Score 2017 Issue 1 2017 | Page 4

Chairman’s Column T hirty-five years ago, Buffalo Wild Wings® was born on the campus of The Ohio State University. Today, you can find a B-Dubs® near colleges from Bangor to Ewa Beach. BWW acts as the “Official Hangout for NCAA Sports,” including March Madness®, Men’s and Women’s Final Four® and the individual championships. Beyond the court, the brand is also behind the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl where the goliaths of the college gridiron meet on New Year’s Day. 2 Whether they come from the Ivy League or just the School of Hard Knocks, fans will find their team at Buffalo Wild Wings. As small-business owners, we can find a wealth of knowledge and experience within the franchise system. In this issue of The SCORE, we highlight franchisees who are not only team players when it comes to B-Dubs®, but have ingrained themselves in the culture of college towns across the nation to become key players in those arenas as well. These owners, managers and employees have worked diligently to learn the Xs and Os of partnering with academic groups, athletic teams and the universities they represent. Whether they serve as a haven to cheer on the LSU Tigers or a place to root for the Yale Bulldogs, these locations are dedicated to supporting their student customers and doing what it takes to grow the brand. Franchisees in these cities have learned how to leverage the prevalence of delivery and online ordering and mitigate drinking culture by stepping up their game when it comes to responsible alcohol service. Operating in these locations can seem like a whole new ball game, but it’s one that our team is winning. Regardless of where your restaurants are located and who dines in them, as a business owner, it helps to have someone in your corner. We, at Franchise Business Services, are that resource. From educational communications and informative meetings to advocacy efforts, FBS has you covered. We hope you will join us for the annual FBS Business Summit in New Orleans Oct. 11-13 where all of the pieces come together under our theme of One Team. One Goal. This is the perfect opportunity to up your game. Spend time networking with members and system suppliers, and hear from industry and legal experts during an event packed with information and tools to help your business succeed. None of this would be possible without you, the franchisees. I encourage each and every one of you to step up to the plate, and offer best practices and words of wisdom to your fellow franchi- sees. Let’s go the distance, together. Wray Hutchinson