Skip Hanke joined the Board of Trustees for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. (PHW) in February 2026, after attending multiple PHW donor and veteran fly fishing events over the prior 4 years, and after leading a highly successful inaugural national fundraising campaign for PHW at Golden Corral Corporation (where Skip is Chief Marketing Officer). The 2 nd Annual PHW Fundraising Campaign at nearly 350 Golden Corral restaurants nationwide will start in July 2026. Skip will serve on the PHW Development Committee, helping guide the organization’s efforts to raise the necessary funds to enable PHW’s mission to support Veteran healing and well-being through fly fishing, meaningful connection, community, and time on the water.
Skip joined Golden Corral Corporation as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in 2021, and reports directly to Mr. Lance Trenary, President & CEO of Golden Corral and Past Chairman of the National Restaurant Association (NRA). A member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team, Skip is responsible for Golden Corral’s National Marketing, Advertising, Media Plan, Local Store Marketing, Gift Card, and growing Off-Premise Business. As CMO, Skip leads a 15- person team across Marketing, Food & Beverage Innovation, Guest Insights, and Purchasing functions at America’s #1 Buffet & Grill Restaurant Chain – with $1.6 Billion in annual sales.
During his tenure at Golden Corral, the Brand recovered significantly from the very negative impacts of Covid-19, pushing significantly into Spanish Language, Streaming, and Social Media Advertising, and posting all-time historic sales records (AUVs) in multiple years, the best results in its 53-year history (since 1973). Golden Corral’s sales growth also resulted in the #1 Highest Golden Corral Franchisee Profit Per Guest Year in its history. Golden Corral was named #1 US Advertiser of the Month (increase in ad awareness, across all industries) and one of Yelp’s Top 50 Most Loved Brands (alongside Starbucks, Nike, and Costco).
Prior to Golden Corral, Skip was integral to the well-publicized, significant turnaround of the Applebee’s Brand, and their #1 comp sales result in 25 years. He led the Brand Marketing Team at Applebee’s, and as National Media Director, oversaw an annual U.S. media budget of $150+ Million. Prior to Applebee’s, Skip worked at The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) – delivering $400+ Million in incremental sales on the Pampers (P&G’s #1 Brand), Crest, and Oral-B Brands, while leading the #1 & #2 product initiatives in Pampers’ then 49-year history.
Mr. Hanke has closed numerous revenue generating deals (totaling $450 million) with sports & media partners (e.g., NFL, NBA, NASCAR) in Business Affairs at AOL Time Warner. He was an Investment Banker at Deutsche Bank, and achieved the rank of Lieutenant (O-3) as a United States Naval Officer aboard USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) serving in the Atlantic Ocean, and in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Baltic, and Caribbean Seas. As a 4th Generation U.S. Navy Veteran, with family Naval Service going back to WWI, Skip is a strong supporter of Camp Corral, Military Appreciation Night with DAV, and of course, Project Healing Waters. Golden Corral’s commitment to serving the U.S. Military and their families is a key driver for Skip.
Skip holds both a BA in Economics with distinction from Duke University (cum laude) and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with distinction from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, where he graduated Co-Valedictorian of his 650- student class. A proven people leader and coach, strategic marketer, avid golfer, maritime adventurer, and aspiring expert fly fisherman, he lives in Cary, North Carolina.