Aiding the Better-Burger Brand's Mission

Situated in the home base of relentless burger brand Back Yard Burgers, Ric Thornburg, chief operations officer of Resolute Brands, couldn’t be more thrilled to aid the better burger brand’s mission to redefine American fare. From his passion for the chain’s succulent beef burgers to his lauding of the company’s revitalized leadership team, Thornburg can barely contain his excitement when discussing his experiences with the brand.

“I truly love working here [at Resolute Brands],” Thornburg said. “I’m lucky that I can have a job that doesn’t truly feel like work. I just love it.”

This is high praise from any member of the franchise ecosystem, especially from an industry veteran like Thornburg. Succeeding in large-scale QSR brands like Pizza Hut and Friendly’s, Thornburg is perfectly suited for his current position at Back Yard Burgers.

After logging several years in the franchise industry, Thornburg had reached a professional crossroads. Being courted by a then-restructuring Back Yard Burgers in 2008, he began visiting the brand’s stores throughout the Mississippi area and saw the puzzle pieces falling together. Thornburg was the final piece to the puzzle.

Spying a promising glimmer of hope in the quality-focused, customer-driven chain, Thornburg accepted a position as a district manager in the Jackson market.

“I knew that based on what I saw and heard from corporate that there would be ample opportunities here,” Thornburg said. “The company—though it has been around for decades—was in an exciting rebuilding stage and was open to new opportunities.”

Two years after Thornburg’s start at the brand, he was promoted to director of operations within his territory. After succeeding in that position for less than a year, he hammered down part-ownership of his wildly successful franchise. The opportunities that Thornburg saw back in 2008 weren’t just wishful thinking, after all.

Thornburg also credits Back Yard Burgers’ rapid rise to CEO Dave McDougall’s leadership. Aside from enforcing the brand’s high standards, he keeps it all in line. An open line of communication between franchisees and corporate—even a 24-hour callback policy—has helped to solidify loyalty within the company.

“We’re focused on guest service and quality products,” Thornburg said. “We’re still cutting tomatoes and lettuce while others are buying pre-packaged items.”

There is one change he wishes he could make in his personal narrative, though.

“The only thing I would change about this experience is starting younger,” Thornburg said. “I wish this was the only job I ever had, because this is the best thing I’ve ever done. It never feels like work when I’m here.”