Lynsi Snyder, president of In-N-Out Burger and a bold voice for Christian values in business, is heading east—relocating her family from California to Tennessee as the beloved burger chain expands its reach across the U.S.

In a recent appearance on Relatable, a podcast hosted by Allie Beth Stuckey, Snyder cited both personal and professional reasons for the move. “There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here,” she shared. “Doing business is not easy here.”

Snyder, the only grandchild of In-N-Out founders Harry and Esther Snyder, has overseen tremendous growth since becoming president in 2010. Now, she and the company are making history again. Earlier this year, In-N-Out broke ground on a 100,000-square-foot office in Franklin, Tennessee, just south of Nashville. “We’re building an office in Franklin, so I’m actually moving out there,” Snyder confirmed.

While California will remain the heart of In-N-Out’s operations, Snyder emphasized that the new southeastern hub is part of a long-term vision for growth and service. “It will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there and being able to have the family and other people’s families out there.”

The brand, founded in 1948, currently has more than 400 locations across eight states and has earned a cult-like following for its fresh food, friendly service, and commitment to values. However, Snyder says California has presented growing challenges, especially during COVID-19. Recalling the lockdowns, she described the heavy mandates her stores were forced to navigate, from vaccine card checks to plastic partitions. “I look back and I’m like, ‘Man, maybe we should have just pushed [back] even harder and dealt with all of the legal backlash.'”

Her convictions were clear in 2021, when In-N-Out made national headlines for refusing to enforce San Francisco’s vaccine card mandate, resulting in temporary store closures. “It was a brief moment, but it’s worth it,” Snyder said.

She also took the bold step of closing a store in Oakland due to escalating crime. “There was actually—gunshots went through the store, there was a stabbing, there was a lot,” she said. “It was absolutely dangerous.”

As In-N-Out prepares to open its first Tennessee restaurants by 2026, Snyder confirmed that the company will use its Texas warehouse to supply the new locations. Though they won’t yet process meat on-site in Tennessee, the expansion opens the door to more markets in the future. “Texas can reach some other states,” she hinted.

Meanwhile, In-N-Out is also planning to close its Irvine headquarters and consolidate operations back to Baldwin Park—returning to its roots. “In every decision about the future of In-N-Out Burger, I give strong consideration to what my grandparents and my family would think is best for our company,” Snyder explained.

However, through every expansion and transition, Snyder’s Christian faith remains the foundation of her life and leadership. Since the early 1990s, In-N-Out has printed Bible verses on its packaging—first added by her late uncle Rich, who had recently come to faith. “He wanted to put that little touch of his faith on our brand,” she said. “It’s a family business and will always be, and that’s a family touch.”

Snyder has also launched her own ministry, Army of Love, which partners with organizations like Teen Challenge to provide mentorship, discipleship, and spiritual formation.

“Picture our lives being a power strip,” Snyder once shared. “We plug so many things into the power strip—work, family, hobbies and God. But that is all wrong. God must be the power strip, and everything in our life should be plugged into Him as our power source.”