1851

Wichita, Kansas native Mark Poling was working long hours as a UPS driver when an elbow injury suffered in 2016 left him unable to work for an extended period of time—and changed the course of his career.&nbsp;“That was a turning point for me,” Poling said. “My second daughter was born not long after I got hurt, and as I got to spend time at home with the girls, I started to realize that in working from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. all the time, I was missing all of the important things in life. It helped change my viewpoint on what really mattered to me and what I wanted to do.”Familiar with the franchise model from growing up in Wichita, home of Pizza Hut, Poling set out in search of an opportunity that would bring his city new flavors and also provided him the opportunity to spend more time with his young children.&nbsp;“Wichita has historically been a fertile ground for restaurant franchises—Pizza Hut was founded here, and growing up here, I saw a lot of friends’ parents become quite financially successful through the franchise model,” Poling said. “I knew my wife, Christine, and I had the smarts, we just needed a system to match them and apply them to. I wanted something Wichita didn’t already have, so after two to three months of digging around the internet, I found <a href="https://franchise.californiatortilla.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-former-ups-driver-reached-his-work-life-balance-goals-and-became-a-first-time-business-owner-with-california-tortilla-2712157" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">California Tortilla</a>.”That was the summer of 2017. Now, the Polings are opening the first of at least three, but as many as five, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/californiatortilla/">California Tortilla</a> locations as part of an area development agreement with the Mexican restaurant franchise that will introduce its bold flavor profiles to the state of Kansas for the first time.<figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1580359920_Grand Opening Day.jpg"><figcaption>Grand Opening day at Cal Tort Wichita.</figcaption></figure>Beyond the <a href="https://1851franchise.com/californiatortilla/california-tortilla-celebrates-new-leadership-as-the-brand-enters-next-phase-of-growth-2711075#franchisor">great people</a>, awesome support system and the comprehensive training they’d be receiving, it was the food that really sealed the deal for them, Poling recounted. “Cal Tort is all about flavor,” he said. “The fresh ingredients in our recipes, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/californiatortilla/how-a-passionate-fanbase-turned-the-wall-of-flame-into-a-california-tortilla-staple-2711385#franchisor">the Wall of Flame</a>—the flavors are endless in what you can create. We can also meet a lot of people’s needs under one roof; you can take chef-driven recipes as you need, or build your own thing yourself. The options are endless. Whether you want to take the spice out completely or make it so hot you’ll cry, you’ll feel good about what you’re eating.”Cal Tort delivers exactly what the Polings were looking to bring to Wichita—namely, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/californiatortilla/how-california-tortilla-puts-an-always-fresh-spin-on-mexican-flavors-2710808#franchisor">something people could feel comfortable feeding to their families</a>. With a growing health consciousness among consumers becoming more prominent by the day, the Polings are well-positioned to meet the needs of their community in this regard for many years to come.&nbsp;Healthy, feel-good food is only part of the Poling’s recipe for success with Cal Tort, though, with the other key aspect being deep-seated community connections Mark and Christine plan to elevate in their restaurants. The two plan to partner with a number of charitable organizations in the health and fitness space, along with the humane society and local food banks.“Working with people who have less is important to us because we’ve been there before,” Poling said. “That’s also why I’m bringing a restaurant to Wichita—I found success here and I want to give that back and facilitate opportunity for others,” Poling said. “We’ve hired approximately 28 people for our first location, half of which are full-time. By our third store, that number could feasibly reach 90 jobs for the community.”With local ties that run this deep, it’s clear Cal Tort has found a home in Kansas.The investment range for a California Tortilla franchise ranges from $402,400 to $697,000, including a $40,000 initial franchise fee. For more information on the opportunities available across the U.S., please visit <a href="https://franchise.californiatortilla.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-former-ups-driver-reached-his-work-life-balance-goals-and-became-a-first-time-business-owner-with-california-tortilla-2712157" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://franchise.californiatortilla.com</a>.

How This Former UPS Driver Reached His Work-Life Balance Goals and Became a First-Time Business Owner With California Tortilla

1851 Franchise

A Wichita native, Mark Poling found success in his home city—and has big plans to pay it forward through an area development agreement with Mexican restaurant concept California Tortilla.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-this-former-ups-driver-reached-his-work-life-balance-goals-and-became-a-first-time-business-owner-with-california-tortilla

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Health Care Professional in the Non-Profit Space Brings TruBlue to North Pittsburgh

health-care-professional-in-the-non-profit-space-brings-trublue-to-north-pittsburgh

Franchisee Spotlight with Huanyu Li and Paris Baguette Logo

A Longtime Love for Paris Baguette Led Huanyu Li To Open One of Her Own

a-longtime-love-for-paris-baguette-led-huanyu-li-to-open-one-of-her-own

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

How This Former UPS Driver Reached His Work-Life Balance Goals and Became a First-Time Business Owner With California Tortilla

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS