Top Business Leaders Show

[SpotOn Series] A Family Feel in Barbecue With Jeff Kennedy, Founding Partner at Moe’s Original BBQ

On this episode of the Top Business LeadersShow, Rise25’s Chad Franzen welcomes Jeff Kennedy, Founding Partner at Moe’s Original BBQ, to discuss the reasons behind Moe’s two-decade run of success. Jeff shares how he and his partners introduced Southern-style barbecue to the Rocky Mountain region after moving west from Alabama. He also reveals how the brand has built on its food foundation by evolving with technology and maintaining a familial atmosphere which appeals to employees and customers alike.

[SpotOn Series] Retaining Employees in a High Turnover Industry With James Choi, Owner of Cafe Dulce

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, James Choi, Owner of Cafe Dulce, joins Rise25’s Chad Franzen for a conversation about the unique origin and evolution of his restaurant brand. James discusses the key factors in Cafe Dulce’s long-term staff retention and the lessons learned from the challenging early days after the restaurant first opened. He also provides insight into his other entrepreneurial ventures: a superette and a jiu jitsu fight club.

[SpotOn Series] Growing and Evolving a Deli Brand With Peter Boniface of Yampa Sandwich Company

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Peter Boniface, Owner and Founder of Yampa Sandwich Company, joins Rise25’s Chad Franzen to discuss the fascinating evolution of Yampa Sandwich Company. He talks about why he opened a restaurant after moving to Colorado to be a ski bum, the original purpose for the brand and why its name changed, and why customers keep coming back to Yampa Sandwich Company.

[SpotOn Series] Using Tech to Enhance Your Brand With Mehdi Zarhloul of Crazy Pita Restaurant Group

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Mehdi Zarhloul, CEO of Crazy Pita Restaurant Group, joins Rise25’s Chad Franzen for a conversation about the value of embracing technology to enhance the customer experience in the restaurant industry. Mehdi shares Crazy Pita’s origin story and explains how the brand’s name came about. He also discusses the multiple ways he has embraced the use of technology for both marketing and efficiency in operations.

[SpotOn Series] From Corporate to Mom-and-Pop Restaurateuring With Ric Ochoa, Founder of SoCal Pizza

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Ric Ochoa, the Founder of SoCal Pizza, joins Rise25’s Chad Franzen to talk about his journey from corporate America to running his own independent pizza restaurant for more than a decade.

[SpotOn Series] Leading With Passion and Respect With Mario Valencia, a Multi-Store Robeks Franchisee

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Rise25’s Bela Musits chats with Mario Valencia, a multi-store Robeks franchisee, about the challenges associated with running a small restaurant business. Mario shares what led him to invest in the brand and its significance within his life journey. He discusses his approach to work-life balance, leadership, working with a younger generation of employees, and how he decided upon the location of his stores.

[SpotOn Series] Establishing a High Standard With Patrick Terry, Owner and Co-founder of P.Terry’s Burger Stand

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Rise25’s Chad Franzen talks to Patrick Terry, Owner and Co-founder of P.Terry’s Burger Stand, about the joy and difficulty of executing his vision of a classic burger stand. Patrick discusses the pain associated with meeting his standards upon opening his first location, how he and his wife implemented a family-like culture, and the keys to replicating those high standards at multiple restaurants.

How To Build a Thriving Franchise Business With Leigh Feldman

In this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Chad Franzen sits down with Leigh Feldman, the CEO of Bishops Cuts/Color, to talk about building a thriving franchise business. They also discuss the benefits of investing in a franchise, the role art plays at Bishops Cuts/Color, and the company’s employee training strategies.

[SpotOn Series] Attracting Franchisees and Ensuring Their Success With Bennett Maxwell, Founder of Dirty Dough

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Bela Musits welcomes Bennett Maxwell, Founder of Dirty Dough, for a conversation about franchising: the reasons to do it, the drawbacks, and the keys to franchisee success. Bennett details what he looks for in a franchisee, the reasons Dirty Dough is a good franchise opportunity, and everything the brand does to ensure that franchisees gain a positive return on their investment.

[SpotOn Series] Utilizing Machine Learning and AI to Benefit Restaurants With David Dittenber, Founder of BYOD

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Bela Musits chats with David Dittenber, Co-founder of BYOD, who tells people he is an entrepreneur when they ask what he does. He shares how his years of experience in restaurant operations led him to his latest entrepreneurial endeavor — a virtual assistant for restaurant managers. David talks about how BYOD works, the problems it solves, the challenges associated with launching it, and how he came to appreciate entrepreneurship growing up in a small town.

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