Joy Cogan

Joy Cogan has spent 25 years building a career in fast casual restaurant hospitality and retail management. She began in management roles at age 19 after initially declining earlier opportunities due to lack of self-confidence, becoming the youngest manager at the time while balancing multiple jobs in food and retail. Cogan learned to lead by example, follow policy and procedure strictly, and mentor new employees, skills that have carried through her career. She currently serves as operations manager overseeing two locations, one of which ranks in the top five of her company, and has contributed to restructuring policies and improving processes across organizations. Her educational background includes a high school diploma, one year at Eastern Michigan University, and graduation from Bible school in May, through which she became an ordained minister. Cogan also holds a ServSafe certification obtained in 2021 and became a ServSafe proctor in 2023. She aspires to open her own cafe focused on healthy food options to promote wellness in her community.