Like Alex Ray, new Common Man CEO worked his way up from the kitchen

Sean Brown has spent the last three decades working in the Common Man family of restaurants, often right alongside owner and founder Alex Ray, to help build the company into what it has become today.

Last month, Brown and the Common Man started another chapter in their long relationship, with his promotion to chief executive officer. He's now the top employee at the popular Granite State staple whose locations include popular restaurants, inns, and even a music venue.

“I have been working for Alex for 30 years, and interact with him on a regular basis,” Brown said. “I consider myself very lucky. Spend a couple hours with him, and it’s just amazing how much you learn. I still do.”

As the new CEO, Brown will lead the company in implementing its strategic initiatives, while increasing the growth of the business and monitoring financial performance. He is at the helm of the senior leadership team he will work with to adhere to the “Do Good” mantra of the Common Man.

Brown said the mission of Common Man speaks to him, and through those years working with Ray, he believes in providing “’WOW’ hospitality, a unique dining experience, opportunities to our staff, and service to our communities.”

It all goes back to Brown’s college days, when he attended then-Plymouth State College in 1990, and quickly realized he needed a part-time job. His roommate got him a job as a bus boy, and Brown fell in love with the industry.

“The energy, the urgency, the adrenaline,” Brown said. “I loved it all. It’s an exciting industry.”

Brown worked his way into a serving role, which he really enjoyed. When the summer of 1995 came, Ray was looking to open his first restaurant in Meredith: The Boathouse Grille.

“I knew an opening manager and said, ‘Hey do you have a job for the summer?’” Brown recalled. “I came for opening day of the Boathouse Grille, threw on an apron, and been a part of it since.”

Brown was most recently chief operations officer for the Common Man, where he oversaw daily operations of 17 restaurants, four inns, two stores, and The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center.

He was also previously district operations manager, overseeing all front-of-house operations for the Common Man’s specialty brands, including all Meredith locations, and Foster’s Boiler Room located in the Common Mann Inn and The Italian Farmhouse, both in Plymouth.

Before that, he was general manager for Lago (previously Boathouse Grille), Lakehouse Grille, and Camp restaurants in Meredith.

“I opened Camp up with Alex, and worked side-by-side with him every day for three months,” Brown said. “I think that’s when I realized I had such a good connection with Alex.”

Brown was named General Manager of the Year twice, in 2007 and 2009, and has been nominated several other times throughout his career.

Brown is on the advisory committee and President’s Council for the Lakes Region Community College Culinary Program, and is a board member for the Lakes Region Tourism Association, Greater Meredith Program, and New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association.

He likes to get out into the community as a volunteer, whether it is with the Hands Across the Table free weekly meal in Laconia, serving at the Harbor Care’s community Thanksgiving Meal, or major regional events like the Sandwich Fair, or fundraisers like Pedaling for Payson and Swim With a Mission.

Brown also partners with Plymouth State University’s business department as a mentor in the Common Man Apprentice ice cream and business plan program.

Ray expressed his respect for Brown, and said it was an easy choice to make him the next leader of the company.

“Sean has great attention to detail, a tireless work ethic, strong integrity, and an innate sense of responsibility for our success,” Ray said in the media release about Brown’s promotion. “He’s moved up through the ranks and has been a strong leader in many facets of our complex business. I couldn't be prouder of Sean.”

The Common Man has locations across the state, and anyone traveling north or south on Interstate 93 has almost certainly stopped into a Common Man Roadside store at a rest area. Common Man Roadside Market and Deli locations have popped all around New Hampshire, including in Plymouth.

For more information, visit thecman.com.

The Common Man Ashland was opened in 1971 by Ray, who can still often be seen at the restaurant, sporting a smile and with plenty to talk about. Ray started in the food industry as a dishwasher himself, and has never lost the feeling of keeping patrons close to him, and treating them like friends and family.

Ray takes time to chat with patrons and employees whenever he is onsite, keeping his finger to the pulse of the endeavor he started more than 55 years ago. Brown likes to take a page out of Ray’s book.

“I like to say we are the best of both worlds, because we are still strong enough where we have a somewhat mom-and-pop feel,” Brown said. “It still feels like a family, but it’s big enough where we do have some size advantage.”

The company has grown exponentially over the years, and continues to do so. The Lincoln Diner is in its first winter after opening in June 2025, and Brown said with all the snow, there are plenty of patrons heading there while in ski country.

There isn’t anything major in the works, but Brown said, just as Ray has done for more than 50 years, “when a great opportunity comes along, we are ready to seize it.

“We are always looking for opportunities where we can grow and expand.”