1851

In the mid-1980&rsquo;s, Richard and Sharon McDonald were looking for an opportunity to set their children up with a financially stable future. Richard felt his father had missed an opportunity, as he did not grow his own business enough to create a legacy that could be passed down from generation to generation. Richard realized he needed a plan to develop a growing business if he did not want history to repeat itself.

The McDonalds took an interest in take-and-bake pizza concept Papa Aldo&rsquo;s, prior to the brand&rsquo;s merger with Murphy&rsquo;s Pizza. At the time, they were unsure whether to take what they felt was a financial risk and purchase a franchise, but the idea was planted. More than 10 years later, Sharon&rsquo;s brother was in Vancouver, Wash. for a job interview at the recently named Papa Murphy&rsquo;s corporate office when he reopened the conversation.

&ldquo;He was blown away by the new structure and support provided by the corporate team. My uncle immediately called my parents and said it was time for them to reconsider an agreement,&rdquo; recalled Shannon Seaford, Richard and Sharon McDonald&rsquo;s daughter.

So, in their 50&rsquo;s, the McDonald&rsquo;s finally purchased their first franchise in Wenatchee, Washington&mdash;a location that still remains a consistently high performing store in <a href="http://papamurphysfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=creating-a-legacy-to-withstand-generations-of-change-2703868" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Papa Murphy&rsquo;s</a> 1,500+ unit franchise system today. Seaford has since taken over the McDonalds&rsquo; first two locations and expanded, growing their family&rsquo;s multi-unit franchise to six locations.

As a single mother, Shannon helped remodel and design shops from the ground up, essentially raising her kids in her <a href="https://papamurphys.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=creating-a-legacy-to-withstand-generations-of-change-2703868" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Papa Murphy&rsquo;s</a> locations, staying focused to help drive their success. Because of this dedication, she received the prestigious Owner-Operator of the Year Award in 2014&mdash;the first woman in the history of the brand to be recognized with this honor.

&ldquo;It was a huge awakening for me and my family and to this day, one of the proudest moments of my life,&rdquo; said Seaford. &ldquo;This business was built on the shoulders of my parents, my brother and myself. I think back to the day my dad said he wanted this to be a legacy, and this was proof that his dream was becoming a reality.&rdquo;

To carry this legacy on, Seaford hopes her children will one day choose to run these locations.

&ldquo;For us to maintain ownership of these stores over the years, my direct involvement every day was a vital component. It&rsquo;s going to take someone who knows what a huge investment our family has made over 20 years with the brand and 20 years down the line to continue their success,&rdquo; said Seaford. &ldquo;My kids grew up in this store taking naps in the back room. Of all people, they understand how much work this is. I can only hope the passion that I have for my job will be passed down to them.&rdquo;

However, it&rsquo;s not just passion and commitment that leads to success. According to Seaford, it also takes pride: in your work, in the brand you represent, and in yourself, to inspire and create an atmosphere that people want to be a part of.

&ldquo;I love walking around with my Papa Murphy&rsquo;s shirt on,&rdquo; said Seaford. &ldquo;I love walking into my stores and becoming a mentor for the kids that I hire to join our growing team. We work in a challenging, fast-paced environment, but I come in with a smile on my face every day to motivate my employees and welcome my customers.&rdquo;

Seaford&rsquo;s family&rsquo;s story, dedication, and history with Papa Murphy&rsquo;s is just one example of the multitude of franchisees in the system who have celebrated long-term success with the 35-year-old pizza concept.

&quot;My parents bought their first Papa Murphy&#39;s in 1996 to create a legacy that would provide financial stability for their children,&rdquo; Seaford said. &ldquo;20 years later, I&#39;m getting ready to pass six locations and even stronger financial stability down to my own children. We&#39;re a successful family business with a family-focused brand.&quot;

&nbsp;

Papa Murphy's, pizza franchise, growing franchise

Creating a Legacy to Withstand Generations of Change

1851 Franchise

Papa Murphy’s franchisee Shannon Seaford shares her family’s 20-year history with the brand

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

creating-a-legacy-to-withstand-generations-of-change

Lawn Doctor

Design with photo of John Perry and Lawn Doctor logo

How a 20-Year Industry Veteran Tripled His Sales With a Lawn Doctor Franchise

lawn-doctor-franchise-success-story-john-perry

Fitness Premier

The Secret to Fitness Franchise Success? It's Not Just the Workouts

fitness-premier-franchise-marketing-support

Fresh Coat

Photo of Fresh Coat vehicle with ladders on top

The Rise of Home Improvement Franchises: Why Now Is the Time to Invest

why-invest-home-improvement-franchise-fresh-coat

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Photo of HomeTeam inspector in red polo and khaki pants, walking by branded vehicle

Real Estate Today: Behind the Drywall: The Truth About Home Inspections

purpose-of-home-inspection

Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite Franchise - DTE - National Service Dog Month - 1851 Franchise

Celebrating Service Dogs: Why Proper Training Changes Lives — And How Dog Training Elite Is Leading the Way

dog-training-elite-national-service-dog-month

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 Development Website Builder

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

Design with American and Federal Reserve flags against light blue background

Federal Reserve Expected To Cut Rates by Quarter Point, a Move That Could Boost Franchise Growth

fed-rate-cut-boosts-franchise-growth

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Mike Revak - Chief Business Officer - Sky Zone - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Mike Revak — President and Chief Business Officer, Sky Zone

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-mike-revak-chief-business-officer-sky-zone

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Cathy Chavenet — Chief Marketing Officer, Paris Baguette

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-cathy-chavenet-chief-marketing-officer-paris-baguette

BooXkeeping: Making Bookkeeping Cool for Franchisors, Franchisees, and Small Business Owners

booxkeeping-making-bookkeeping-cool-for-franchisors-franchisees-and-small-business-owners

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Creating a Legacy to Withstand Generations of Change

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS