THE
T H E M A G A Z I N E O F F R A N C H I S E B U S I N E S S S E R V I C E S
2015 ISSUE 4
2015
Business Summit
16
A Look at Your New
Board of Directors Members
32
The Art of Multiunit Leadership
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FBS Board of Directors
Wray Hutchinson
Chairman
Mark Jones
Vice Chairman
James Bitzonis
Director
Brian Carmody
Director
Jerry Franklin Jr.
Director
Steve Grube
Director
Brad Haber
Director
Roz Mallet
Director
Amy O’Neil
Director
Bobby Pancake
Director
Christy Williams
Executive Director
FBS Editorial Board
Kristi Keith-Hoffman
Editor-in-Chief
kristik@myfbsonline.org
Elizabeth Lowman
Managing Editor
elizabethl@myfbsonline.org
Kristen Perez
Associate Editor
kristenp@myfbsonline.org
Advertising Sales
Jeff Reynolds
Director of Business Partner Relations
jeffr@myfbsonline.org
678-797-5161
Design and Layout
Kristen Thomas
KT Graphic Design
ktgraphicdesign@gmail.com
Headquarters
1701 Barrett Lakes Blvd. NW
Suite 180
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: 678-797-5161
Fax: 678-797-5171
Franchise Business Services publishes The
SCORE. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, of
the contents of this publication is prohibited
without prior written consent of Franchise Busi-
ness Services. All Rights Reserved.
In keeping with our commitment to the
environment, this publication is printed
on certified, environmentally-friendly recycled
paper using eco-friendly inks.
Copyright© 2015
Printed in the U.S.A.
www.myfbsonline.org
ON THE COVER
The 2015 FBS Business Summit was a resounding
success. Enjoy a photo recap of the event on page 20.
COLUMNS
2
Chairman’s Column
by Wray Hutchinson, FBS Chairman
DEPARTMENTS
4
FBS Member News
9
Event Calendar and New Store Openings
10
Franchisee Spotlight
11
Team Up for Kids™
FEATURES
14
Spotlight on the 114th Congress: Rep. David Jolly (R-FL-13)
16
A Look at Your New Board of Directors Members
18
5 Tax-Related Changes for Your Health Care in 2016
by Barbara Weltman, SmallBizTrends.com
20
The 2015 FBS Business Summit: A Photo Recap
28
Disaster-Proof Your Business: An Insurance Checklist from the I.I.I.
courtesy of Insurance Information Institute
30
Is That Worker an Independent Contractor?
Federal Government Says “Probably Not”
by Douglas H. Duerr, Elarbee Thompson Wilson and Sapp, LLP
32
The Art of Multiunit Leadership
by Jim Sullivan, sullivision.com
34
Know Your Assets for Significance: Your Greatest Passions
by Dan Coughlin, The Coughlin Company
DIRECTORIES
12
Associate Member Listing
36
Advertisers Guide and Editorial Calendar
2015 Issue 4
2015 Issue 4 |
THESCORE
A Message FROM THE CHAIRMAN
We enjoyed fantastic keynote
speakers like Tito Beveridge, who made
us think about celebrating our own
failures and to keep going; Judy Shoulak
and Victor Heutz, who helped remind us
who we are as a brand and where we’re
going; and Major Dan Rooney, who truly
inspired us to appreciate those who have
sacrificed for our freedoms and how to
give back.
We also had time to have some fun
while building relationships at both our
exhibitor trade show and during our
annual Casino Night and Texas Hold ‘em
Tournament. As always, we concluded
with a lively auction, graciously led by
our very own auctioneer, Mike Jones. I
also hear that those who participated in
the first ever FBS Summit Shootout had
a great time on the golf course … and
beyond.
This year, we also provided tangible
benefits to our managers in the form of a
course to become certified as ServSafe®
Food Manager instructors and educa-
tion on the new “Quickie Election” rules.
FBS wants to continue to offer valuable
content for managers at this event in
coming years and I encourage you to
submit ideas for courses or training that
you would find enticing as reason to
register them.
Although we had a record number
of franchisee and manager attendees, we
fell short of 100 percent participation. The
Summit is designed specifically to address
issues important to franchisees and I
whole-heartedly believe it is worth the
relatively minor expense and time away
from your business to attend. I hope to
see everyone next year, Oct. 12-14, when
we’re back in Las Vegas at Caesar’s Palace.
Speaking of 2016, I want to impress
upon you the importance of under-
standing the over-regulated legislative
landscape we will continue to face. Misty
Chally from FBS and Tim Ehlert from
Buffalo Wild Wings® took to the stage in
Reno along with attorneys from respected
labor and law firms to give an overview of
these topics but it’s on us to stay informed
on how our businesses will be impacted.
It is frustrating and borderline
depressing at times, but we can choose
to either sit idly by and let every-
thing happen around us or we can do
something about it. With 2016 being a
presidential election year, we will have
a chance to influence change. FBS will
keep you updated throughout the year
through emails, webinars and The SCORE
on ways to make your voices heard and
I encourage you all to take advantage of
those opportunities. Again, it’s all about
engaging for success.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
Ringing in the New Year also means
college bowl games and the SuperBowl,
which means big business. That’s one of
the great things about being a Buffalo
Wild Wings® franchisee… there is always
next season. I hope that 2016 and all its
seasons bring happiness to you and your
family as well as success to your business.
Wray Hutchinson
he 2015 FBS Business Summit in Reno
has come and gone. This year’s theme was
Engaging for Success and if you weren’t able
to engage and join us at this awesome event, then
you definitely missed out. We had yet another very
successful meeting that offered education and
entertainment for all.
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2015 Issue 4 |
THESCORE
MEMBER NEWS
here are some individuals who take it upon themselves
to make a tangible difference in the world. While most
of us want to bring about a positive change, more often than
not, we do not alter our lives around such endeavors, like
walking across the country. However, in the case of 79-year-
old Don Stevenson, he has done so 20 times. Stevenson, or
the Pacing Parson as he become known, stopped by Diver-
sified Restaurant Holdings’ (DRH) Buffalo Wild Wings® in
Sterling Heights, Michigan, Aug. 26, three months into his
20th cross-country charity walk.
Stevenson is a retired minister and former U.S. Marine
from the Seattle-area. He has been performing cross-country
charity walks since 1998 to raise money and awareness for
medical causes he supports. He walks 25-30 miles each day,
taking Sundays off to rest. His wife, Loretta, drives ahead of
him to secure lodging each night, which is often donated by
hotels.
The reason for his latest pilgrimage is to spread aware-
ness for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA).
The PHA is a community-based nonprofit that aims to find
ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension (PH), and
to provide hope for those in the PH community through
support, education, research, advocacy and awareness.
Stevenson walked from his home outside of Seattle before
stopping at Buffalo Wild Wings® for the PHA Midwest Chap-
ter’s Detroit O2 breathe Quarter Marathon fundraiser kickoff
event.
The event was set up by Colleen Ryan, who serves as
the development and special events manager of the Midwest
Chapter of the PHA. Several other representatives of the
PHA, who came to thank Stevenson for all of his efforts,
were also in attendance. Stevenson and his wife, Loretta, sat
and ate with Ryan and other PHA representatives for the
evening while speaking to various individuals who came out
to meet them.
“He met local pulmonary hypertension patients and
Diversified Restaurant Holdings
Supports Man’s Cross-Country Walk for
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
A group photo with event attendees and Don Stevenson
(neon yellow shirt).
THESCORE | 2015 Issue 4
MEMBER NEWS
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THE FRESHEST TASTE.
Local supporters came out to Buffalo Wild Wings to cheer on
Don Stevenson in the middle of his 20th cross-country walk to
raise awareness for a good cause.
caregivers, medical professionals and supporters. We had
PHA giveaways and a banner for supporters and attendees
to sign for all of his hard work. We actually had our server,
Brandon, sign the banner after learning about Don’s dedica-
tion and support for PHA. We’re going to present this to him
when he finishes his walk at PHA headquarters in D.C.,”
said Ryan.
The fundraiser was a success, bringing in $1,185 in sales
during four hours. The fundraiser also provided the chance
for the Pacing Parson to meet the community he is advo-
cating for before continuing on his pilgrimage across the
United States.
“I am very proud of our Sterling Heights Buffalo Wild
Wings® location on their execution of this fundraiser and I
am excited that we were able to participate in the event! It’s
rewarding to be involved with such an amazing organiza-
tion, and we are thankful that the PHA reached out to us
and gave us the opportunity to be a part of this,” enthused
Rene Barber, marketing manager for DRH. S
2015 Issue 4 |
THESCORE
MEMBER NEWS
our M Capital, LLC recently
opened a new location in Harlem,
New York, and made a donation of
$5,000 to the Harlem Boys & Girls
Club to commemorate the occa-
sion and give back to their newest
community. The money was raised
during the location’s preopening
event and will aid in enhancing the
youth of Harlem’s futures. The soft
opening, or VIP night, was held to
ensure that production and proce-
dures were fine-tuned before the
official hard opening of the Harlem
location while simultaneously serving
as a “sneak peek” of the restaurant for
the community.
Roughly 200 people attended the event including Barbara
Atkins, president of the 125th Street Business Improvement
District, and Four M Capital owners James Bitzonis, Dennis
Mehiel and Michael Mehiel. During VIP night, all food is
complimentary except for the cash bar in which all proceeds
go toward a fundraising initiative or charity. This particular
VIP night’s earnings were donated to the Harlem Boys & Girls
Club and raised $2,300. However,
Four M Capital wanted to double
that number and provided an
additional $2,300, plus $400 raised
from patrons during the month of
October, for a total of $5,000 donated
to the Harlem Boys & Girls Club.
The check presentation was held
Oct. 12, at the restaurant and was
heavily attended by members of the
Harlem Boys & Girls Club. Execu-
tive director for the club, Dominique
Jones, was there to accept the dona-
tion on behalf of the club. Four M
Capital also donated several platters
of wings and finger foods for the
parents and children to enjoy during
the ceremony.
“We are very pleased to be part of the vibrant Harlem
community and especially happy that the Boys & Girls Club
of Harlem has welcomed us with open arms. This donation is
the first of many to benefit such a worthy cause and we hope
to make a positive difference in the lives of the kids,” said
Bitzonis. S
Four M Capital Donates $5,000
to Harlem Boys and Girls Club
L-R: Ashanti Pratt, BGCA coordinator; Dominique
Jones, BGC executive director; Genelle Green, BWW
Harlem manager; Paul Alcazar, regional manager;
Mike Zotter, general manager and some of the Club’s
youth members celebrated the $5,000 donation.
he year 2015 will be known as “The Year of Training” for
High 5 Hospitality. The Delaware-based company enacted a
yearlong program in which each location held training sessions
for their respective management teams. The goal of this program
was to help the managers function more effectively and cohe-
sively, as well as to prepare them for the next phase in their
career. The sessions were held for assistant managers to transition
to assistant general managers and assistant general managers to
transition to general managers and so on.
All management teams and other staff have been enthusias-
tically embracing the opportunity the training program provides
to learn more and be “in the know.” A noticeable effect could also
be seen in regard to the overall understanding and utilization of
the CTUIT restaurant management software, an increase in the
number of restaurants developing local store marketing initiatives
and a resurgence of enthusiasm from High 5 Hospitality’s Wing
Certified Trainers (WCT). High 5 Hospitality is confident that it
will see similar results from future sessions.
Additionally, these training sessions gave the management
teams an opportunity to voice concerns and raise questions
about existing best practices and even resulted in the develop-
ment of several new standard operating procedures.
“Since the Local Store Marketing (LSM) training in July,
I have had 50 percent of our locations approach me about
running a specific LSM program. That is 50 percent more than
last year, which is very exciting,” said Alison L. MacKenzie, High
5 Hospitality’s director of marketing.
Each class was held at High 5 Hospitality’s Middletown,
Delaware, location in the private function area, typically lasted
from two to four hours — dependent upon the subject taught
— and had an average class size of 15-25 trainees. The training
was led by internal leaders from each department. High 5
Hospitality also had a former BWW New Restaurant Opening
(NRO) trainer who worked with their franchise group to facili-
tate some of the operational training sessions as well.
To ensure that there was proper customization for each
individual scenario, High 5 Hospitality varied the audience
based on each subject. For example, the LSM training session
was given to the general managers and the marketing manager
for each location with the CTUIT training and human resource
seminars given to all members of management.
Overall, High 5 Hospitality saw noticeably positive results
from this yearlong program and strongly believes other organi-
zations would find such an initiative equally beneficial. S
High 5 Hospitality’s Year of Training
THESCORE | 2015 Issue 4
MEMBER NEWS
JK&T Wings’ Waterford, Michigan, location held a fund-
raiser Sept. 16, benefiting a local teen’s medical treatment.
Dillon Bond was hit by a car while trying to cross the road in
December 2013, subsequently suffering severe brain damage
from a head injury. He remains acutely paralyzed, unable to
speak and is entirely reliant on around-the-clock care but, after
more than a year and a half in the hospital, is finally home.
Rebecca Bond, Dillon’s mother, is not giving up hope on
Dillon’s recovery and believes his best chance lies within a new
stem cell procedure that runs for $25,000 per treatment. JK&T
Wings’ fundraiser, held on Dillon’s 16th birthday, raised money
that went toward his treatment in hopes of a better tomorrow
for the young man.
Rebecca and Dillon Bond, along with most of the rest
of their family and friends, attended the day’s fundraiser and
birthday party. There was great support by many in the Bonds’
community; even the entire Lakeland Football team attended
the day’s event to celebrate their former classmate’s birthday
and contribute to his fund. There was also a birthday cake and
everyone in the restaurant took part in singing “happy birthday.”
The Waterford location donated 20 percent of all sales from that
day, raising more than $435 for Dillon’s Special Needs Fund to
aid in his medical treatment.
"Here at JK&T Wings, Inc. we are family and family is more
important than anything else. Our family not only includes our
staff but our local communities as well. When something tragic
happens in the community we feel the pain, we want to provide
the support not only for the family but for the community as
well. When we were approached, JK&T Wings was more than
happy to help out this family in need and will continue to be
ingrained in the community,” said franchisee Kent Ward. S
JK&T Wings Raise Funds for a Local Teen Paralyzed in a Car Accident
Dillon Bond celebrated his 16th birthday with family and
friends during a fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings® to help
supplement the cost for his medical treatments. Photo
submitted by Rebecca Bond.
2015 Issue 4 |
THESCORE
ee It Up LLC entered into a new partnership with the
Police Activities League (PAL) of Fairfield, California, Sept.
16. This initiative is an open-ended partnership in which Tee It
Up donates food for 60-80 students once a month.
The Fairfield PAL program offers Fairfield, Suisun and
Travis-area teens a place to grow, learn and build the necessary
life skills they need for the future by providing a safe environ-
ment and support for working families. The PAL Matt Garcia
Youth Center hosts a number of programs designed to support
members through homework and academic enrichment with
career planning, fitness, sports and recreation programs, lead-
ership, character education and life skills components.
Of all the students that the PAL serves, 77 percent fall into
what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment (HUD) considers extremely low income. For some of the
students, the food that is served at the youth center may be
their only meal in the afternoon and evening. The more often
students attend, the more friends they bring with them, the
longer they stay, the more likely they are to turn away from
crime, academic failure and other delinquent or nonproductive
behaviors.
“It is our hope that the simple act of providing food from
Buffalo Wild Wings® once a month shows the youth in our
community that we see them, we see the good decisions that
they are making and we see their potential,” said franchisee
Hardy Samra.
Tee It Up began working with the Fairfield PAL before
their official partnership through various Eat Wings, Raise
Funds events and several silent auctions and raffle dona-
tions. Buffalo Wild Wings® had been requested by the student
members of the PAL, which led PAL program coordinator
Heather Sanderson to contact Tee It Up about a potential meal
partnership. In the initial conversation Sanderson mentioned
how serving food, especially from a well-loved restaurant,
makes a huge difference in getting students to make the first
steps toward the program and lengthen their involvement.
“The PAL was kind to send out a press release to the local
media and their partners recognizing our contribution and
encouraging the community to dine at our establishment,” said
Heather Harvey, Tee It Up’s director of business development
and marketing. “Like every Buffalo Wild Wings® location, we
are committed to being a proud supporter of our community.
We truly want our community to be the best place to live, work,
play and dine. We want to encourage the students to continue
going to the PAL Center for programs such as homework help,
job training, sports and fitness programs and much more.” S
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If I’m not there,
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what time we’re
opening?
MEMBER NEWS
Tee It Up LLC Partners with Fairfield
PAL to Serve Meals to Teens
Fairfield PAL volunteers serve up wings donated by Tee It Up,
LLC in their BWW® crowns.