Back Yard Burgers’ Leadership Team is Always Steering Toward Success

Franchisees buy into a system not just because they like the product or business model, but because they know it represents a seaworthy ship. They’re counting on processes being put in place to help them replicate the success of the franchise brand on their own, whatever rough waters may come. However, no ship can stay afloat without the right captain at the helm.

Luckily for Back Yard Burgers franchisees, the brand’s ship is piloted not just by a captain who cares, but an incredibly gifted leadership team with extensive experience in the franchising industry. Ask Back Yard Burgers CEO Dave McDougall about his team and you’ll hear him light up with glowing reviews.

There’s Monte Jump, chief operations and marketing officer, who has significant franchise experience working with numerous brands. At Back Yard Burgers, he’s the driving force for developing and marketing new products guests go crazy for. Then there’s Angela Vega, director of culinary and food safety.

“She’s very creative,” McDougall said. “She’s instrumental in new product strategy for more premium offerings with innovative flavors.”

There’s also Robert Fuller, vice president of services and supply chain.

“He works hard with distributors and suppliers to make sure franchisees get the very best pricing they can, from proteins to paper products to produce,” McDougall said.

He was also quick to point out how vital Tonya Acree, Back Yard Burgers’ brand marketing manager, and Lorraine Brenner, director of human resources and field training, were to the success of the company.

“Tonya works closely with franchisees on developing local store marketing plans,” he continued. “And then she helps them actually executive those plans. Lorraine is responsible for the franchise side of training, working with new franchisees to educate them on the business with various training programs and tools. She makes sure every new franchisee gets off to a great start.”

And then there’s McDougall himself. When asked about what he adds to the brand’s leadership, he’s far less willing to boast. However, it’s clear his leadership has been instrumental in Back Yard Burgers’ momentous turnaround in recent years.

“As systems get larger, people often fall into debate,” he said. “But at some point, you have to pick a path and go. You have to make the call and make a move. My focus is creating the vision we follow in conjunction with our franchise advisory council and support center staff. My job is creating the strategic initiatives, ensuring we have a plan, are held accountable to it and produce results.”

And while each member of Back Yard Burgers’ leadership team has a special part to play, according to McDougall, it ultimately comes down to the simple formula of making sure franchisees succeed.

“The focus of the entire team is unit-level economics,” he said. “How do we grow top line sales and improve bottom line profitability? That’s the question we’re always concentrating on.”

At the end of the day, McDougall and his team know that if franchisees aren’t seeing success, the brand as a whole will suffer.

“You need to love working with franchisees to do this job,” he continued. “You need to be passionate about that, because if you’re not, this isn’t the right business for you. Franchisees are your partners. Your success is their success.”