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March 24, 2023 BIZ PEOPLE 

Haven Hot Chicken names new chief operating officer

PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Gretchen Bartkus

Haven Hot Chicken has named longtime restaurant industry veteran Gretchen Bartkus as its new chief operating officer. 

Bartkus will oversee corporate and store day-to-day operations, and she will work closely with the business’ founders to continue to grow the brand.

Haven Hot Chicken, founded in 2020, features Nashville-style spicy chicken and vegetarian cauliflower sandwiches and tenders. It has locations in New Haven, Orange and Norwalk and a new eatery will be opening soon in North Haven.

Etkin Tekin, CEO and co-founder, said Bartkus’ experience at companies such as Starbucks and Amazon, along with her culinary and food service background, will provide the company with the “perfect skill set at our young but rapidly-expanding brand.”

Bartkus has had several roles at Starbucks Coffee Co., including leading teams of approximately 2,000 employees across multiple time zones. Her career also includes time at Connecticut-based startup Green & Tonic and handling logistics at Amazon.

“I am excited to join a company of enthusiastic, dedicated and hardworking team members,” Bartkus said. “This role offers me the opportunity to come ‘full circle’ and apply so many pieces of my previous experience to the current operations of its three – almost four! – locations, as well as future openings throughout the region.”

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Whittlesey promotes two to manager roles

Accounting firm Whittlesey recently promoted Matthew Burry and Ashley Yanik to assurance manager. 

Drew Andrews, managing partner and CEO at Whittlesey, said in an announcement, “Their dedication to our clients and their expertise in the field makes them outstanding additions to our management team.”

Burry has been with Whittlesey for over four years, specializing in providing assurance and advisory services for nonprofit, real estate, retail and manufacturing clients. 

Yanik joined Whittlesey in 2018, bringing over five years of experience in public accounting. Yanik works with closely-held businesses, real estate entities and nonprofit organizations. 

Both are members of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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