Meghan Michel
Meghan Michel is a seasoned commercial real estate professional with extensive experience in corporate site acquisition and market expansion for leading restaurant brands. Currently serving as Group Manager for New Unit Acquisition at Whataburger, she leads a team responsible for identifying and securing new restaurant locations across the Southeast, including Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Meghan’s expertise spans corporate and commercial real estate, site selection, permitting, entitlements, and overseeing new market rollouts from initial sourcing to ground-breaking.
Meghan’s career began in the hospitality industry, where she worked her way up from barista and restaurant server to management positions at Cheesecake Factory. While offered the opportunity to open international locations in Kuwait City, she realized her true passion lay in the development side of the business—finding and acquiring sites for growth. Pursuing this interest, she earned a Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) from Auburn University, a specialized program that propelled her into the corporate real estate sector. Following graduation, she joined Cracker Barrel as a Real Estate Manager, where she honed her skills in site strategy and development before transitioning to Whataburger.
Beyond her corporate role, Meghan is an entrepreneur and co-owner of Spring Street Coffee Roasters, where she manages the business operations while her husband oversees roasting. She is also actively involved in mentoring and industry leadership, serving on the Auburn University MRED Alumni Council as co-chair. Meghan attributes her success to the guidance of mentors, a commitment to continuous learning, and a willingness to ask questions. Guided by her core values of honesty, integrity, and family, she is dedicated to advancing commercial real estate while supporting the next generation of professionals in the field.
• Auburn University – Master of Real Estate Development (MRED), Real Estate Development
• Northern Illinois University – Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Organizational and Corporate Relations
• Influential Women 2026
• Urban Land Institute
• International Council of Shopping Centers
What do you attribute your success to?
I have had some amazing mentors throughout my career. Their guidance and support have been invaluable, helping me navigate challenges, learn the nuances of real estate development, and grow into leadership roles. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities they provided and the lessons I learned from them.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid to ask questions. That's how you learn. Ask all the questions you can, and learn from everyone around you. It doesn't have to be a senior person, it can be a peer, it can be somebody just starting with fresh eyes. You can learn something from everyone you meet.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Women are very underrepresented in commercial real estate, and the next generation is really starting to change that. You're seeing more and more women come in, and I absolutely love that. But it can be a very intimidating field, especially when you are the only woman in the room. I think that is the biggest challenge in commercial real estate. If there's anyone out there that wanted a mentor, I would love to do it for them. You could also go into land prices are sky high and all of these economic issues, but that's just the world that we live in.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, integrity, and family above all. These guide both my professional decisions and personal life.