With a career spanning over two decades, Cori Tahara brings thoughtful leadership and strategic insight to her role as Vice President of Real Estate & Development at MINA Group. Since joining in 2014 as Development Project Manager, she has steadily risen through the ranks—moving into Manager, Director, Senior Director, and now heading the department as VP.

Cori’s journey reflects a blend of operational excellence and hospitality intuition. Early in her career, she served as Assistant Director, Alumni Travel at the UCLA Alumni Association, where she managed travel programs and cultivated her project management skills. She then transitioned into Sales Representative at Eli Lilly and Company,, where she gained a strong foundation in analytics and client relationship-building.

Her educational background further reinforces her leadership style. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA, blending strong communication skills with creative vision—elements that shine through in every development decision she leads.

In her role at MINA Group, Cori oversees site selection, design alignment, budget stewardship, and project execution—ensuring each new restaurant space aligns with the brand’s high standards of guest experience and aesthetic appeal. Her ability to guide complex, high-impact developments with strategic clarity and a collaborative approach has been instrumental to the brand’s thoughtful expansion.