As the President of Agro Land & Cattle and Company for the past 12.5 years,
Casey Wills has been at the helm of a business with a deep legacy. Founded
in 1961, the company operates Pinnacle Peak, El Corral and The Savoy,
three well-loved restaurants known for their rich flavors, authentic
hospitality and deep-rooted traditions.
Owning and managing a family restaurant business comes with unique
challenges—something Casey has come to understand firsthand. Unlike
chain restaurants, which have an entire suite of in-house resources—including legal counsel, accounting and compliance teams—family-owned establishments require their leaders to navigate everything independently.
“When you own a family restaurant, you quickly
learn what you don’t know because you don’t have the same level of support,” Casey explains.
A common misconception about restaurant ownership is that success simply
comes from being a great cook. “People often hear from their friends, ‘You’re
an amazing cook, you should open a restaurant,’” Casey says. While passion
for food is essential, the business side is where many struggle. “You can get
in over your head before you know it. There’s a huge learning curve.”
One of the biggest differences between family-owned restaurants and chain
restaurants is how leadership is structured. Casey said, “In independent
restaurants, many owners spend their time working IN the business rather
than ON the business. Chef-owners, in particular, are often in the kitchen
every single day, handling daily operations. In contrast, leaders of chain
restaurants have the ability to focus on long-term planning, growth
strategies, and sustainability—key factors in building a lasting business.”
Finding Mentorship and Perspective Through Vistage & 3-Pillars Performance Group
As Casey’s leadership role grew, he realized something was missing—peers
at his level. “In my role as president, I don’t have peers within my company.
My father-in-law is the owner, but he’s not involved in the day-to-day
business. I didn’t have mentorship or resources to go to for advanced
business learning or sharpening the ax,” Casey explains.
To find mentorship, learning opportunities, and expand his horizons, Casey
looked outside his company and discovered Vistage, a CEO mentoring group
focused on executive leadership. “Vistage was a good fit to help me get all
that,” he says. Not only did he join, but he also became the first founding
member of Steve Weaver’s first Vistage group, solidifying his commitment to
continuous learning and leadership development.
Through Vistage, Casey gained valuable insights—not just about business,
but about himself. “I learned that it’s okay not to know everything. The kind
of humility that comes with that realization isn’t unique to me—it’s
something all great leaders embrace. Having a beginner’s mind is a good
practice, and it can be really liberating.”
3-Pillars Performance Group , we specialize in helping remote and hybrid CEOs break through the isolation of leadership. Our Executive Peer Groups connect you with like-minded leaders, providing a trusted network for sharing insights and solutions. Through Executive Coaching, we help you create actionable remote work plans that align your team with your company’s vision. And with our Blueprint Service, we ensure your talent strategy drives engagement and performance in any work environment.
Don’t face these challenges alone—let 3-Pillars Performance Group be your partner in building a thriving, connected, and aligned organization. Schedule a consultation today and discover how we can help you lead with clarity and confidence.
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