Jeff Roberts
Galena
Summary
Pragmatic professional with solid experience in leadership roles. Adept at implementing strategic business plans, driving growth and improving operations. Skilled in financial management and stakeholder relations. Collaborative and dedicated to building and leading talented and motivated individuals.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Division Vice President
The Wendy’s Company
08.2018 - Current
- Lead a $3B portfolio of 1500 franchise restaurants owned by 68 core franchisees
- Since 2019, I grew sales from $32,400/week to $39,875/week in 2024
- I lead the top Division in Breakfast Sales, with four straight years of growth, including growing 9.5% in 2024
- I have 11 Direct Reports with an additional 9 indirect reports supporting the Division
- I have promoted 15 people in the last 5 years, including 4 to Director roles
- I improved Employee Engagement from 53% in 2018 to now having the top Employee Engagement in Operations from 2021-2024, ranging from 93-100%
- I have approved 24 new franchisees 2021-2024 and approved and opened 85 new restaurants in the past three years with a pipeline of 31 more to be built
Franchise Market Director- Baltimore/Washington DC
The Wendy’s Company
06.2017 - 07.2018
- I grew sales 6.5% versus US average of 2.2%
- This was achieved by extending hours, improving service, and implementing value offers
- I was able to support additional growth of two new restaurants and see 20% of the market remodeled in 12 months
Director, US Projects
The Wendy’s Company
10.2016 - 05.2017
- I led the implementation of kiosks in US restaurants, adding over 500 restaurants with kiosks, resulting in sales growth via an 18% higher average check
- I also identified opportunities with hardware and operations, resulting in a systemic change in implementation after the first 100 restaurants
- I led the strategic field transformation of DMA leadership and franchisee support, resulting in organizational structure and role change for field employees supporting the franchise business
Franchise Area Director
The Wendy’s Company
01.2016 - 09.2016
- I led the Indiana market, growing sales over 4.5% versus US average of 2.9%
- I identified new restaurant sites and franchising growth opportunities
- I led and facilitated the transaction of two underperforming franchisees
- I was able to identify and develop my replacement for this role
Director of Operations
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Led a staff of six responsible for 39 restaurants exceeding $82M in sales and $12M in EBITDA
- I identified opportunities and developed an operations platform to allow for a systemic approach to growing sales, profits, people, and improving operations
- In a shorts time, Mystery Shops increased .9 YTD, I identified and promoted two Area Managers with a third being developed
- I was able to increase short term offer results by implementing an improved roll out process that streamlines communication and training, resulting in an improvement of 15% on day one execution to 100%, leading to increased dessert sales 14.7% and specialty pizza sales by 11%
- I was able to identify G/A savings in Training, which resulted in savings of $80K
- I was able to implement a lunch special in two restaurants that grew sales 17-32% over the past few months, reversing a declining sales trend
Area Director of Operations
Opaa! Food Management Inc
01.2013 - 12.2015
- Responsible for school nutrition services and business growth in Kansas and NW Missouri
- Accountable for staff development, client relationship, marketing, cost control, and new business proposals
- Co-lead for the development of training process for district directors and oversaw team that designed Regional Director of Operations training program
- Led change in operation’s evaluation platform
- Identified districts for growth and grew accounts from 10 to 17 in first year and 23 in second year
- Directly accountable for results in single largest school district in company, improving profit by $850K in the first year
- Implemented company wide marketing platform to align with strategy of offering more new menu items as well as grow existing business
- Exceeded overall sales goals by 3.6%, met overall cost goals, had 100% client retention, and improved safety scores from 54% to 87%
Director of Operations
McDonald’s Corporation
01.2010 - 12.2012
- Responsible for the operations and execution of 510+ restaurants in the Heartland Region generating $1.3 billion in sales
- Accountable for managing staff of 30 managers and associates supporting franchisees, and developing talent and deep bench strength by implementing development and succession plans
- Tasked with leading strategy team overseeing strategic business planning, and executing franchise plan improving all metrics, evaluation and communication processes
- Responsible for managing all franchising decisions including new sites, terms, and administrative functions
- Planned and championed remodel program where over 20% of restaurants were remodeled over a 16 month timeframe
- Authorized to work with underperforming franchisees in turning around or disposing of businesses
Operations Manager, Franchise
McDonald’s Corporation
01.2005 - 12.2010
- Responsible for the operations and marketing plan execution of 100+ restaurants serving up to 30 franchisees and generating $270 million in sales
- Charged with the staffing of all restaurants with trained crew and managers, and the development of McDonald’s associates’ including professional development plans for all, plus growing people from supervisory to management bands
- Accountable for holding franchisees accountable when out of compliance
- Tasked with leading the team overseeing Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts
Operations Manager, Company
McDonald’s Corporation
01.2002 - 12.2005
- Responsible for the operations and marketing plan execution of 30+ restaurants serving up to six area supervisors and generating $65 million in sales
- Accountable for the staffing of supervisory and restaurant level employees, lowering crew turnover, increasing the number of managers per store, and aligning resources and support to focus on improved management training
- Tasked with improving profits, increasing cash flow, and improving brand image by reimaging restaurants in creative ways
Education
Bachelor of Science - Organizational Leadership
Franklin University
Columbus, OHSkills
- Executive Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Organizational Improvement
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Team Building
- Change Management
- Business and Strategic Planning
- Franchising Processes
- Budgeting and P&L
- New Restaurant Development
- Cross-functional team leadership and collaboration
- Effective communication
Personal Information
Title: Operations Executive leadership
Awards
- Wendy’s Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Champion, 2022-2024
- Wendy’s Dave’s MBA, 2023
- Nation’s Restaurant News 100 Most Influential Executives
- Wendy’s Outstanding Contributor, 2018
- President’s Award- Top 1% of McDonald’s global employees
- Outstanding Operations Contributor- Top 10% of McDonald’s US employees
- Inclusion Network Employee of the Year
- Outstanding Restaurant Manager
Professional Highlights
Full accountability for achieving sales, profit, operations, marketing, development, franchising, training, and people objectives across., 01/2022 - 12/2024, Led US Field Operations Business Planning process., 01/2022 - 12/2024, Led cross functional team responsible for implementation of kiosks in over 500 Wendy’s restaurants., 01/2022 - 12/2024, Organized a team of staff, vendors and franchisees to participate in a market analysis., 01/2022 - 12/2024, Led new team responsible for leading the post-Katrina operational recovery efforts., 01/2016 - 12/2016, Led overhaul of operation’s evaluation platform., 01/2022 - 12/2024, Identified and led 2023 field role responsibilities transformation in Wendy’s US System., 01/2023 - 12/2023, Led cross functional team that transformed new franchisee onboarding., 01/2023 - 12/2023, Developed series of new processes, expectations, roles and responsibilities for launching new products., 01/2023 - 12/2023, Led the process for training new market team members on accounting and business basics., 01/2023 - 12/2023, Consistently exceeded budget targets, reducing spend 4-12%., 01/2020 - 12/2024, Planned and executed the reallocation and reassignment of employees’ assigned responsibilities and territories., 01/2023 - 12/2023, In past 5 years at Wendy’s, I was able to promote 15 individuals at least one level., 01/2018 - 12/2023, At Wendy’s, I improved Employee Engagement from 53% to a four-year average of 96%., 01/2018 - 12/2023, At McDonald’s, I planned and provided training for leadership team on improving teamwork and communications., 01/2010 - 12/2012, Created position of training expert to focus on accelerating and improving management training., 01/2010 - 12/2012, Implemented Individual Personal Development planning., 01/2010 - 12/2012
Timeline
Division Vice President
The Wendy’s Company
08.2018 - Current
Franchise Market Director- Baltimore/Washington DC
The Wendy’s Company
06.2017 - 07.2018
Director, US Projects
The Wendy’s Company
10.2016 - 05.2017
Franchise Area Director
The Wendy’s Company
01.2016 - 09.2016
Director of Operations
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
01.2015 - 12.2015
Area Director of Operations
Opaa! Food Management Inc
01.2013 - 12.2015
Director of Operations
McDonald’s Corporation
01.2010 - 12.2012
Operations Manager, Franchise
McDonald’s Corporation
01.2005 - 12.2010
Operations Manager, Company
McDonald’s Corporation
01.2002 - 12.2005
Bachelor of Science - Organizational Leadership
Franklin University
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