ELIZABETHTOWN, KY – In response to the company’s continued growth, Sun Tan City has added to its Louisville, KY-based Executive Team. The new-hires each bring decades of experience in their respective fields and are poised to help the brand continue its growth internally and through franchise expansion.
Chris Sternberg joined Sun Tan City as Senior Vice President and General Counsel in September, 2012. This new role comes after a successful, 18-year career at Papa John’s Pizza where he helped the brand grow from a regional chain with 500 restaurants in 1994 to the world’s third largest pizza chain with nearly 4,000 franchised and company-owned restaurants in 32 countries. Prior to serving at General Counsel, he served as the SVP of Corporate Communications responsible for overseeing communications, community-relations and events.
Sternberg’s experience will help as STC increases its number of company-owned and franchise locations throughout the country. He received his BA from Bellarmine University and his JD from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. In addition, he served in the United States Army Reserves from 1984 to 1996, retiring with the rank of Major.
Bill Kent joined Sun Tan City as Chief Information Officer in May, 2012. His focus will be leading the IT Department as they look to align technology to support the continued growth of Sun Tan City’s salons and concepts.
Kent has more than 26 years of IT experience at large, Fortune 500 Companies like Coca-Cola, ExxonMobile and General Motors. He comes to STC after eight years at Texas Roadhouse where he built and led the IT department as it grew to more than 300 company and franchise restaurants. His work there played a key role as the company went public in 2004 and opened its first international restaurant in 2010.
Kent holds a Computer Science degree from Louisiana State University and Phillips College. He is a graduate of EDS’ (Electronic Data Systems) SED (System Engineering Development) program and holds several IT and Project Management certificates.
Martha Redman joined Sun Tan City as Chief Marketing Officer in March, 2012. Redman brings nearly 30 years of marketing experience from both the corporate and agency sides. She has extensive experience in brand development, advertising, sales promotions, and events and sports marketing. She comes to Sun Tan City following 7+ years at Humana.
Redman leads the STC marketing team as they work to grow the brand name and build lasting customer engagement. A Louisville native, Redman is a graduate of University of Louisville and is pursuing a graduate degree at Bellarmine University.
Beth Ransdall will lead franchise growth in her role as Director of Franchising, as she seeks out qualified candidates to become franchisees.
Ransdall has more than 20 years of Sales and Marketing experience. Her career includes time at Humana, where she rose to Marketing Manager for the Florida Region, to Papa John’s International, as Director of Franchising. Beth started franchising Papa John’s domestically and later moved into the International Division. During her time there, the company grew from a regional chain to world’s third-largest pizza chain with nearly 4,000 franchised and company-owned restaurants. Ransdall is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University.
“The expertise and passion our new-hires bring to our Executive Team is unmatched. Under their leadership we expect to see major growth of the our brand,” said Rick Keuber, CEO/Co-Founder. “We look forward to seeing where this talented group takes us in the future.”
Beyond the executive team hires, Sun Tan City has added to its Marketing Team to respond to the company’s growth.
Alice O’Donnell joins the STC team as Senior Marketing Director. She brings more than ten years of franchise marketing experience working for the Agile Pursuits Franchising Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, aiding in developing the franchise brands of Tide Dry Cleaners and Mr. Clean Car Wash, in addition to working for Papa John’s International as Regional Marketing Director overseeing 250+ locations in the Central Midwest Division.
