Motherhood Meets Leadership: Celebrating Working Moms in Fast Food

For many, Mother’s Day is about flowers and quality time with their family. For Dawn Lafreeda, President & CEO of Den-Tex Central Inc. and one of Denny’s largest and top woman-owned franchisees, it is also one of the busiest days of the year. Balancing high-volume restaurants with the responsibilities of motherhood is no easy task, yet one she proudly owns.

Lafreeda grew up in a single-income household, learning from an early age that nothing worth having comes easy. At 16 years old, she started as a hostess at Denny's, fell in love with the restaurant industry, and by the age of 25 bought her first restaurant from Denny’s.

Now Lafreeda has decades of experience, is a respected leader in the brand and industry and has served for more than 25 years on the Denny’s Franchise Advisory Board. Still, she says, “Nothing compares to the honor of being a mother.” Having two children later in life gave her a greater sense of appreciation for motherhood and a drive to give her kids what she didn’t have growing up.

Even with managing a 24/7 business, Lafreeda made family time a priority. “I thought, I have 18 summers and 18 Christmases. I need to make each one count,” she says. She scheduled vacations with intention, planning ahead so she could be fully present with her family. “That’s the beauty of running your own business.”

That intentional approach to parenting also influenced how she leads. Being a mother reset her thought process and leadership style. “It made me more compassionate, more understanding. You lead differently when you’ve lived more life.” Her experience as both a business owner and a mom strengthened her ability to adapt and connect with others at a more personal level.

To other working moms in the restaurant industry and otherwise, she advises:

“You should absolutely always follow your dreams. You can do it all, just not all at once. Ask for help. Don’t give up on who you are or what you want for yourself.”

For Lafreeda, being a mom isn’t a job, it’s a transformation. Her ability to juggle both business and family demonstrates that it is possible to be a successful owner operator and a present parent. This Mother’s Day, we celebrate women like Dawn who lead from the heart and inspire others to do the same. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms making it happen, at home, at work, and all the places in between.