Host Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, welcomes Spencer Baumhower, president of Aloha Hospitality, a family-owned Alabama restaurant group founded in 1981 by Spencer’s father, former Alabama and Miami Dolphins player Bob Baumhower. Spencer shares that he joined Aloha in 2008 as a busser and worked through roles including server, bartender, general manager, COO, and president, now helping lead about 1,000 employees across 16 restaurants. He recounts how Bob discovered Buffalo Wings at Wings & Things in South Florida and brought the concept to Tuscaloosa, introducing Buffalo Wings to Alabama. Spencer describes Aloha’s multi-concept portfolio, including Baumhower’s, fine-dining Dauphin’s, Cuban speakeasy Las Floriditas, and fast-casual Wingfingers, and emphasizes servant leadership, hiring people who genuinely care, and achieving lower turnover than national brands.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast

00:36 Meet Spencer Baumhower

01:33 Gulf Coast Catch Up

02:45 Legendary Wingman Origin

03:33 Aloha Hospitality Beginnings

03:50 From Miami to Tuscaloosa Wings

06:26 Concepts and New Brands

07:14 Cuban Speakeasy Story

07:14 Spencer’s Career Journey

07:14 Playing for Coach Saban

13:15 Servant Leadership Hiring

16:59 Turnover and Retention Wins

18:31 Part Two and Wrap Up

Instant Financial: instant.co

Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/

Connect with Spencer Baumhower: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcuswasdin/

References:

• Aloha Hospitality: https://www.alohahospitality.com/
• Bob Bauhower: https://www.baumhowers.com/bob-baumhower
• Coach Nick Saban: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Saban
• Coach Neil Callaway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Callaway