From Server to Corporate Coach: How MSU ADPR Alum, Zoe Church, Transformed a Part-time Job into a Career
By: Ava Culver
Zoe Church’s journey from a Michigan State University ADPR student to a corporate leader was one of resilience, connection and commitment to people. At only 24 years old, Zoe Church has become the youngest marketing coach in the history of Texas Roadhouse here. Overseeing 19 stores across two different markets, Church does what she loves every day.
During her time at MSU, the pandemic hit which led Church to contemplate her major choices. She quickly realized that ADPR is where she belonged. Teresa Mastin, Ph.D., now vice provost and associate vice president for faculty and academic staff affairs, was one of Church’s PR professors.
“The professors cared so deeply,” she said. “She alone has helped me out so much in my career. Like, I hear her voice in my head all the time.”
While working toward her degree, Church also helped open a new Texas Roadhouse store in west Lansing, Michigan. She started as a server then obtained the position of local store marketer within four months of the store opening. Church’s time at this Texas Roadhouse location led her to make lasting relationships with her coworkers and other mentors within the company.
While being a student at MSU and the marketer at the store, Church tragically lost her mother to cancer, but she was met with unwavering support from her peers and mentors.
“They say they are a people first company that just happens to serve steaks, and they mean it,” said Church. “They exert those values every single day. The managing partner does. The service manager, kitchen managers and not just at one store, but nationwide, internationally.”
Knowing she had the support she needed gave Church the opportunity to begin her career focus. Her success as a local store marketer rapidly led to leadership opportunities. She became a trainer for other marketers at 40 other stores, then earned a promotion to marketing coach. Within her first three quarters as coach, she has already topped the last coach’s numbers in both markets.
As marketing coach for two Texas Roadhouse markets, Church leads with empathy and compassion toward the people she oversees, which she learned from Mastin and Texas Roadhouse leadership. She says there is no other company that she wants to work for because of their values and mission.
Church credits her success to not only the support that Texas Roadhouse gave her, but also her mentors and professors that guided her at MSU.
“My PR degree, it just changed my life for the better. It made me feel confident. It made me feel well-rounded,” Church said. “I don’t know where I would be without the ADPR family. They just really made me feel welcome.”
To connect with Church, check out her LinkedIn here.
