Executive Leadership Award

2014 Recipient: Mary Montgomery-Shatz

1980 B.S. in Restaurant Management
Director of Operations at LongHorn Steakhouse, Darden Concepts

In business, Mary Montgomery-Shatz combined her "servant's heart" with her love of food and entertaining, stepping into the restaurant business and working with such institutions as McCormick and Schmick's, Houlihan's and Bristol on the Plaza. Jobs have taken her from her home town in Sabetha to Topeka, Columbia, Mo., Wichita, Dallas, Minneapolis, and then Kansas City. She oversees seven restaurants with about 400 employees.

She is a former K-State Fellow and adviser for the college hospitality management programs. Montgomery-Shatz proudly says she has hired 13 K-State graduates and one of her greatest successes is mentoring.

During her career, Montgomery-Shatz has received the Joe Gilbert award, the highest honor in the company, and the regional director award at Darden.