Rachel Richal

Rachel Richal is the Vice President of Training for Buffalo Wild Wings, part of Inspire Brands. In her role, she leads the strategy of the brand’s training programs and roll-out of initiatives for both the company and franchise system. Her team’s goal is to operationalize initiatives and design engaging programs that improves performance, drives brand culture and positively develops the team member experience. In 2020 her team also took on the training for Buffalo Wild Wings GO, a growing QSR concept by Buffalo Wild Wings.

Rachel began her hospitality career at 15 as a cashier in a local deli in Miami. Growing up in a family in the wine business, food and beverage was always a huge part of her life. Prior to joining the team at Buffalo Wild Wings in 2019, Rachel led training and development for the Florida based restaurant chain, TooJay's Deli and Restaurant. She began working there as a server while attending the Rosen School of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, where she graduated with her BS in Hospitality Management.

Quickly realizing her passion for enhancing culture and helping others to achieve success, Rachel worked her way through various training roles becoming the Director of Training in 2013 leading the company’s training and operations programs, new restaurant openings, driving organizational culture and supporting the growth of the brand.

She was recognized in 2019 in FSR magazine's 2019 Rising Stars list—a collection of 40 rising restaurant professionals under 40 in the U.S. She is a Certified Hospitality Trainer from the Educational Institute and served on the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Education Committee. In 2021, Rachel was recognized by Chief Learning Officer’s Learning in Practice Awards for both the Trailblazer Award and the Innovation Award. She has spoken multiple times for the National Restaurant Association both in person and in virtual formats.

Rachel is actively involved in the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART), for which she has been a presenter, worked on multiple conference teams, including conference director, and currently is serving her fifth year on the Board of Directors as President.

Rachel currently lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Dan, and two dogs, Jemmi and Rory.