District Managers - Our Support Team
California - San Diego
Margaret Small
District Manager - Manna Development San Diego Margaret joined Manna in 2013 as an Assistant Manager and quickly moved up the ranks as a General Manager for both Solana Beach and Carmel Valley. She has 25 years of restaurant experience and believes there is nothing better than spending time with friends and family over a meal. Margaret has a BA and BS in Environmental Science and Business and a Masters in GIS. She has a strong background in systems and believes this is the way to execute excellence in the bakery cafes. She enjoys spending time outside or in the ocean which makes San Diego the perfect place for her! |
Machek Koziol
District Manager - Manna Development North San Diego Machek has been with the Manna team since 2003 when he joined in the opening of our first cafe (Escondido) as a part time associate. He was promoted to Assistant Manager when he helped open the Vista location, and where he later became the General Manager role. In 2011 Machek became the first Executive Manager for Manna, and in 2012 was promoted to District Manager. Machek has an Associate of Arts in Pre-Law from Mira Costa College and lives in the North San Diego area with his wife and two young children. Machek loves spending time off with family, is a classic car enthusiast, enjoys sailing, hiking, football, working out, swimming, and traveling. Machek also confesses to being a "foodie" who is so addicted to good food that he makes travel plans based on the restaurants he'd like to visit. |
Helena Evans
District Manager - Manna Development South San Diego Helena has worked for Manna Development since 2007. Since that time, she has held many roles: Shift Supervisor, Assistant Manager, General Manager, Training General Manager and Regional Training Manager. Helena loves being a part of a company that embodies her own personal values while being able to impact the lives of many both professionally and personally. Helena is married to her husband Roger of 15 years and counting. Helena and Roger have four amazing kids together - two girls, Taylor and Keona, and two boys, Malakai and Azekeal. When not working, Helena enjoys spending time with the family at the beach, park or just about anywhere outdoors or just hanging out at home watching movies. |
California - Orange County
California - Los Angeles
Michigan
Alex Lindholm
District Manager - I94 Corridor Alex joined the Manna team in January 2006 , initially serving as Training General Manager of the Rivertown Crossings bakery café. Alex was promoted to DIstrict Manager of our Lakeshore district and eventually took over the I-94 district which includes the Michigan City, IN bakery cafe. Alex says his passion is to create and embody a Heart of Service and a Passion for Achievement in himself and his teams. Prior to joining the Manna team, Alex worked in the casual dining food service industry, most extensively as a Training General Manager with TGIFriday’s. Along with being the proud father of Nicholas, Cassandra, and Katherine, he enjoys both contemplative practices and vigorous outdoor activity. |
Michelle DeLuca
District Manager - Lakeshore Michelle started with Panera in November of 2010 as a General Manager of our Alpine bakery cafe before becoming the Regional Training Manager for Bread of Life. Now Michelle works as one of our District Managers in the Grand Rapids and Lakeshore area. Prior to Panera, Michelle worked for an Applebee's franchisee for 17 years where she worked as Regional Training Manager for the last eight years that she was with them. Michelle and her husband Don live in Grandville with their two daughters and their dog Lando. She and her family enjoy spending time on their boat in Grand Haven and out on Lake Michigan. Time with family, traveling and staying healthy are some of the most important things in life to Michelle. |
Beth Zoppa
District Manager - Grand Rapids Beth joined the Panera Family in 2014 to become the General Manager of our Big Rapids café. She quickly became a Training General Manager and then in 2018 became a District Manager. Prior to Panera, Beth spent 10 years with Applebee’s. She grew her store into one of the best in the country with the highest customer service scores. Beth is very passionate about running great operations, make a difference with every guest and developing her associates while helping them learn important life skills. In Beth’s free time she loves to spend time her her two boys and her newly married husband. She also loves to cook, garden and read. |
Nick Meerman
District Manager - North Michigan Nick joined the Panera Family August 2011 as an Assistant Manager in the Saint Joseph café. He helped open the Mount Pleasant café in 2012, before being promoted to the GM of Mount Pleasant. He then opened our Big Rapids and Traverse City cafes back-to-back during the fall of 2014. As an Executive GM he helped open or support various cafes in Michigan including DT Grand Rapids, Cascade, Kentwood, Saint Joseph and Wyoming. Before his time with Panera, Nick managed various restaurants even starting his own small marketing company. Nick attended Central Michigan University where he studied Business Marketing, Advertising and Sports Management. In his free time he loves to cook, particularly on the grill, as well as spend time at the beach or in the woods. Nick is a big sports fan, and you can usually find him watching the Detroit Lions or anything Michigan State. Go Green. |
Oregon/Washington

Jacob Dutoit
District Manager
Jake has worked for Panera Bread for 9 years. He started as an AM for the Beaverton location and assisted in opening two locations. They successfully turned those locations into training locations and they both still train to this day!
Jake feels that Manna coming to the NW has truly been the best thing that has ever happened for his career. Being a District Manager was a career goal for him.
Jake married his wife Rachelle in July of 2015. We met when I was the GM in Corvallis. We currently live in Vancouver, WA. They are both animal lovers. He loves the Atlanta Falcons, Portland Trailblazers, and San Francisco Giants.
Colorado