4 minute read
FBS Leadership Passes to Experienced Hands
At the Franchise Business Services (FBS) Summit in May, leadership of the association passed from longtime Chairman Wray Hutchinson to Vice Chairman Jim Bitzonis, with FBS board member Roz Mallet becoming the new vice chairman of the organization.
Hutchinson served as FBS chairman for eight years and will remain on the FBS Board of Directors as Bitzonis and Mallet – both long-standing board members themselves – build on the association’s accomplishments over the last several years.
Like Hutchinson, Bitzonis has been involved with FBS leadership for nearly a decade. Service to the organization and the Buffalo Wild Wings® franchise system was a natural outgrowth of his interest as a partner in RSQ Foods Inc. (formerly Four M Franchising), which owns and operates 11 BWW® sports bars in New York and Connecticut.
“It’s important to me because I want to know what’s going on and to be able to have some ability to persuade others and share my opinions on the matters that affect the business,” he said. “I want to be involved. That’s my nature. You can’t just complain. You have to get involved and make things happen.”
Mallet shares the same philosophy and has been an FBS board member since 2016. “I enjoy board work and strategy setting and care about the direction of BWW,” she said. Mallet has been involved in the restaurant business beyond her own business, PhaseNext Hospitality, which has four BWW sports bars. She is a former board member and chair of the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and was recently awarded the NRA’s 2022 Legends Award for her service to both the association and its educational foundation.
Bitzonis and Mallet are eager to build on the achievements FBS recorded under Hutchinson and Mark Jones, who served as vice chairman during most of Hutchinson’s tenure as chairman. “Wray and Mark have been great stewards of the FBS board for many years, and I look forward to working with Jim to continue that work,” Mallet said. “This board has helped influence the Buffalo Wild Wings corporate organizations through the Inspire Brands purchase of the brand and the challenges of COVID-19.”
“We are at record membership levels percentagewise,” Bitzonis said of FBS. “We have incredible buy-in and respect from the community due to Wray and Mark’s leadership and the board’s leadership.” He noted the relationship built between FBS and Inspire as another important organizational accomplishment.
For Hutchinson, a partner in World Wide Wings, with 66 Buffalo Wild Wings locations through the U.S., that relationship is an important hallmark of his time as chairman. “I think we started off with Inspire Brands correctly. I’m most proud of that,” he said. “We’ve got a working relationship with the brand, and when I took over as chairman, we had no relationship. They wouldn’t even acknowledge our existence, and now they include us in the conversations around all major decisions.
“When I took over, the association was in a state of flux,” Hutchinson noted. “The franchise community was concerned about the direction the [brand’s previous owner] was heading. Through my participation in the franchise advisory council, a number of us earned some credibility with brand management, and they were willing to listen. We were in a position of influence at a time when there was a strong need for the franchisee voice to be heard.”
That voice will continue to be heard under the stewardship of Bitzonis and Mallet. “My goals are to continue representing the membership’s concerns and best interests utilizing all the experience I’ve earned and relationships developed by myself and all the extremely talented board members,” Bitzonis said. “This board is full of BWW rock stars. Everybody should consider themselves lucky to have these people in the franchise system. We want to continue to grow our relationship with Inspire in a positive and transparent fashion, communicate often to the membership and have more fun at conferences.”
At the Summit, Bitzonis highlighted Hutchinson’s contributions and accomplishments and the outgoing chairman was gifted a tour of Napa Valley wine country by the association. He called Hutchinson a selfless leader with great strategic vision. “He has a good nature, is humble and respectful, and has great appreciation for those around him. He delegated to involve others and achieve common goals. He’s like a brother to me and a mentor. I’m glad that he will stay on the board and continue to be involved,” he said.
“I believe that Wray and Mark went above and beyond their duty,” Bitzonis added. “They were in those roles for extended periods, and it was time for someone to step up and give them a break.”
For his part, Hutchinson is grateful for the time he spent leading FBS. While continuing to serve on the board, a priority will be continuing the relationship between the association and Inspire Brands. He will also be an experienced sounding board and supporter for Bitzonis and Mallet. “They are seasoned businesspeople and executives. They’ve filled these very important roles in other organizations, so these are roles new only in title,” he said. “The franchise system is fortunate to have people of their caliber representing them.
“I appreciate the faith people put in me, the partnership I had with Mark Jones and the support of the franchisees who served on the boards over the years,” he added. “They are very busy people and they remained committed to the work we are doing. I take that personally and appreciate that.”
“I’m honored and humbled and greatly appreciate the faith placed in me, and I’m excited about the challenge,” Bitzonis said.
