From Deal Maker to Coffee Maker by Betsy Lawson Alex Rowzani Loved the Dunkin’ Model So Much, He Bought Four Shops In the process of brokering the sale of dozens of Dunkin’ Donuts and many other QSR franchises in and around the New York City area, Alex Rowzani decided he liked the Dunkin’ Donuts business model so much that he’d buy four of his own. In only his first year as a franchisee, two of his stores in Jamaica, NY, earned “top #1 and #2 awards” for greatest growth in guest visits. Bob Wiggins, Operations Vice President for Dunkin’ Brands, personally delivered the awards during a visit to New York. Rowzani has now set his sights on expansion – and his employees, family members, and business associates are all for it. To recognize the hard work and contributions of their employees, Rowzani and his wife, Sue – who is his business partner and runs the stores’ day-to-day operations – hosted two separate parties for employees during the holidays. They selected two different dates because they knew work schedules would not allow all employees to attend a single event. In total, they awarded about $20,000 in employee bonuses throughout the year. After the party, employees sent the couple thank you notes; these are just two of the comments they received: Alex & Sue have given me a new life, a new challenge, earned me name and fame. And now, when I look back, I feel the difference – where I was and where I am now.” Kabirul Alam - Store Manager # 1 Award Winner I am pleased to work for Alex & Sue because they believe in and reward employees (like, this New Year’s bonus)... It has been an exceptional year under Alex’s direction and I look
“Mantra of Five”
Alex Rowzani’s Steps to Success 1. Customer/Client/Guest is always first. 2. Provide excellent service under all circumstances. 3. Always be ready to help our Guests or associates or employees 24/7/365. 4. Honesty, hard work, helping desire & keep up-to-date with new technology. 5. Take blessings from elders and best wishes from all.
forward to a successful future. I will try ... to fulfill the dreams expressed in your eyes, to make the company larger and more successful. Dalia Chowdhury - Crew Member
American Success Story Alex Rowzani came to this country in 1983 from the high tech city of Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh on the southeastern coast of India. The eldest of nine siblings, Rowzani recalled that when he was young, he “used to hang around with the business owners, accountants, and lawyers,” learning how they did business. His father died when he was 15. When he was old enough, he decided he would travel the world. He knew that the U.S. was the land of opportunity and chose New York as the right place to settle. Rowzani became a sales agent with New York Life
Insurance Company. Within one year he was promoted to sales manager and rose to become the top sales manager in the country; then he was promoted again to the job of associate general manager. As a result of his hard, work he earned enough money to bring all his siblings to New York and to help establish them. In 1987 he returned to India and married Asraf “Sue” Farishta, from Raipur, Chattisgarh, in the central part of the country. Her background is in developmental psychology and she worked as a secondary school teacher. Alex and Sue have a son, 23 year-old Yaseen, and a daughter Sana, who is 21. Yaseen assists his father in his brokerage business and works at Chase Bank. Sana is in school studying to be a speech pathologist. Both the children are well versed in the family businesses of brokerage and Dunkin’ Donuts, even as they pursue their own career interests. Rowzani started learning the brokerage business in 2002 and later founded Quick Business Network, Inc. in New Hyde Park, NY. The brokerage assists in the buying and selling of small- and medium-size QSR businesses such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Popeye’s, Subway, IHOP, KFC, and many other franchises in the New York metropolitan area. Rowzani continued on page 16 FEBRUARY 2012 • INDEPENDENT JOE
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