Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2014 | Page 14

MEGA

Mega Movers

Six multi-unit operators who exemplify franchisee success

N

ot all entrepreneurs have the drive,
initiative, and persistence to make it to
the top. It takes a savvy operator who
can evaluate risk and is not afraid to
take it. It also means choosing great
brands, assembling a talented team, and attracting raving fan customers to make it all work.
Only a handful of operators can pull it off. We
found six who did.
For our annual Mega 99 edition, we search
out operators with unique stories who have
achieved “mega” status. Each has a personal tale
to tell, full of hopes and dreams, wins and losses,
painful setbacks and triumphant successes. They
are textbook examples of all that is good in the
world of franchising.
• Don Davey spent a decade in the NFL as
a defensive tackle before turning to franchising
as a second career. He’s also founded an equity
management company that oversees $150 million in managed assets and a real estate investment company. The busy father of five and triathlon competitor operates 15 Firehouse Subs
in Florida, is developing 6 more in Wisconsin,
and in 2013 was named the IFA’s Franchisee of
the Year.
• To say Michael Kulp thinks big is an understatement. The 38-year-old is head of KBP
Foods in Kansas City, a $250 million company
that operates nearly 300 KFCs, Taco Bells, and
Long John Silver’s in 9 states. He loves to see
his people succeed and is committed to actively
giving back to his community. His company is
regularly ranked in the top 10 fastest-growing
restaurant companies in the country.
• Mike Treadwell is the consummate smalltown boy who made it big. He’s gone from growing up on a farm in the northwest corner of
Texas to building a large franchisee organization
in Springfield, Missouri, where he oversees 75

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Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s ue I, 2014

KFCs, 13 KFC/Taco Bells, 2 KFC/Long John
Silver’s, 2 Ruby Tuesdays, and 2 HuHot Mongolian Grills. His path to success has been full of
hard work and sweat equity, and at 65 he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
• Ted Kergan is Louisiana’s largest Sonic
franchisee, with 54 locations across the state.
He’s overcome some tough times, including the
murder of his older brother and business partner,
Gary, in 1984. Kergan says it took him years to
recover. If nothing else, he has shown remarkable
resilience and today says he feels blessed beyond
what he ever could have expected.
We also reconnected with two franchisees
we’ve profiled in previous issues.
• Grant Simon had 18 Great Clips salons
in Atlanta when we profiled him in 2008. Today, he has 39, plus 11 T-Mobile stores and one
Smoothie King. In the process, he’s added partners and has been growing aggressively. With
$18 million in annual revenue, he’s not looking
to slow his expansion efforts any time soon.
• David Griffin had just purchased 25 underperforming Jiffy Lubes in Colorado when we
profiled him in 2010. Sales at those 25 stores,
which had been recording double-digit declines,
are now up more than 5 percent. Today, with
his wife Joye and their three sons working for
the company, they operate 56 Jiffy Lubes and
are planning for more. It’s easy to believe Griffin when he says, “I’m having more fun now than
I’ve ever had.”
No matter their background, experience, or
training, you’ll find inspiring stories behind all
these successful operators. Whether you have
a single unit or dozens across several brands,
you’re sure to discover something interesting,
educational, and even entertaining in the stories
of these six multi-unit franchisees.
It’s Mega 99 time!