2016 MVP AWARDS
We shall make it our mission to demonstrate
“ to every new recruit that no position in our company is out of reach .
” nuts brand because it has provided me the opportunity to succeed .”
In return , Wolak , who owns and operates 96 Dunkin ’ Donuts in Maine , New Hampshire , and New York , has given back to the brand in countless ways over the decades . Since founding The Wolak Group in 1975 , he has served as an elected franchisee leader at every level of the brand ’ s advisory system , and has been honored by the brand with its Annual Retail Excellence and Developer of the Year awards . If Dunkin ’ is pondering a new product , you can bet it ’ s made a test run in The Wolak Group .
But don ’ t let his single-mindedness about the brand fool you . Wolak is something of a modern Renaissance man . Along with his philanthropic commitment to the communities he serves , he is a World War
PERSONAL
Formative influences / events : My mother worked in Dunkin ’ Donuts when I was young , so I guess you can say she got me started in the business . I was working for Dunkin ’ Donuts when I was 16 , and Dunkin ’ has been part of my life ever since . I started out as a porter and eventually worked my way up to being a baker . I put myself through college working 60-plus hours a week and became a manager upon graduation . Before long , I was overseeing multiple stores and soon set my sights on owning my own network . I purchased my first Dunkin ’ in 1975 and never looked back . The first three units I purchased had been hemorrhaging cash , so I had to learn to squeeze two cents together to make a nickel . I have never forgotten that this is a penny business !
Key accomplishments : Started with nothing and have grown The Wolak Group into 96 locations that employ almost 2,000 people .
Work week : 50 to 60 hours .
What are you reading ? Thomas Jefferson by Jon Meacham .
Best advice you ever got : Management is getting work done through other people . Learn to delegate !
What ’ s your passion in business ? Finding the sites that I consider “ diamonds in the rough ” and turning them into successful Dunkin ’ Donuts .
MANAGEMENT
Business philosophy : You can ’ t grow without taking chances and trusting your employees .
Management method or style : Put the right people in key positions and let them do their jobs .
Greatest challenge : Labor costs . I take great pride in the number of jobs I have created over the years , especially entry-level positions . I ’ m afraid that the proposed drastic changes in the minimum wage will lead to a sharp decrease in the number of jobs in the QSR industry , as we are forced to replace employees with machines .
How do others describe you ? As a person who is not afraid to stand up for what I believe in business and in life .
How do you hire and fire , train and retain ? We have a rather large and elaborate training department and take pride in the number of longterm employees we have . The substantial number of people who have been with us for 10-plus years demonstrates that we are an employee of choice in our industry .
II buff , a classic automobile collector , and recently was executive producer of the movie “ Sugar Mountain ,” a thriller set in Alaska , which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May .
Wolak has taken the initiative to improve both himself and the brand since his high school days , when he started at Dunkin ’ Donuts washing floors , the lowest paid position on the crew . He quickly assessed all the job and pay levels around him and went to work developing the skills to ensure an opportunity never passed him by .
“ I took it upon myself to study the Dunkin ’ training manuals and everything I could learn and read about franchising so I could always put my best foot forward on behalf of the franchise owner and franchisor ,” he says . Wolak continues thinking big on behalf of the brand and his company . His 2016 goal , he says , is to be known as the “ destination employer of choice within the franchise industry where we compete .”
To help others follow in his footsteps , Wolak has submitted plans to build The Wolak Group Career Development Center in Syracuse , N . Y . The proposed facility will serve as an educational , training , and development pathway to success in the QSR industry . Wolak sees it as a chance to inspire and mentor others to dream big .
“ Many individuals in today ’ s labor market feel trapped in entry-level positions and view the American Dream as being out of reach ,” he says . “ Going forward we shall make it our mission to demonstrate to every new recruit that no position in our company is out of reach , and that with hard work and dedication to our company , anyone can enjoy a successful and rewarding career with The Wolak Group .”
BOTTOM LINE
Annual revenue : NA .
Growth meter : How do you measure your growth ? Generally , by number of new stores each year .
Vision meter : Where do you want to be in 5 years ? 10 years ? We will not stop growing and improving . The one thing I know for sure is that in 5 years we will be bigger and we will be better .
What are you doing to take care of your employees ? Our employees are our most important asset and we are constantly working on new and innovative ways to attract and retain employees . We have recently hired a full-time recruiter whose sole job is to work on recruitment and retention .
What kind of exit strategy do you have in place ? My daughter Kim has recently assumed the role of COO and will eventually take over my role as CEO .
54 MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE ISSUE III , 2016