Alec Montgomery is an entrepreneur and hospitality professional known for his passion for service, his love of yoga, and his natural ability to bring joy and laughter to any table. Outside of his professional life, Alec is an avid shuffle dancer, disc jockey, and consistently strives to be a loyal and supportive friend. Born and raised in Lakeview East, a vibrant neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, Alec is the proud youngest of four siblings. Raised in a household grounded in strong cultural traditions and values—thanks to both parents sharing the same heritage—he learned early on the importance of adaptability, humility, and self-improvement from his older siblings.

Growing up between two households came with challenges. During elementary school, Alec often found himself feeling isolated—physically seated apart from peers, which symbolized a deeper emotional distance. This early experience ignited a powerful drive to find his voice, prove his worth, and carve out his own unique path. Recognizing this determination, Alec’s parents encouraged him to join the workforce early. In January 2016, he began working at Stan’s Donuts & Coffee as a team member while attending Gordon Tech High School. He remained committed to the role through graduation in June 2017, eventually earning a promotion to supervisor at the 26 E. Roosevelt location in 2018. This role marked the beginning of Alec’s journey into restaurant management.

His early exposure to the food and beverage industry ignited a passion for hospitality that would shape his professional trajectory. Alec pursued collegiate studies at Western Michigan University, majoring in Aviation Flight Science with a minor in Aviation Management. He was a proud member of the professional fraternity Alpha Eta Rho, Inc., and one of his proudest achievements remains piloting an aircraft as PIC (Pilot in Command). A certification achieved was his private pilots license from the FAA. (PPL).

After two years, Alec transferred back to Chicago and enrolled at DePaul University, where he redirected his focus toward Hospitality Management. While at DePaul, he joined the university's hospitality group, deepened his understanding of restaurant operations and industry concepts, attended wine courses, and developed a valuable network of peers and mentors. Balancing full-time studies and full-time work as an Assistant General Manager, Alec graduated with Cum Laude honors. In 2021, he was promoted to General Manager of the Gold Coast location at 750 N. Rush.

Over time, Alec continued to advance within the company, eventually becoming a Traveling General Manager and then District Manager by the age of 24. In that role, he oversaw all seventeen locations, including the newly licensed Stan’s branches inside Mariano’s stores. He played a pivotal role in restructuring underperforming locations, driving performance, and adapting to new challenges with agility and leadership. Additionally, Alec authored and initiated the General Manager training program for Doughboy Restaurant Group that is still in act to this day.

After dedicating nine and a half years to Stan’s Donuts & Coffee, Alec made the decision to transition into the full-service restaurant industry, eager to apply his extensive experience to a broader and more dynamic hospitality landscape.