Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2014 | Page 44

2014 MVP AWARDS

“No matter how great your marketing is,
you can’t market your way out of a bad location,”
great food and genuine hospitality to more locations.”
Lee, McAlister’s Franchisee of the Year for the past 3 years,
likes the restaurant business so much that he also became
a franchisee for Wings ’N More Express. He’s also become
a partner on the franchisor side with Zio’s Italian Kitchen
and Don Pablo’s.
In addition to his knack for spotting good locations, Lee
credits his success to “good people running the operations—
a great team of people all around.”
His charitable and community involvement includes serving as board president for the Permian Basin Rehabilitation
Center for children in Odessa, Tex. “He’s been vital to bringing the center to where we are today because of his giving,
his willingness to go into the community and get donations,”
says Permian’s Executive Director Risse Rogers. “He epitomizes the definition of philanthropist because he gives and
gives, never wanting anything in return. He simply wants to
make a difference.”

MANAGEMENT
Business philosophy: Hire the best people, train them well, grow management from within, and give back to the community.
Management method or style: Delegate.
Greatest challenge: Finding the best people.
How do you hire and fire, train and retain? I have a management
team that is well trained in franchise management. I let them do their magic.

BOTTOM LINE
Annual revenue: $60 million.
2014 goals: We have a development plan in place for four states, including
continued growth in Texas and New Mexico, as well as new territories in Utah
and Idaho. Our goal for 2014 is to open 8 new McAlister’s locations.
Growth meter: How do you measure your growth? By the number of stores we open during a year and the sales those stores generate.
Vision meter: Where do you want to be in 5 years? In 10
years? We are now in Texas and New Mexico. I want to expand into Utah
and Idaho, as well as open additional locations in Texas and New Mexico. In
10 years, I’d like to see more growth in more states.
What are you doing to take care of your employees? We offer
extensive training, sales incentives, in-store contests, and advancement opportunities.
What kind of exit strategy do you have in place? I’m still working on that! However, it goes back to hiring people I know who have the
same passion to grow this business that I have.

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MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE III, 2014

PERSONAL
Formative influences/events: My biggest influences have been my
parents and their work ethic.
Key accomplishments: One of my biggest accomplishments has been
building a successful McAlister’s franchise and growing a talented management team. Our restaurants are in the top 20 for sales volume, as well as net
sales growth. We’ve also been recognized as Franchisee of the Year for the
past 3 years.
Work week: 60 to 70 hours.
What are you reading? The Admirals by Walter R. Borneman. It’s about
the four 5-star admirals of World War II and how they led the troops. Leadership under fire is another way to look at it.
Best advice you ever got: Surround yourself with great employees.
What’s your passion in business? Making things happen. I love the
challenge of starting a new store and watching it become successful.

2014 MVP

Single-Brand Growth Leadership Award
FOR ACHIEVING BRAND LEADERSHIP WITH A SINGLE BRAND
Why do you think you were recognized with this award? Our
long-term commitment to McAlister’s Deli is evident in our recent agreement
to more than double our number of stores by 2015. We’ve committed to
opening 24 additional locations in new and existing markets and expanding McAlister’s to two new states. We opened two stores on the same day in
January—a first for McAlister’s. We recently celebrated a 12 percent comp
sales increase.
How have you raised the bar in your own company? With each
new store we try to break the opening sales record from the previous opening.
What innovations ha