Diana lives in Corcoran with her husband Mark, three kids (Brandon, 16, Laurel 14, and Blake 12), and two cats. When free time presents itself, you can find her enjoying long walks and catching up on her reading. We were fortunate to get a little of that time this month as we catch up with Diana on the heels of quarter-end.

Biggest challenge over the next 3-6 months:

“Sales stabilization and associate morale are a top priority during this difficult economic environment.”

Exciting things happening:

Diana is excited about where Famous Dave’s is going these days - back to its entrepreneurial roots of innovation in every functional area, and at every level within the organization, including menu development, product pipeline, marketing and sales initiatives, and financing alternatives.

Professional accomplishments that draw the most pride:

In 2005, Diana received the designation of a Top Woman in Finance for the state of Minnesota. In 2006, she became a “Forty Under Forty” and in 2007, Diana was named a finalist for the Business Journal’s CFO of the Year.

Best advice received: 

“Stand up for what you believe in and be true to yourself. It takes years to build a reputation and seconds to lose it.”

Favorite singer, book, and restaurant:

Dido is on constant rotation for Diana and the critically acclaimed sushi leader, Origami, is a favorite dining destination. With teenagers at home, it was no surprise to us that the Twilight series is always close at hand!

3 purchases with lottery earnings:

“Of course, I would celebrate with lots of Famous Dave’s, purchase plane tickets to Italy for my husband and me, then start shopping for a beach house near the ocean!”

If I didn’t need to work…

“I would travel around the world.”

Best vacation:

One summer, Diana and her family rented a beach house for a week in Cape Cod. “You could literally walk down a flight of stairs to a private beach on the ocean. We spent the week just relaxing, swimming, looking for shells, and eating the most amazing seafood I’ve ever had.”

Something that would surprise people:

Diana is a published poet!

Obstacle overcome in life:

The death of Diana’s grandmother had a profound impact on her life. “She was my greatest advocate and so her passing was very hard on me.”

What I’ve enjoyed most about FEWnet:

“The true value of FEWnet has been the opportunity to network with so many talented, bright, and outstanding professionals.”

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