Nathan Lester

Nathan Lester possesses extensive experience in drive-thru innovation and restaurant operations, currently serving as Senior Director of Drive Thru Innovation at Scooter's Coffee since June 2021. Prior to this role, Nathan held several key positions at McDonald's from May 2012 to June 2021, including leading voice-activated drive-thru initiatives and managing breakthrough restaurant operations that served over 1 million guests. Nathan's skill set encompasses business process management, sustainability consulting, and engineering, with a background as a Project Engineer at Greeley and Hansen and research roles at recognized institutions. Nathan earned a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MBA in Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago, complemented by an Associate's degree in Computer Programming from Keesler Air Force Base. Additionally, Nathan served as a Financial Systems Computer Programmer in the US Air Force, where notable achievements included receiving the Air Force Achievement Medal.