Top Business Leaders Show

David Leonardo is the CEO at Chill-N, a custom-order nitrogen ice cream shop. David's extensive experience in leadership positions working for multinational brands like Arby's, Wild Wing Cafe, Pet Supplies Plus, and Burger King solidified his expert portfolio in the franchising world. With a proven track record of successful scaling strategies, David is now set on expanding Chill-N's franchise to...

Jonah Goldman is the Co-founder and Director of Strategic Marketing at PLNT Burger, a plant-based restaurant that exclusively serves chef-crafted 100% IKC Kosher and Halal burgers. During his time in Israel, he learned about different innovative agricultural practices that sparked the idea of plant-based burgers that are affordable and safe for everyone. With a background in marketing and a passio...

Mike Gurevich is the Founder and Owner of M&A Brands, a restaurant group that includes Boston favorites such as Mike and Patty's, Flourhouse, and Hot Box. Before diving into the restaurant industry, Mike was a real estate agent with an entrepreneurial spirit and a dream of opening his own business. After the success of Mike and Patty's, he focused on successfully scaling his ideas into some of the...

Randy Wyner is the Founder and President of Chronic Tacos, fast casual Mexican restaurants with more than 30 locations in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. As a passionate entrepreneur, Randy's dream was to open and scale a worldwide chain restaurant business, which is a reality today thanks to his third-generation Mexican taco recipes and attitude for success.  Michael Mohammed is the CEO at Chronic T...

Michael Derrick is an entrepreneur and a multi-franchise owner with more than 20 years of experience. He's operated some of the most successful Tim Horton locations in the United States and is now the proud owner of national franchises such as Supercuts and Smoothie King. Michael's proven track record and passion for business allow him to create thriving business environments while managing multip...

Kenny Templeton is a program and leadership development executive with more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He recently became a franchise owner of multiple Robeks specialty juice spot locations and is focused on honing his entrepreneurial skills and growing his business. In this episode… In this episode of the SpotOn Series , Chad Franzen welcomes Kenny Templeton, owner o...

Veteran restaurateur David Grossman has created his serial success by working at notable franchises like Subway and DMK Burger Bar. His experience in the hospitality industry sparked an entrepreneurial passion to start his very own company. David's latest endeavor is being the President and CEO of Epic Burger, a specialty burger restaurant with a mindful approach to cuisine that has seven location...

Restaurateur Shawn Walchef is the Founder of Cali BBQ, an award-winning comfort barbecue restaurant with three locations in California. Shawn also leads the Digital Hospitality podcast where he discusses hospitality trends and innovative business strategies with fellow entrepreneurs and restaurateurs. In this episode… In this episode of the SpotOn Series , Chad Franzen is joined by Shawn Walchef,...

Serial entrepreneur Ben Riegsecker is the Owner and CEO of The Casselman, a historic bed and breakfast outfitted with a memorable restaurant and bakery. Ben's success comes from maintaining a healthy work-life balance and his background of excellent work ethic across multiple industries. He's also passionate about working with young leaders to help guide and challenge them in developing their entr...

Veteran franchisee and restaurateur Scott Slaymaker is the Co-owner of Wingers, a sports restaurant and alehouse with a family-friendly atmosphere. Working alongside his brother Eric, Scott was able to expand the franchise to multiple states by implementing and improving the strategies he's learned from his career working at some of the best-known legacy hospitality brands. In this episode… In thi...

Seth Brink is the President of Gyro Shack, a franchise with locations in Boise, Idaho and Tucson, Arizona. With an impressive career in leadership positions around the world, Seth  is also the President of Arete Food Group, LLC, the parent company for Gyro Shack and Negranti Creamery. In this episode… In this episode of the SpotOn Series , Chad Franzen welcomes Seth Brink, President of Gyro Shack...

Joe Rare is the Owner and CEO of Level 9 Virtual, a company providing businesses with certified, industry-experienced, and college-educated virtual assistants to assist with tasks so business owners can prioritize what matters most. Joe is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and outsourcing expert. Owning four digital companies, five wedding venues, and multiple real estate properties, he leverages r...

Christian Ochsendorf is the Owner of three Dunn Brothers Coffee locations in Minnesota, where customers can enjoy classic and specialty coffees made entirely from in-house roasted coffee beans. As a self-made entrepreneur, Christian has been part of the Dunn Brothers Coffee franchise for over 15 years while also devoting his time to building a career as an insurance agent and President at MG Insur...

AJ Davis is the Founder and CEO of Experiment Zone, a company designed to help online businesses maintain, expand, and improve digital experiences using conversion strategy and testing, site experience audits, and conversion audits. As a conversion rate optimization specialist, AJ is passionate about enhancing business websites to promote sales and growth. She is an advisor and mentor for entrepre...

George Pertesis is the Co-owner of Truly Greek, a restaurant that embodies authentic Greek cuisine in Norwalk, Connecticut. He also operates Urban Greek, a fast-casual restaurant that brings the taste of Greece to the people of Shelton, CT. As a Greek American, George's passion for the restaurant industry has allowed him to create a valuable presence for Greek cuisine in American daily life. In th...

Peter Demos is the President and CEO of Demos Brands. As a veteran restaurateur, Peter's extensive experience in the hospitality industry includes owning and operating multi-location restaurants and brands across Tennessee. Peter also authored Afraid to Trust and On the Duty of Christian Civil Disobedience. In this episode… In this episode of the SpotOn Series, Chad Franzen is joined by Peter Demo...

Experienced Chef and restaurateur Mo Assi is the Founder of Crush Taco, a fast-casual taco shop with two locations in Frisco, Texas. Mo's impressive career as an executive chef for some of the most recognized fine dining restaurants in the nation allowed him to develop his skills and create his very own restaurant brand. He's passionate about growing his business and creating a blend of Mexican-in...

Wayne Kimmel is a Managing Partner at SeventySix Capital, a venture capitalist company investing in passionate entrepreneurs and startups in the sports tech, esports, and sports betting industries. Besides being a sports tech VC investor, Wayne is an entrepreneur, author, and podcast host. In 2022, he was named the Sports Tech Power Player by The Sports Business Journal and awarded the Most Admire...

Brian Hurowitz is the owner of Wings Over in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brian is an avid entrepreneur and his versatile skill set includes experience in management and leadership positions in several big retail brands. He also had the opportunity to attend a culinary school in Switzerland through a program at the University of Massachusetts, further driving his passion for the culinary arts. In thi...

Serial entrepreneurs Tracy and Maurice Jennings are the owners of three Jersey Mike's Subs franchise locations in Virginia. Their shared management of several successful businesses over the past 10 years has allowed them to develop their skills in business management, marketing, and operations, helping them execute effective business growth strategies. In this episode… In this episode of the SpotO...

Pano Anthos is the Founder and Managing Director of XRC Ventures, an NYC-based venture fund and startup accelerator for entrepreneurs in the retail technology and consumer goods industry. Pano is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs through the early stages of brand building. Since 2015, his team has launched 100+ startup businesses and has built a vast mentorship network of influential indus...

Award-winning restaurateur and chef Andy Husbands is the owner of The Smoke Shop BBQ, a restaurant centered around the culinary art and long-standing traditions of barbecue with five locations in Massachusetts. Andy's passion for exquisite food and barbecue techniques led him to co-author six cookbooks in which he shares his wisdom of more than 30 years of experience working in the culinary indust...

Serial entrepreneur Charles Lew is an Attorney and Managing Partner at The Lew Firm where he and his team represent some of the top hospitality brands in Los Angeles. Charles' diverse career path allowed him to build a unique skill set by working as a professor at the Loyola Law School in LA, a board member of several notable organizations and businesses, a journalist at Entrepreneur Magazine, an...

Will Haire is the Co-founder and CEO of BellaVix, a marketplace management company helping D2C brands increase sales on leading e-commerce platforms. An e-commerce expert, Will holds various marketing and advertising licenses from Amazon, Alison, Hubspot, Hootsuite, and Google. He delights in assisting brands to become market leaders in their respective categories.  In this episode… eCommerce plat...

Shain Buerk is a veteran franchisor and the President of Scramblers, a family breakfast and lunch restaurant with multiple locations in Michigan and Ohio. With more than 30 years of experience, Shain's biggest passion remains building a brand that embraces family principles and a franchise that changes lifestyles. In this episode… In this episode of the SpotOn Series , Chad Franzen is joined by Sh...