Angela Stowell, partner and CEO of Ethan Stowell Restaurants (ESR), is tapped as new CEO of FareStart after extensive national search. Stowell succeeds Megan Karch who stepped down in March after 18 years at the nonprofit.
“We are thrilled to have Angela lead the next chapter of FareStart,” said FareStart Board Chair Ken Hart. “She’s a proven leader and visionary in both the business world and within our greater Seattle community. As FareStart continues to evolve to meet the growing needs of the community, her boldness, innovation, and collaborative leadership style will pave the way for long term success. Angela truly embodies the mission, values and heart of FareStart.”
“Giving back to our community and helping people in need has always been one of my core values and we’ve worked hard at ESR to implement that into our work,” said Angela Stowell. “I feel really lucky and excited to move in a direction where I get to do that every day. FareStart is such an incredible organization that not only provides job training and life skills, but offers people a chance to find success and put themselves and their families on the path out of poverty.”
Stowell will begin slowly transitioning out of her role at ESR and join the FareStart team on October 14. At ESR they plan to reorganize a few departments internally and promote from within the company to ensure a smooth transition while they find the right replacement for Stowell.
“We have a really strong leadership team in place and we want to take our time to find the new CEO,” said Stowell. We’re looking for a great fit for our family business and also someone with the skills and experience to help us grow.”
In the 11 years since Stowell and her husband and business partner, chef Ethan Stowell, launched Ethan Stowell Restaurants, the company has grown to include 16 restaurants and 420 employees.
“This is an amazing opportunity,” said Stowell. “It’s definitely bittersweet though too. I’m really going to miss the day-to-day with everyone at ESR.”
“I am thrilled for her and for FareStart,” said Ethan Stowell. “Angela is smart, kind, and a dynamic leader. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
About Angela Stowell
Angela Stowell is CEO and partner at Ethan Stowell Restaurants in Seattle. After graduating with a degree in political science from the University of Washington, Angela’s interests took a different turn and she pursued a career in wine sales, where she meet her future husband and business partner, Ethan Stowell. In 2007, Angela and Ethan created Ethan Stowell Restaurants, after successfully opening their first two restaurants: Tavolàta and How to Cook a Wolf. The restaurant group now includes 16 restaurants in neighborhoods across the city. Angela manages nearly $30M in annual revenue and oversees 420 employees.
Philanthropy is a foundational value at Ethan Stowell Restaurants and each year they work closely with organizations like Amara, United Way of King County, Russell Wilson’s WhyNotYou Foundation, FareStart, and the Pike Place Market Foundation, as well as other local charities and schools, to attain their yearly fundraising goals.
As the culinary partner at Amara’s Fall Soiree, $720K was raised and 100% of that goes directly to support Amara’s programs for children in foster care. ESR is also a community sponsor of Amara’s annual luncheon.
In 2012 Angela co-founded Eat Run Hope, a 5K and culinary event that benefited the Fetal Health Foundation. The event ran until 2015 with Angela as Event Director and raised over $335K In 2017 Angela was honorary co-chair for Smooch and helped raise $6.5M for Seattle Children’s Hospital. As the 2018 United Way of King County Annual Campaign co-chairs, she and Ethan are well on the way to surpassing their goal of $40M.
Angela was named one of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2013 “40 Under 40,” a list honoring young business leaders who excel in their industries and show dynamic leadership, and she and Ethan were the recipients of the 2016 Richard Melman Innovator of the Year Award. Angela was honored as one of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2017 “Women of Influence,” a list showcasing women whose outstanding leadership has an outsized influence on the business community. Most recently, she was named one of “The 50 Most Influential Women in Seattle” by Seattle Met magazine.
Angela sits on the Board of Directors for the United Way of King County where she serves as co-chair for Reconnecting Youth and as the 2018 Annual Campaign co-chair.
Angela lives in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle with her husband, Ethan, and their two young sons.