I met Kat Cole in 2005, when I was hosting a panel for the Women’s Food Service Forum at the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta.
Kat was the only woman, and by far the youngest and most impressive of all the panelists. At the time, Kat was head of training for Hooters, and what struck me most was how a highly intelligent, business-savvy brunette, who the audience couldn’t help but take seriously, represented a brand that I had associated with blondes in tight T-shirts and shorts.