality of food it serves and in the communities it supports. Cousins Subs and its franchisees operate nearly 100 sub sandwich shops throughout Wisconsin and Indiana, providing guests with quality deli fresh and made to order grilled subs using only the freshest ingredients on its signature bread baked daily. For more information, visit cousinssubs.com. You can also find Cousins Subs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.