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 | 2022 ISSUE 2
Jim Bitzonis
Jim Bitzonis
Takes Leadership
Reins at FBS Summit
PAGE 26
Jim Bitzonis
Jim Bitzonis
Summit Recap
PAGE 16
FBS Transition:
McLane Foodservice ofers its sincere gratitude to the
BUFFALO WILD WINGS franchisees for their years
of partnership and success in growing together.
© 2021 McLane Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
PROUD TO BE YOUR
WINGMAN SINCE 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FBS Board of Directors
James Bitzonis
Chairman
Roz Mallet
Vice Chairman
Steve Grube
Secretary/Treasurer
Wray Hutchinson
Chairman Emeritus
Jenny Beaudoin
Director
Brian Carmody
Director
Bobby Pancake
Director
Larry Podlogar
Director
Ed Lynn
Director
Christy Williams
Executive Director
FBS Editorial Board
Sean Ireland
Editor-in-Chief
seani@myfbsonline.org
Rachel Jackson
Managing Editor
rachelj@myfbsonline.org
Jared Johnsen
Associate Editor
jaredj@myfbsonline.org
Advertising Sales
Jeff Reynolds
Director of Business Partner Relations
jeffr@myfbsonline.org
678-797-5163
Christy Rowan
Vendor Sales and Development Manager
christyr@myfbsonline.org
678-439-2284
Design and Layout
Kristen Thomas
KT Graphic Design
ktgraphicdesign@gmail.com
Headquarters
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Phone: 678-797-5161
Fax: 678-797-5171
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Any reproduction, in whole or in part, of the
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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© 2022
Printed in the U.S.A.
www.myfbsonline.org
ON THE COVER
At the 2022 FBS Summit, Jim Bitzonis succeeded
Wray Hutchinson as chairman of the association.
For more on this leadership transition, what’s been
accomplished and what’s ahead, see pages 2 and 26.
For a recap of all the Summit activities, see page 16.
COLUMNS
2
Chairman’s Column
DEPARTMENTS
4
FBS Member News
12 Look, Listen, Read
10 One Topic: 10 Facts
14 Franchisee Spotlight
FEATURES
6
Foundation Gives More than $1 Million to Local Nonprofits
11 Spotlight on the 117th Congress: Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11)
16 2022 FBS Summit Brings Franchisees Together to Party on the Coast
26 FBS Leadership Passes to Experienced Hands
by Sean Ireland, FBS director of communications
28 2022 BWW Franchisee Sports Bar Remodels: What’s New?
by Jared Johnsen, FBS communications specialist
29 Moving Hospitality Forward
contributed by WyreStorm Technologies
30 FP Flash Survey Reveals: West Coast Workplace Litigation Explosion
May Soon Spread Across Country
by Andria Ryan and Hagood Tighe, Fisher Phillips
32 Be Aware of These Three Sales Tax Pitfalls for Restaurants
by Stacy Smith, Mize CPAs Inc.
34 Cyber Liability Risks Restaurant Owners Face
contributed by Lockton Cos.
36 Service Vs. Hospitality – The “Be Our Guest” Attitude
by Dennis and Danny Snow, Snow & Associates Inc.
38 The First Act in Leadership: Clarifying the Quest
by Dan Coughlin, The Coughlin Co.
39 Upskilling: Four Simple Steps Toward Upgrading Your Work
by Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro®
DIRECTORIES
8
Associate Member Listing
40 Advertisers Guide and Editorial Calendar
2022 Issue 2
2022 Issue 2
|
THESCORE
Stay Strong By Standing Together
Wray remains on the FBS Board of
Directors, and we are thankful both for
his time leading the organization and
to continue to have his participation in
association afairs.
Tanks to Wray and many other
leaders, as well as our strong member-
ship base, FBS is a valued partner in the
Bufalo Wild Wings® franchise system.
We have a strong relationship with Inspire
Brands, working collaboratively with the
company to ensure that its decisions and
actions are made with the best interests of
our businesses in mind. Tis great associa-
tion will stay focused on representing you
and your interests as we hope for a bright
future for all.
We are cautiously optimistic about
what is ahead, even as we recognize the
difculties our businesses have faced
since 2020. After emerging from the
coronavirus pandemic, which hit our
industry with unprecedented challenges,
we are now encountering difculties with
ongoing labor shortages, supply chain
problems, record-breaking infation and
what looks increasingly like an economic
recession.
Our sports bars survived the
shutdowns and layofs of the pandemic
through the ingenuity and hard work of
our teams and leaders like you. Tis next
challenge looks no less daunting and will
require even more of that efort.
Average wholesale food prices
jumped 15.6% between May 2021 and
May 2022, according to the National
Restaurant Association, representing the
10th consecutive month with double-digit
gains on a 12-month basis. Several of the
major commodities in the wholesale food
price index stood well above their year-ago
levels in May, including eggs (259.9%),
butter (50%), four (36.7%), fats and oils
(32.5%), processed poultry (25.2%) and
cheese (17.4%).
Infation has hit levels not seen since
the early 1980s. Te Consumer Price
Index rose 8.6% from May 2021 to
2022, the fastest pace of infation since
December 1981. Consumers are reacting
to the negative news as you would expect.
A survey by Morning Consult in May
found that 80% of U.S. consumers said
they are eating out less often because of
infation. More than 40% of restaurant
operators expect economic conditions
to worsen in the next six months, the
highest reading since 2008 and the Great
Recession.
Tere’s no doubt the current business
environment is stormy and may remain
that way for some time. We must be
creative to encourage our guests to keep
visiting us as frequently as they have before
and to attract new guests with strategic
marketing and the right value options.
Deliver hot food hot and cold beer cold.
Train your staf to be welcoming and
friendly. Raising prices cannot become the
only option. It will require the dedication
and best eforts of the entire BWW®
system to continue our collective success.
As we face today’s new challenges
and the ones we know that will follow
these, we stand stronger through FBS
than we ever could alone. By sharing ideas
and information, working together and
uniting with one voice, our businesses will
survive and thrive. Be sure you are taking
full advantage of membership in FBS by
participating in our events and staying
engaged in our communications and
programs.
Tank you for allowing me to serve as
FBS chairman and for being a part of this
vital community.
Jim Bitzonis
FBS Chairman
t’s an honor to write to you as the new
chairman of Franchise Business Services
(FBS). For many years, this space was
filled with information and inspirational
messages from our past chairman, Wray
Hutchinson.
We’ve got you covered!
Elevanta Health is your
health insurance expert.
2022 Issue 2
|
THESCORE
MEMBER NEWS
tephanie Graham-Powell went to
work one day as a standard BWW
server and left a hero.
High 5 Hospitality owner Bobby
Pancake awarded Graham-Powell earlier
this year for saving a choking customer’s
life. For her honorable act, she received
the Pancake Coin – a token presented
by Pancake for going above and beyond
what an employee’s job description states.
“Tere are no criteria to it,” Pancake
said, “I know it when I see it.”
Te day of her good deed started
routinely for Graham-Powell until she
heard a commotion across the restaurant.
She rushed to see a customer incorrectly
performing the Heimlich maneuver on
another customer. Te man then signaled
to her that he was choking, asking for
her help. Using her previous experience
as a medical assistant and habilitation
specialist, she successfully performed the
Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the
boneless wing from the customer’s airway.
After sitting him down, giving him water,
and confrming that he was stable, she
returned to work as if nothing happened.
“He thanked me a bunch of times,
and I told him to stop,” Graham-Powell
said. “I wanted to thank him for allowing
me to save his life.”
Never having previously used her
emergency-response training, she felt
adrenaline rushing through her body
after successfully helping the victim and
was grateful that she was in the right
place at the right time.
Graham-Powell said receiving the
Pancake Coin was the utmost distinction.
She was humbled by her recognition,
with tears running down her face. Besides
the 25% discount that she receives at any
High 5 Hospitality restaurant due to the
coin, she places sentimental value on it
as well. She brings it into work with her
every shift and refers to it as her “comfort
blanket.”
“Just having this coin allows me to
know that in my adult life, I have done
something awesome,” Graham-Powell
said. “It makes me feel valued and
appreciated.”
Graham-Powell’s key takeaway from
the situation is to keep an open eye on
the environment and to always be ready
to assist someone in need.
“Pay attention,” she said. “You’ll
never know if someone needs your help.
Every second counts.”
High 5 Hospitality plans to add
training for emergency situations like
the one encountered by Graham-Powell.
Pancake hopes to have a few people in
each restaurant know CPR and all to have
active shooter preparedness training. S
BWW Employee Honored for
Saving a Customer’s Life
miling faces. Tis is what Four M
Franchising President and CEO Jim
Bitzonis recalled fondly from rewarding
his employees for their contributions to
Bufalo Wild Wings®.
On April 7, Bitzonis, along with
Chief Operations Ofcer Joe Lichwick and
Director of Operations Jean-Paul Parnizari,
awarded outstanding employees at Four
M’s frst-ever award luncheon. Held at
Blackstone’s Steakhouse in Stamford,
Connecticut, engraved crystal awards
were handed out to company leaders for a
variety of honorable services to BWW®.
Leaders were recognized for the
“Always Connected” Community Award,
the “Never Cracks Under Pressure”
Diamond Award, the “Providing A Great
Environment” Best Culture Award,
the “Most Valuable GM” Founder’s
Award, the “Always Setting the Example”
Leadership Award and the President’s
Award earned by a leader for “Fierce
Passion and Marvelous Talents Guiding
the Company to Great Success.”
Te company also recognized
employees for their loyalty with awards
for over 10 years of service. Parnizari
was honored for 15 years of service and
received the coveted President’s Award.
“Tis is long overdue. People want to
feel that others understand the efort they
put in to work, the sacrifces they make
and that they are appreciated for the
success they achieve for what they do,”
Bitzonis said. “Recognition, appreciation
and validation are key components to
retaining key personnel, and raises and
bonuses don’t hurt.”
Te future for this ceremony looks
bright due to the incredible reactions
of joy and satisfaction the recipients
displayed. Four M plans to continue the
ceremony every year.
“I believe we have always expressed
appreciation for our employees, but never
recognized them in such fashion. To see
how happy everyone was to be awarded
based on their success made me even
happier than them,” Bitzonis said. “So,
it’s nothing but a huge win-win.” S
BWW Franchisee Recognizes Employees
by Holding First Awards Ceremony
Bobby Pancake and Stephanie Graham-
Powell shake hands after she receives a
Pancake Coin.
THESCORE |
2022 Issue 2
MEMBER NEWS
wo Joe’s Inc., a Bufalo Wild Wings
franchisee in Mankato, Minnesota,
scored big for the annual Hockey Day
Minnesota celebration.
Started in 2007 by the Minnesota
Wild professional ice hockey team,
Hockey Day was created to celebrate
Minnesota’s ofcial sport. It is produced
in partnership with Bally Sports North,
the Wild and the local community
chosen as the host each year. In 2022,
Blakeslee Field, located in Mankato,
was the chosen venue to host this event.
With the help of the local organizing
committee, the single-day event turned
into a weeklong celebration for hockey
lovers of all ages.
Two Joe’s Inc. franchisees Joe
Frederick Sr. and Joe Frederick Jr.
provided Hockey Day Minnesota with
supplies for fve diferent food-and-
beverage stations. Using their passion
for the sport as drive, the father-son duo
knew that they wanted to give back to
the community.
“We have always been directly
connected to sports in the Mankato
community and with my personal family
connection to hockey, we knew we
wanted to be highly involved in Hockey
Day,” Joe Frederick Jr. said.
Te Fredericks delivered on their
wishes to serve the community beer and
wings. Over fve days of operation, a
team of volunteers served 833 cases of
beer and over 5,000 boneless wings to
22,000 Hockey Day attendees, earning
over $35,000 in proft that all went back
to Hockey Day Minnesota.
“BWW Mankato has a long-standing
reputation for being community focused
and is always one of the frst businesses
in town to step up to the plate to support
areawide initiatives,” said Lindsay Botker,
a member of the Hockey Day Minnesota
executive committee. “Te Frederick family,
in partnership with Jen McCabe, business
and marketing manager of BWW Mankato
and Hutchinson, really understood what
Hockey Day Minnesota Mankato’s mission
and vision was. Not only were they
instrumental in the execution of that vision,
but the Hockey Day Minnesota Mankato
fund was also the benefactor of their large
charitable donation, which will be used to
continue to grow the game of hockey in
our community.”
Te Fredericks will be monumental
in helping communities in Minnesota
enjoy Hockey Days for years to come. S
BWW Franchisee Scored
Funds for Local Hockey Event
A
Bufalo Wild Wings® sports bar,
owned by Four M Franchising,
helped continue a young girl’s passion for
making the world a more colorful place.
On Saturday, May 21, sports bar No.
3431, located in Danbury, Connecticut,
hosted a packing party for Chelsea’s
Charity, a nonproft devoted to giving art
supplies to those in need. With the help
of students at Henry Abbott Technical
High School and the staf of BWW® and
Chelsea’s Charity, the team managed to
pack 200 art kits in less than 30 minutes.
Te packing party was an event that
gathered volunteers to assist 12-year-old
Chelsea Phaire in flling drawstring bags
with enough art supplies to satisfy artists
of any skill level. With supplies donated
by a local STAPLES, the team packed
the kits in an assembly line. Te event
was featured on NBC’s national Nightly
News Kid’s Edition, and BWW fed those
involved.
Te partnership between BWW and
Chelsea’s Charity started with General
Manager Andrea Figueroa’s desire to get
involved in the community. Figueroa
built upon the relationship with Chelsea’s
Charity that her predecessor, Shona
Burgiere, established. After meeting with
Chelsea and her family, Figueroa sought
to plan the packing party at her sports bar.
“I was just blown away by this
little girl and her family and all of the
little things they do to help people out,”
Figueroa said.
Chelsea has loved art as a way
of expression for as long as she can
remember. Te nonproft started when
Chelsea declined gifts for her 10th
birthday. Rather, she asked her guests to
bring art supplies to donate to children
less fortunate than her. Her nonproft
creates art kits to give to places such as
foster homes, homeless shelters, veterans
hospitals and more.
Te packing party was a successful
event flled with smiles and joy. Te
BWW plans to continue its relationship
with Chelsea’s Charity with more events
in the future. S
To make a contribution to Chelsea’s Charity,
visit: https://client.customdonations.com/
securepay/chelseascharity/
BWW Franchisee Hosts Packing
Party for Chelsea’s Charity
Chelsea Phaire stands among the volunteers
who made the packing party at BWW a
success.
2022 Issue 2
|
THESCORE
he Bufalo Wild Wings
Foundation completed its frst
round of giving from the new
local DMA grants program.
Tese grants were funded by
donations raised in October’s Team Up
for Kids fundraiser, and nonprofts were
nominated to receive funds by local
feld leadership. More than $1 million
was given to 251 organizations across
the country to deliver on our mission
to “Fuel Champions of the Next
Generation.”
Local Boys & Girls Clubs received
60% of the nominations while
other youth-serving nonprofts were
supported with the remainder of the
funds.
Tis year, the Future Legends
fundraiser and the October fundraiser
will both fund this grants program for
2023. You can increase dollars available
for your community by participating in
both campaigns.
To learn more, contact
Catherine Stranberg at
cstranberg@inspirebrands.com. S
Foundation
Gives More Than
$1 MILLION
to Local Nonprofits
THESCORE |
2022 Issue 2
FUEL
CHAMPIONS
OF THE NEXT
GENERATION.
TO LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
CONTACT CATHERINE STRANBERG AT THE
BUFFALO WILD WINGS FOUNDATION AT
CSTRANBERG@INSPIREBRANDS.COM
TM & ©2021 Bufalo Wild Wings, Inc. BWW2021-0250255
2022 Issue 2
|
THESCORE
COMPANY
LEVEL
CONTACT
PHONE
Elevanta Health
Partner
Joseph Pieper
josephp@elevanta.com
678-797-5160
Lockton Afnity
Partner
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elevanta@locktonafnity.com
844-403-4947
Mize Restaurant Group, providing Elevanta
Payroll and Accounting Services
Partner
Stacy Smith
ssmith@mizecpas.com
785-233-0536
McLane Foodservice Distribution
Diamond
Lynn Modisette
lynn.modisette@mclanefs.com
972-364-2050
PepsiCo
Diamond
John Ledva
john.ledva@pepsico.com
732-618-8578
Retail Tech Inc.
Emerald
Shannon Johnson
sjohnson@retailtechinc.com
952-224-4327
Campari America
Sapphire
Danny Moch
danny.moch@campari.com
240-367-6137
WyreStorm Technologies ProAV Corp.
Sapphire
Jim Reinhardt
jim.reinhardt@wyrestorm.com
631-901-9709
New Belgium Brewing/Bell’s Brewery
Pearl
Kari Gladney
kgladney@newbelgium.com
419-280-6015
Comcast Business
Pearl
Emma Prokesch
eprokesch@gmrmarketing.com
631-624-3146
Ecolab
Pearl
Kasey Beeler
kasey.beeler@ecolab.com
612-750-0759
Heineken
Pearl
Chuck Mathison
cmathison@heinekenusa.com
770-377-6959
Paulaner USA
Pearl
Scott Outwater
soutwater@paulanerhpusa.com
845-702-8355
Sazerac
Pearl
Candida Banti
cbanti@sazerac.com
415-302-0202
Te Wasserstrom Co.
Pearl
Matt Brown
mattbrown@wasserstrom.com
614-737-8314
Afnitech Inc.
Assoc. Mbr.
Charles Mattox
cmattox@afnitechinc.com
727-331-1003
AllianceHCM
Assoc. Mbr.
Jennifer Gordon
jennifer@alliancehcm.com
281-825-4220
Anheuser-Busch
Assoc. Mbr.
Mike Bouche
michael.bouche@anheuser-busch.com
617-750-1924
Audio Visual Design & Install
Assoc. Mbr.
Jason Abbott
jrabbott@avdiusa.com
260-615-8995
Awning and Sign Contractors
Assoc. Mbr.
Tom Armstrong
tarmstrong@awningandsigncontractors.
com
260-665-1521
x9110
BeatBox Beverages
Assoc. Mbr.
Jef Diem
jdiem@beatboxbeverages.com
317-506-9232
BeerBoard
Assoc. Mbr.
Josh Solomon
josh@beerboard.com
315-579-2360
Boston Beer Co.
Assoc. Mbr.
Gary Fragle
gary.fragle@bostonbeer.com
770-402-9850
Brown-Forman Corp.
Assoc. Mbr.
Dennis Greenwood
dennis_greenwood@b-f.com
678-602-5996
C&T Design and Equipment
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James Bales
jbales@c-tdesign.com
317-654-3721
C Squared Advisors LLC
Assoc. Mbr.
Pete DiFilippo
pete@c2advisorygroup.com
401-525-6771
Constellation Brands
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Tommy Becks
tom.becks@cbrands.com
636-438-8160
Copesan – Specialists in Pest Control
Assoc. Mbr.
Ray Mannello
rmannello@copesan.com
253-405-0860
Daltile
Assoc. Mbr.
Terrie Miller
terrie.miller@daltile.com
216-409-3153
Disaronno International
Assoc. Mbr.
Matt Borgard
mborgard@disaronno.com
630-235-9816
Dras Cases
Assoc. Mbr.
Josh Flattum
josh@drascases.com
507-402-4812
Duvel USA
Assoc. Mbr.
Michael Kelliher
m.kelliher@duvelusa.com
708-297-1142
E&J Gallo Winery
Assoc. Mbr.
Gerald Sullenberger
gerald.sullenberger@ejgallo.com
214-727-1844
Federal Heath
Assoc. Mbr.
Randy Cearlock
rcearlock@federalheath.com
317-697-4442
Founders Brewing Co.
Assoc. Mbr.
Liz Waldman
waldmanl@foundersbrewing.com
847-340-0619
G&G Closed Circuit Events
Assoc. Mbr.
Nicolas Gagliardi
nick@ggccevents.com
888-756-5601
Global Beer Network
Assoc. Mbr.
Christy Hanson
christy@globalbeer.com
720-331-1462
Green Dot Corp.
Assoc. Mbr.
Edward Cole
scole@greendotcorp.com
813-340-3276
Henny Penny
Assoc. Mbr.
Nick Frantz
nfrantz@hennypenny.com
937-456-8752
Keurig Dr Pepper
Assoc. Mbr.
John Orgeron
john.orgeron@kdrp.com
678-333-2031
Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Assoc. Mbr.
Cathy Bass
cathy.bass@lagunitas.com
615-946-2045
Leasecake Inc.
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Kristi Kent
kristi@leasecake.com
407-559-2579
LG Electronics
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David Boerlin
david.boerlin@lge.com
760-415-7797
Madison Brothers Consulting Group Inc.
Assoc. Mbr.
Nicole M. Durio
nicole.durio@madisonbrothers.com
832-264-8668
Mahoney Environmental
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Cameron Calhoun
cameronc@mahoneyes.com
910-465-6636
Molson Coors Beverage Co.
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Stephanie Vint
stephanie.vint@molsoncoors.com
816-289-1786
NCA Consultants Group
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Linda Snyder
lsnyder@ncaconsultants.com
727-530-0078
NCR Corp.
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Zachary Torrey
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260-223-9137
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