Steve Harris Email & Phone Number

Wichita, Kansas, United States

I believe we are in the "People Business," whatever our product or services. Creating an environment where people can excel and grow results in engaged teams and excellence in products and services.Building your team with diverse, intelligent people who bring different ideas will build on organizational goals and create a recipe for success. Quality Brings Quantity.

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Portland, Oregon Area / Sw Washington

■ Successfully built an 8.25% EBITDA for a $78MM, 29-unit franchise operation by optimizing systems and fostering staff development.■ Drove a 13.8% large market sales surge to lead the Denver Division 2021. ■ Led team of General Managers to win 18 times the Wendy's Top 200 GM (global) Awards over 5 years. ■ Surpassed food safety benchmarks, leading the Western US region of 1600 locations with high percentage of 100% evaluations. ■ Incredibly, maintained 8.25% EBITDA despite… Show more ■ Successfully built an 8.25% EBITDA for a $78MM, 29-unit franchise operation by optimizing systems and fostering staff development.■ Drove a 13.8% large market sales surge to lead the Denver Division 2021. ■ Led team of General Managers to win 18 times the Wendy's Top 200 GM (global) Awards over 5 years. ■ Surpassed food safety benchmarks, leading the Western US region of 1600 locations with high percentage of 100% evaluations. ■ Incredibly, maintained 8.25% EBITDA despite labor costs soaring by 80% and rising commodity prices during tenure.■ Achieved $2.8MM per unit revenue, significantly exceeding national average and strategic goals, driving a 69.7% revenue jump.■ Grew average transaction value by 15.79% and increased volume, reflecting strong operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.■ During the pandemic, generated 120% of pre-pandemic sales through drive-thru alone, leading to the most profitable periods in company history.■ Achieved above-industry retention rates with 100% of District Managers and 93% GM retention, coupled with 13.8% sales growth in the Western states for 2021.■ Strong contribution to philanthropic endeavors. ■ Elevated market revenue to an average of $3M per restaurant in 2023, marking a 57% increase over the system national average.■ Set record sales opening for the Western Region with $117,400 in the first 7 days of reopening a “dark” location, elevating annual performance from $1.4MM to $3.3MM.■ Delivered strong digital sales averages with a market reaching 18%, and multiple restaurants hitting up to 29%, by strategically refining and executing system processes tailored for high digital sales volume. Show less

Portland, Oregon Area

■ Ascended from Operating Partner to COO within 3 years, managing 23 locations with $38MM in revenue, uniquely transitioning from corporate multi-unit leadership to an entrepreneurial franchise owner— the only 1 of 20+ peers to be made an owner and franchisee. ■ Boosted sales from $1.8MM to $4.0MM and EBITDA from 8% to 22% with incredible trade area analysis and strategic site relocation of a “scrape and rebuild” restaurant. ■ Incomparable operating insight; reopened a previously closed… Show more ■ Ascended from Operating Partner to COO within 3 years, managing 23 locations with $38MM in revenue, uniquely transitioning from corporate multi-unit leadership to an entrepreneurial franchise owner— the only 1 of 20+ peers to be made an owner and franchisee. ■ Boosted sales from $1.8MM to $4.0MM and EBITDA from 8% to 22% with incredible trade area analysis and strategic site relocation of a “scrape and rebuild” restaurant. ■ Incomparable operating insight; reopened a previously closed restaurant, increasing sales from $1.4MM to $3.3MM and achieving a 27% EBITDA.■ Shifted management culture resulting in improved morale, operational performance, and a 5 percentage point higher sales growth on weekends compared to weekdays.■ Managed a $2M+ marketing budget as DMA President, saving over $50K annually and spearheading a breakfast program swiftly achieving 10% of sales, 42.9% above the national average. ■ As a new 3rd partner, quickly and effectively forged essential partnerships across internal teams, evolving from company employee to franchisee. ■ Launched a successful new build, achieving $2.2M in the first year against a projected $1.7M, transforming a vintage location into Portland's first $4M high-performing restaurant.■ Elevated operations standards to A-Level performance, achieving 91% on Wendy’s evaluations in the 2nd year of ownership, driving sales, boosting employee morale, and earning brand positioning.■ Successfully integrated 700 employees into a complex, new market-scale purchase. Show less

Seattle - Portland Area

■ Direct operational oversight for 52 corporately owned locations, delivering $88.7M in annual revenue.■ Set a regional sales record with the first company-owned new-build restaurant in the PNW in 10 years, opening with $85K in week one, outperforming huge markets like Phoenix, LA, and Dallas and maintaining strong revenue today at $3MM annually. ■ Led the turnaround of targeted underperforming locations, enhanced food safety reputation, and demonstrated decisive leadership in market… Show more ■ Direct operational oversight for 52 corporately owned locations, delivering $88.7M in annual revenue.■ Set a regional sales record with the first company-owned new-build restaurant in the PNW in 10 years, opening with $85K in week one, outperforming huge markets like Phoenix, LA, and Dallas and maintaining strong revenue today at $3MM annually. ■ Led the turnaround of targeted underperforming locations, enhanced food safety reputation, and demonstrated decisive leadership in market growth.■ Achieved 100% retention of the leadership team and directed revitalization of underperforming stores within 18 months, stabilizing and bolstering team morale. Show less

■ Selected by the Division VP to personally mentor 5 newly promoted area directors due to performance, shaping the next generation of leadership.■ Developed trusted advisor relationships, allowing for direct involvement in franchisee financial planning and operational turnarounds.■ Assumed a servant leader role in all franchisee interactions, emerging as a trusted figure capable of influencing significant business decisions and improvements.■ Chosen by the corporate training… Show more ■ Selected by the Division VP to personally mentor 5 newly promoted area directors due to performance, shaping the next generation of leadership.■ Developed trusted advisor relationships, allowing for direct involvement in franchisee financial planning and operational turnarounds.■ Assumed a servant leader role in all franchisee interactions, emerging as a trusted figure capable of influencing significant business decisions and improvements.■ Chosen by the corporate training department as the functional expert in developing its franchise training academy.■ Partnered with corporate training and software development teams to build an industry-recognized training program for senior executives, teaching consulting, negotiation, and finance skills.■ Served on the President’s Roundtable consulting with Wendy’s C-Suite executives.■ Rated as exceptional in performance multiple times, a recognition given to less than 5% of company peers. ■ Championed the strategic redesign of a charity golf event, doubling annual proceeds and becoming the second-highest revenue source for the partner charity.■ Assisted franchisees to national award-winning status, the organizations achieving the prestigious Founder’s Award recognition for outstanding business performance.■ Executive who worked with Wendy's Hall of Fame inductees recognized for outstanding efforts in brand growth and success; effectively built a business case, nominating individuals for well-deserved recognition.■ As a corporate employee, asked to attend franchisee business reviews based on creating tight, collaborative, trusted advisor relationships with franchise owners.■ Assisted franchisees in meeting bank covenants by improving product mix and profitability, overturning negative trends, and generating transaction growth. Show less