The SCORE 2016 Issue 1 | Page 4

A Message FROM THE CHAIRMAN C ompany culture is an important part of the success of any business and it is an integral part of what makes Buffalo Wild Wings® so special. The culture inside our restaurants is fun and engaging. Other companies known for their culture, such as Nike, Google or Zappos, offer free meals or unlimited vacation days and in doing so are perceived as attractive places to work. While we clearly do not operate with their margins and these perks would be out of reach for us, we can operate in such a way as to engage our team members by coaching in a manner that treats them as a valued member of our team. 2016 Issue 1 | THE SCORE 2 Engagement is a key component to developing a positive company culture. We need our team members to do more than just show up and complete tasks every day — we need them to care about the success of the company. That can be a challenge, as people are motivated in different ways and not all of us are in the position to dole out all sorts of perks to spark materialistic motivation. However, we are all in the positon to create a positive environment: one that recognizes achievements, supports growth and makes coming to work every day more than a chore. It doesn’t cost anything to provide on-going positive, sincere feedback and appreciation. This is what we strive for in our company. There are unlimited and creative ways to accomplish this and you’ll find insight into how your colleagues are accomplishing this inside this issue of The SCORE. It is our hope these insights will help you in promoting an even healthier culture in your restaurants — from your executive-level team members to those greeting guests in your restaurants. As chairman, I would be remiss if I didn’t touch on the culture of our association. We, too, need our members to care about the success of our organization — to do more than just pay dues. This is not the first time I have encouraged our members to get involved in some way, nor will it be the last. FBS offers benefits to everyone, from the one-store operator to a franchisee with 20 or more stores. Likewise, we should all take advantage of those benefits and provide feedback on ways FBS can add to or improve upon them. There is no doubt that 2016 will prove to be interesting. Some of us have already survived extreme weather, we are all bracing for the flurry of activities brought on by this being a presidential election year and there are sure to be a host of things we aren’t remotely expecting. When circumstances around us — personal or professional — get complicated or overwhelming, it can be easy to let something like playing an active part in your association fall to the wayside. But just like we can’t afford to let something as important as culture and engagement slip in our own business, neither can we with FBS. We must continually promote a culture of participation. Speaking of the upcoming election and participation, Issue 2 of The SCORE will focus on all things legislative. In advance of that issue, I encourage you to get involved in grassroots efforts to advocate on issues vital to the success our businesses, in any way you feel comfortable. I think it’s safe to say that most of us would agree that Washington, D.C. does NOT have a positive culture and as voters, it is up to us to change that. But, more on that next issue. For now, take some time to think about your company’s culture. If it’s not where you want it to be, then seek out ways to improve it because it starts at the top. As for FBS, we rely on our members to help us make this association the best, most beneficial organization it can be and we always welcome ideas on how we can be better for you. Feel free to pass on your thoughts on how we can improve our culture and increase every member’s level of engagement. Wray Hutchinson