18 SEPTEMBER 2026 J ohn Dawson is a purveyor of problems. He actually seeks them out. And once he discovers a difficult customer service issue, he pounces on it like a WWE wrestler, smothering it with a solution. “Should something go wrong with a customer’s dining experience, we have the opportunity to correct the problem and make things right,” said Dawson, one of the longest-tenured employees of Fox Restaurant Concepts (FRC). “It’s about enhancing the experience and having them say to themselves, ‘wow, that was better than expected.’” Dawson joined the restaurant company in 2002 as one of a handful of employees. Since then, he opened dozens of their concepts here and around the country. His career began while he was attending Phoenix College. Hoping to make a few extra bucks on the side, he wandered into a not-yet-open North Italia and asked for a bartending job. The rest is history. “I was a part of something exciting and new, and surrounded by people who were genuinely passionate about creating remarkable experiences. That was a gamechanger for me,” Dawson remembers. After several years bartending, he moved into a management role. FRC was growing quickly and Dawson found himself on the road, opening new restaurants and training staff. In 2010, he was moved into management and today remains their longest- standing operations manager in Phoenix. He recently stepped down from his GM role at the Arcadia Henry, choosing to serve as assistant general manager. He prefers to be on the front lines where he has the opportunity to observe and coach. “I’m really into helping people become their best selves, personally and professionally, and it’s all about setting an example.” Dawson grew up in Iowa and moved to the Valley in 1984 with two brothers and a sister. His father heard that Phoenix was a hotbed for baseball and good coaches, he wanted to expose the kids to the competitive environment. Dawson excelled but eventually moved on. He points to his faith and the guidance he receives from friends for staying grounded. “I prefer order to my life and strive for peace versus chaos. Life is what you make of it, as there will always be ups and downs,” he said. “I’ve had lots of great mentors and that has been so important. Everyone needs a good mentor, someone they can emulate, no matter the profession.” Dawson also believes that there should be a routine to a person’s day, which explains why he is an ardent list-maker. “My to-do lists help me prepare for the week and stick to priorities. I’m also a fan of sending hand-written notes to people, encouraging my staff, and thanking them for a job well-done.” He is genuine about wanting to maintain his own growth, and relies on selected Ted Talks, podcasts and books to extend his learning curve. Some of his favorite reads are Setting the Table , Laws of Leadership , and Leaders Eat Last . Dawson has only ever missed one day of work (something he is most proud of), but when he does have leisure time, he enjoys the outdoors: golf, biking, working out and his real passion, fly fishing. He pursues hobbies with the same zeal he has for work. “FRC changed my life. It’s been the kind of job where, at the end of the day, you already look forward to coming back. Few people I know get to experience that.” John Dawson Life is what you make of it. High Place 1/2 H