Chris Graves

Chris Graves has joined Southern Rock as an Area Director, covering the East Tennessee market. He is no stranger to the hospitality profession, as he has been in the industry since an early age. He was born and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and began his professional career 27 years ago working as a dishwasher at the McAlister’s Deli location in Hattiesburg. Working for McAlister’s Deli has been his first and only job. After completing his degree in Business Management at the University of Southern Mississippi, Chris was presented with an opportunity to relocate to Jackson, Mississippi for a leadership role. Once arriving in Jackson, he was promoted to multiple positions within the span of 3 years, including Assistant General Manager, General Manager, Manager of Training, and Manager of Ops Services.

Prior to joining Southern Rock Restaurants, Chris worked as an Area Director for Peak Restaurants, LLC franchise group in Knoxville, Tennessee. While working for them, Chris was responsible for the company’s overall business operations within the East Tennessee region. He, along with his staff, received multiple awards; most notably winning Franchise of the Year for 3 consecutive years

Chris resides in Tennessee with his wife Carla, and their 2 Weimaraner (Trooper & BB, both 7). In his free time, he enjoys traveling, relaxing on the patio, landscaping, playing sports and grilling.