Gardner-Webb 2013 Alumna Shebra Hughes: ‘Waffle House is a Hidden Gem’

Senior Vice President Manages 81 Locations; Values Company’s Family Atmosphere

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Shebra Hughes, a 2013 alumna of Gardner-Webb University, and her husband Tommy love visiting campus. They reminisce about when she was a student and they were dating, but also enjoy representing the company they work for: Waffle House. A senior vice president, Shebra manages 81 locations in North Carolina from Greensboro to Cherokee.

She is familiar with the misconceptions about the 24-hour restaurant. Even the Waffle House table at the GWU Career and Internship Fair featured a sign with this statement: “The dream job you never dreamed of.”

Her degree in criminal justice from Gardner-Webb developed skills that help her succeed in management. The concepts she learned in finance, security, and communication have been especially beneficial. Also, she was willing to travel. “From the beginning, I told them that I would move wherever they needed me to,” Shebra reflected. “I was essentially betting on myself, and I knew that I could do it, and I could move up quickly and progress, and that’s what I did.”   

She added, “I don’t think anyone at Waffle House graduated from college and their first thought was, ‘Oh, I think I’ll go to work at Waffle House,’ but don’t judge a book by its cover. It is truly a hidden gem, a family business where they take care of their people and live up to what they say they’re going to do. I absolutely love it.”

Waffle House wasn’t her first choice either. After graduating with a degree in criminal justice, Shebra’s plan was to get a job in a lawyer’s office and eventually go to law school. She went to interviews but didn’t get hired. “So, I started reaching out and doing other interviews at multiple locations to see if I could just get some interview practice,” Shebra shared. “And, Waffle House was one of them. I interviewed for a manager training position.”

When the job recruiter explained how well Waffle House takes care of their employees, she decided to accept the offer. “They have an amazing homegrown leadership program where you start at the bottom, and work your way up,” Shebra asserted. Manager trainees participate in a three- to four-month training program where they learn everything they need to know to run the business. They experience all aspects of the restaurant, from serving and cooking to breaking down general ledgers.  

She went home and told Tommy that she was going to work for Waffle House, and he was skeptical at first. However, after seeing the benefits offered by the company. Tommy came on board two months later.

Their first jobs were in Hickory, N.C. Over the past 11 years, they moved to Asheville, N.C., Nashville, Tenn., and Fayetteville, Arkansas. Three years ago, while Tommy was deployed with the Army, Waffle House offered her the senior vice president job in Charlotte. She and the couple’s two daughters moved back to North Carolina, which was also closer to her home in Maiden, N.C. 

Tommy is the director of recruiting, and Shebra travels to the Waffle House units under her management. She plays a pivotal role in site evaluations, ensuring each location is positioned for success, and is instrumental in cultivating an environment that encourages growth and innovation. “As a senior vice president, I am responsible for leading the strategic direction and operational performance of our organization, encompassing 81 locations,” she described. “My leadership role demands a visionary strategist who can align organizational initiatives with long-term goals and foster development within the management team.”

Shebra and Tommy dated while she was a student at Gardner-Webb. He was in the Army National Guard and had just returned from his first deployment to Iraq. She chose to attend GWU because of high school friends who went there, the excellent reputation of the professors and academic programs, and the beautiful campus. Tommy had other friends at GWU and on most weekends, came to spend time with her and them. “We just love being back on the Gardner-Webb campus,” Shebra affirmed, noting that Waffle House has recruited promising associates from the University. “Everyone is just so welcoming and friendly; it’s always nice to be here.”

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.