Leaders in Customer Loyalty, Powered by Loyalty360

Send us a textFrom late-night honey butter chicken biscuits to meme-worthy social engagement, Whataburger has cemented itself as a beloved brand with a fiercely loyal fan base. Founded in 1950 by Harmon Dobson in Corpus Christi, Texas, the company was built on a straightforward promise: to serve a burger so big it takes two hands to hold and so good that customers exclaim, "What a burger!" Today, Whataburger is in the midst of a multi-state expansion, combining its storied heritage with innovative technology and personalized digital experiences. At the center of this transformation is Keith McLellan, Group Director of Digital Customer Experience. "As the digital customer experience lead, I'm really focused on leaning into that convenience culture and helping our brand understand the future state of our consumers," McLellan explains. "We're trying to drive the outcome of loyalty through just great food and great service." 

Send us a textIn the current world of customer loyalty, payments and incentives are no longer just transactional, they are foundational elements that shape how customers feel about a brand. For Vince Chiofolo, Senior Vice President of Revenue Strategy at Dash Solutions, the future of loyalty lies in marrying seamless payments with meaningful engagement. “You can have the best product, service, and price,” Chiofolo explains, “but the payment experience should also be best-in-class.”  Dash Solutions, a fintech pioneer with nearly 30 years of experience, is reshaping how brands deliver rewards and payments. By replacing slow, outdated processes like mailing paper checks with digital, real-time payment options, Dash Solutions makes it easier and faster for businesses to pay customers and employees, while boosting engagement. “At Dash, our rally cry is ‘make payments mean more,’” Chiofolo says. “We don’t just process payments; we create experiences that motivate behavior and foster loyalty.” 

Send us a textMitch Walden, Senior Director of Digital and Loyalty at Scooter's Coffee, isn’t just overseeing a rewards program—he’s steering a loyalty transformation rooted in long-term growth, customer-centric innovation, and operational alignment. With nearly three decades of experience spanning e-commerce, CRM, and digital strategy, Walden brings a cross-disciplinary lens to an industry that is evolving as rapidly as consumer preferences.Founded in Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1998, Scooter’s Coffee has grown from a Midwest favorite into a rapidly expanding drive-thru specialty beverage chain. With a footprint built on convenience and friendly service, Scooter’s aims to deliver "amazing people, amazing drinks, amazingly fast" through 650-square-foot kiosks across the country. The company's culture of hospitality underpins its approach to loyalty—one that Walden has helped evolve to meet the expectations of modern consumers.

Send us a textIn an industry where innovation is often measured by specs and screen size, Echelon is taking a different approach—one rooted in accessibility, adaptability, and authentic member connection. As the fitness technology brand expands its AI capabilities and scales its omnichannel footprint, it remains firmly committed to one mission: supporting people on their fitness journey, whatever that may look like.For John Santo, Co-Founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer, customer loyalty at Echelon isn’t a KPI—it’s a relationship. One that’s nurtured through thoughtful product design, personalized engagement, and an ecosystem that truly follows members wherever they go.

Send us a textInside the 2025 State of Customer Loyalty Report: Part 2 | CEO’s Desk with Mark JohnsonWelcome back to The CEO’s Desk with Loyalty360 CEO Mark Johnson! In Part 2 of our deep dive into the 2025 State of Customer Loyalty Report, we explore how brands are operationalizing loyalty, building internal alignment, and translating strategy into measurable business impact.What’s behind the drop in personalization as a strategic priority—even as it's still the top area of program enhancement?Why are more brands reporting enterprise-level insights and improved engagement metrics?Is the growing confidence in loyalty programs justified, or is it the result of confirmation bias?In this episode, we unpack:🔹 Why brands are prioritizing fewer loyalty objectives and focusing on execution🔹 The growing importance of tech stack optimization and data orchestration🔹 How brands are using loyalty as a performance engine—not just a marketing tool🔹 The increase in loyalty team sizes and internal Centers of Excellence🔹 Predictions on where personalization, partnerships, and innovation are heading by 2026As loyalty programs evolve from add-ons to strategic assets, tune in to hear how brands are setting new benchmarks for impact, insight, and integration.📌 Missed Part 1? Watch it now to explore foundational trends and shifting executive mindsets🔗 Download the full 2025 State of Customer Loyalty Report at Loyalty360.org👉 Subscribe for expert takes and actionable strategies from today’s loyalty leaders#CustomerLoyalty #LoyaltyPrograms #Loyalty360 #CustomerEngagement #CXStrategy #MarketingTrends #Personalization #DataStrategy #LoyaltyTech #CEOInsights

Send us a textEG America is reshaping how convenience stores engage with their customers. As the fourth-largest chain in the U.S., with familiar brands like Cumberland Farms, Turkey Hill, and Fast Track, it’s leading the charge in integrating technology and personalization into its loyalty strategy. At the helm of this transformation is Whitney Johnson, Senior Vice President of Marketing, who is redefining the company’s approach to customer loyalty by blending AI-driven insights with hyper-local, tailored experiences that resonate with today’s on-the-go consumer.  

Send us a textHow Customer Loyalty Is Shifting in 2025 | CEO’s Desk with Mark JohnsonIn this episode of The CEO’s Desk, Loyalty360 CEO Mark Johnson unpacks key insights from the 2025 State of Customer Loyalty Report, including year-over-year trends, strategic shifts, and executive sentiment around loyalty programs.Why did the number of brands planning loyalty program overhauls drop from 79% in 2024 to 64% in 2025?What’s driving a 10-point increase in executive support for loyalty?What does “operationalizing loyalty” really mean—and how are brands doing it?We explore the realignment of priorities among leading brands, including:The decline in reward innovation and the rise of personalizationGrowing executive buy-in and enterprise-wide support for customer loyalty programsChallenges with brand partnerships, gamification, and integrating new technologiesThe shift away from broad acquisition tactics toward deepening value for existing membersWhether you’re a loyalty marketer, brand strategist, or CX leader, this conversation offers tactical insights and strategic context to help you optimize loyalty performance in a changing landscape.📝 Don’t miss next week’s episode, where we dive into team structures, loyalty KPIs, and how high-performing brands are measuring success.👉 Subscribe to stay updated on loyalty trends and best practices🔗 Learn more at Loyalty360.org#CustomerLoyalty #LoyaltyPrograms #LoyaltyMarketing #CXStrategy #Loyalty360 #CustomerEngagement #Personalization #Gamification #BrandPartnerships #CEOInsights

Send us a textFor Merz Aesthetics, customer loyalty is more than a marketing initiative; it’s a guiding philosophy that influences every aspect of the brand’s identity and operations. As a global medical aesthetics company with a strong family-owned heritage, Merz Aesthetics places deep emphasis on building trust and delivering meaningful experiences that resonate with both healthcare providers and patients. In a category where confidence and care intersect, the company recognizes that loyalty must be rooted in both emotional connection and practical value. At the center of this strategy is Xperience+, Merz Aesthetics’ award-winning U.S. loyalty platform designed to be both impactful and effortless. While the program is celebrated for its simplicity, it’s underpinned by a thoughtful, evolving strategy that adapts to the needs of a diverse and dynamic audience. From streamlining the user journey to ensuring that rewards feel genuinely valuable, Merz Aesthetics is committed to making loyalty easy without sacrificing depth. The brand’s approach is led by Donnarie Hales, Director of Loyalty Strategy and Experience, who plays a key role in shaping how the brand balances innovation with simplicity. Hales emphasizes the importance of designing a platform that not only meets the practical needs of providers and patients but also reflects the emotional core of the aesthetics experience. With a focus on listening, evolving, and staying ahead of consumer expectations, Merz is working to create deeper connections with the next generation and building loyalty in an industry grounded in beauty, trust, and transformation. 

Send us a textIn this edition of Loyalty360's Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Industry Voices, we sat down with Dr. JR Slubowski, Vice President of Consulting and Research Center of Excellence Lead at Kobie, to discuss the state of customer loyalty, the evolution of loyalty strategies, and the frameworks shaping the industry today. With decades of experience and a front-row seat to cross-industry innovation, Dr. Slubowski shared insight into the emotional drivers of loyalty, Kobie’s unique approach to program design, and how brands can rethink the way they cultivate long-term customer relationships. 

Send us a textCalifornia Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has been delighting diners for four decades, but as the brand celebrates its 40th anniversary, Chief Marketing Officer Dawn Keller, is focused not on nostalgia but on reinvention. At the helm of marketing, culinary, digital, and menu innovation, Keller is bringing a deeply personal connection to the brand—and a bold, modern vision for its future.