Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue II, 2013 | Page 26

M U L T I - B R A N D
By Debbie Selinsky

I

Mr. Hospitality

“If you’re not hospitable, you’re in the wrong game.”

f President Obama decided to name an Ambassador of
Franchising, John “JD” Draper, with his dapper attire,
mile-wide smile, and booming voice would surely
make the “short list” of top candidates. At least
someone in Washington is listening: Draper was
just voted onto the board of the IFA Educational Foundation’s Diversity Institute.
Draper has been a student of franchising since his first job out of Wayne
State University. “I went to work straight
out of college as a shift manager for a
Burger King in Detroit. I made $1.75
per hour,” he says. Today, as president

of operations for V&J Holding Companies in Milwaukee, he is responsible for 125 units, 6 brands,
and 4,000 team members in 6 states (Wisconsin,
Michigan, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, and Massachusetts).
From his Milwaukee office, Draper, who
describes himself as a “participatory manager,” discussed the Affordable Care Act,
multi-brand challenges, the economy,
and relationships with franchisors, team
members, and employees. He comes
on strong on each topic, throwing in
a memorable, usually original, quip.

PERSONAL
First job: When I was in high school, I walked by a clothing store where I
saw some pants I wanted. I didn’t have any money but talked to the owner,
who said, “Come work for me. I like your attitude.” That was my first job. I’ve
always liked nice clothes. I got that from my mother.
Formative influences/events: The most influential event was in the late
1970s when I heard Herman Cain speak at a Burger King convention when he
was still executive vice president of operations. He gave a compelling speech
about motivation and the will to serve customers.
Key accomplishments: In business, it was the acquisition of the Pizza Hut
group in upstate New York in 1997. Personally, my biggest accomplishment is
my family. I love them dearly and am elated at being a grandparent.
Biggest mistake: I really don’t have a lot of regrets. Perhaps I regret not
returning to college for my master’s degree.
Smartest mistake: My wife Deborah and I met in high school. She was
friendly and I was awkward. I walked up to her and said something like, “I
want to be your boyfriend.” She laughed at me like I was the biggest fool ever.
But years later, we met again and got married.
Decision I wish I could do over: None.
Work week: I’m available 24/7. Everybody has my cell numbers. I usually
work 60 to 70 hours a week.
How do you spend a typical day? I start with conference calls, go into
meetings, handle emails in between, lunch at one of our restaurants, and have
more conference calls. Every other day, in the early evening, I play racquetball,
and in the summer I play golf on weekends. After that I have dinner with my
family and chat with them.
Favorite fun activities: Golf doesn’t like me, but I like golf. I love to control things, so I’m trying to figure out how to control golf.
Exercise/workout: Three or four times a week.
Favorite tech toys: My iPhone. I can’t get away from it and it can’t get

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Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s ue II, 2013

away from me.
What are you reading? David Novak’s Taking People with You: The Only
Way to Make Big Things Happen. The biggest idea I’m taking away from the
book is that you really can’t get anywhere without people, so you need to take
them with you.
Do you have a favorite quote? “Only if effort turns out to be results did
‘try’ have anything to do with it.” I said that in a meeting when a district manager talked about some results that weren’t achieved. He was absolutely right:
the effort didn’t result in success. We do the work to achieve the goal.
Best advice you ever got: My mother told me, “Fall down seven times,
get up eight.”
What gets you out of bed in the morning? My duty to serve. I get up
early even on Saturday morning to shovel snow. And I won’t just do the walkway, I’ll do the whole driveway. On Sunday, I get up to go to church. These
duties are part of my core belief system.
What’s your passion in business? Hospitality—you have to be hospitable to be in the business I’m in. I’m in fast f