John Renteria

Executive General Manager

John was born in Los Angeles, California, lived in El Paso, Texas, and moved to McMinnville, Tennessee in 1985. He attended MTSU and graduated with a degree in Public Administration and minors in history and psychology. While attending school, he worked for different restaurant concepts but returned to his original starting job at Toot’s on Broad. He started at Toot’s on Broad in 1992 and has been with the company for a combined 17 years over his career in the business, which has encompassed his entire professional life. He has seen many restaurants come and go in Murfreesboro and is proud and privileged to work for a company that has withstood the test of time and remains one of the oldest running restaurants. He feels it is because of their great concept, great food, great prices, great staff, and wonderful ownership. He truly believes the concept of “Good food and fun” captures what they strive for there. John has met many wonderful people while employed there and has formed great friendships over the years. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, spending time with his friends, going to the beach when possible, and watching his favorite teams. Toot’s will forever be a big part of his life!

Alex Simpson

Executive General Manager

Rhett Uttermark

Executive General Manager

Rhett Uttermark brings over eight years of experience in the restaurant industry to his role as Executive General Manager. With a passion for driving sales and delivering exceptional dining experiences, he excels at mentoring and nurturing talent within his teams, fostering an environment where employees can thrive and grow.

Outside of work, Rhett enjoys grilling out and spending quality time with his wife, Grace. Together, they share their home with two beloved dogs, Bubba and Sophie, and  their cat Freya. In his free time, Rhett indulges in woodworking, video games, and audiobooks, all while keeping the soundtrack lively with his favorite music.

Rhett’s commitment to “Good Food and Fun” is evident in both his professional and personal life, making him a dedicated leader and a valued member of his community.

Jennifer Cherrone

Executive General Manager

Jennifer Roark

Administrative Assistant

Jennifer Graduated from Blackman High School in 2003. She joined the Toots family at the Smyrna Location in 2004 while attending Motlow State Community College. After 15 years in Smyrna she transferred to Toots West to help open our newest location in 2019. In August 2020 she was promoted to join the Toots Corporate office team as administrative assistant. She has seen toots evolve and has enjoyed working with so many wonderful people over the past 18 years. She is a mother to Parker and Karaline. In her free times she enjoys watching our Tennessee Vols and Titans.

Nick Hays

President

Nick has been a member of the Toot’s team since 2002, working in roles at each of the restaurant’s locations. His passion for the restaurant industry ignited during his college years, leading him to earn a BBA from Middle Tennessee State University. In 2011, Nick officially joined the Toot’s Management Team, and continues to shape the company’s growth and vision. He resides in the Blackman area with his wife, Lauren, and sons, Jack and Grant. With over 21 years of experience at Toot’s, he remains committed to excellence and the future of the company.

Wade Hays

CEO

Wade Hays been with Toot’s Restaurants since the 1980’s, first as the Managing Partner, then later in 2005 he and Keitha purchased the original Toot’s on Broad St. and began the group of Toot’s restaurants you see today.

He has served on many local Boards of Directors such as The Boys and Girls Clubs, The Chamber of Commerce, The United Way, The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, and The Red Cross to name a few. In 2000, he was selected by the City of Murfreesboro to serve on The Mayor’s Task Force to purchase the property now known as Medical Center Parkway…. Murfreesboro’s Gateway!

Wade has received numerous awards such as:
-The Tennessee Boys and Girls Clubs Board Member of the Year-
-MTSU’s Business Person of the Year-
-The Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award-
-The Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year-

Keitha Hays

CFO

A “Registered Nurse” by trade, Keitha has been the Co-Owner and bookkeeper for Toot’s for over 20 years.

She has been heavily involved in all of Toot’s business decision making as well as it’s Philanthropy. She is responsible for Office Administration, HR, and payroll. She also maintains legal and tax compliance for the nearly 400 Toot’s employees as well as approximately 100 vendors and agencies. Keitha is truly a benevolent force in Toot’s restaurants’ ongoing success.

Keitha and Wade have been married for over 41 years and have three children: Nick, Rachel (Peters), and Sam.
They have 5 Grandchildren: Jack Hays, Grant Hays, Meredith Hays, Vivian Peters, Walt Peters, and (the late) Kate Hays.
They are members of New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.