FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Christy Moran
703-299-2602
AMERICAN PIZZA COMMUNITY CELEBRATES ENTREPRENEURS
DURING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
Franchisee Success Stores Showcase
Small Business Within the Pizza Industry
Washington, D.C. – May 1, 2015 – The American Pizza Community (APC) salutes National Small
Business Week by celebrating stories of pizza franchise owners who started out small. There is
no industry more representative of small business than the pizza industry as many pizza shop
owners started out as hourly employees, including many within the APC-- whose membership
consists of local pizza store owners and operators as well as suppliers and vendors.
“Our industry is proud of its entrepreneurial spirit and the opportunity it offers for anyone to be
a small business owner,” said Lynn Liddle, Chair of the APC. The industry is robust in its
entrepreneurialism with 53 percent of the nearly 71,000 pizza stores nationwide independentlyowned and operated, according to Pizza Monthly Quarterly’s 2013 State of the Pizza Industry
Report.
The pizza industry contributes nearly 1 million jobs to the nation’s economy bringing
employment to communities across the country through hourly employees, delivery drivers,
supply vendors and local store owners and operators.
As part of National Small Business Week, the APC recognizes its fellow pizza comrades for their
rise in the industry from hourly employees to business owners.

Khush Bhullar, owner of 13 Domino’s stores in Pennsylvania, came to the U.S. with
$16.50 in his pocket and had to borrow a friend’s car for his first day as a Domino’s
delivery driver in 1997. Eight years later, he bought his first store and just opened his
13th store last July.
•
Mike Khan, owner of 47 Domino’s stores throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New
York, started out as a Domino’s delivery driver in Culver City, California in 1985. Five
years later he purchased his first store in December of 1990. Since then, Mike hasn’t
stopped growing his business!
•
Carlos Martinez, owner of two Domino’s stores in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, came to the
U.S. from Peru at a very young age with $450 in his pocket, an old car and a strong work
ethic. Carlos started his career as a delivery driver at Domino’s, where his hard work was
noticed and he was promoted to manager and then later district supervisor. Carlos says
that the company gave him the tools and opportunity to start his own business.
•
Courtney Milne, owner of four Domino’s in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, began his
career with Domino’s in 1993 as a part-time delivery driver while still in high school.
Having a natural love for the job, Courtney quickly rose through the ranks over the next
few years. In 2009, Courtney officially became a Domino’s franchisee and now proudly
owns four stores.
•
Erin Mullins, owns ten Domino’s stores in Florida, started working at Domino’s in 1994
as a delivery driver while studying at a community college. Erin stayed with the
company and bought her first store in 2009.
•
Mike Orcutt, owner of 102 Domino’s locations in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina,
started as a Domino’s driver at the age of 16 before quickly rising into management and
supervising several store locations shortly thereafter. He continued to climb the
corporate ladder, and went on to become Vice President of Operations until 1989 when
he decided to pursue franchising with an initial nine stores. Today, with 109 stores he
plans to continue to grow by 10% each year!
•
Sher Senior, owner of four Domino’s in the Austin, Texas area, started as a part-time
Domino’s customer service representative in high school, and loved the job so much
that she continued on as a delivery driver, putting herself through college. Shortly after
being promoted to a store manager, she decided she wanted own her own store. Three
years later, in December of 1997, that dream became a reality when Sher opened her
first store in Pflugerville, Texas.

Amy Kesecker, owner of Figaro’s Pizza in Philomath, Oregon, began working at the pizza
store in high school 17 years ago and became an owner of the same store ten years ago.

Don Copus, owner of 24 Hungry Howie’s in Michigan, Indiana and Utah, started working
at a store in Ferndale, Michigan, where he lived at the time. He eventually bought that
store before buying multiple stores.

Brian Edelen, owner of three Hungry Howie’s in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, started
working at Hungry Howie's in 1993 when he was 18 and worked his way up to get where
he is today.

Eric Fairbanks, owner of eight Hungry Howie’s in Charlotte, North Carolina, started his
career in 2005. He said it is the competition aspect of making pizza for customers that
motivated him to become an owner.

Elnora Mackenzie, owns one Hungry Howie’s in Tehachapi, California, began her career
in the pizza business in 2009.

Steve Peterson, Jim Peterson and Mike Peterson together own 12 Hungry Howie’s in
Detroit, Michigan. Collectively, they have worked in the pizza business for 37 years and
look forward to future expansion.

Dan Satut, owns three Hungry Howie’s in Raleigh, North Carolina, began working at the
corporate Hungry Howie’s office after college before becoming an owner.

Pat Shannon, owns two Hungry Howie’s in Milan, Michigan. Pat loves the pizza business
and wouldn't want to do anything else.
•
Brad Price, owner of 15 Godfather’s Pizza restaurants in Iowa and Minnesota, started
working at a local Godfather's Pizza while still in high school as an hourly employee.
After graduating, Brad worked his way up through management before buying into the
local franchise. Thirty-eight years later, he owns 100 percent of the company with 15
Godfather's Pizza restaurants.

Betsy Clemenson, owner of Pizza Factory in Moreno Valley, California, started out as an
assistant manager to help out the family who owned the local Pizza Factory and 12 years
later became the owner of her own franchise.

Bre Hawkins, owner of Pizza Factory in Temecula, California, started out as a part-time
counter worker in high school sixteen years ago at a Pizza Factory in Washington before
deciding to become an owner.

John and Vanessa Addis, owners of 11 Pizza Hut stores in Illinois. John began his career
as a team member of the Kewanee Pizza Hut store in high school and worked in
management positions for the corporate franchisee throughout college and after
graduation. In 2008, he and his wife Vanessa acquired the franchise from the previous
owner.

Terry Hopkins, CEO of four franchise groups with 150 Pizza Hut stores in Washington
and Nevada, started with Pizza Hut as a crew member in 1977 in Walla Walla,
Washington while attending Walla Walla College. He quickly moved up to supervisor
positions and eventually, ownership. Over the course of 34 years, Terry’s franchise
groups include the original six restaurants in Eastern and Central Washington in addition
to others throughout Washington and Nevada.
National Small Business Week was given an official proclamation by President John F. Kennedy
in 1963 in recognition of the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small
business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and
they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.
About The American Pizza Community
The American Pizza Community is a coalition of the nation’s large and small pizza companies,
operators, franchisees, vendors, suppliers and other entities that make up the American pizza
industry. The coalition was formed in 2010 to advocate for policies affecting pizza companies
and operators including menu and labeling information, fair wages, work opportunity tax credit,
background checks, tax policies and small business access to capital.
Current members include Blackjack Pizza, Breadeaux Pizza, CiCi's Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Figaro’s
Italian Pizza, Godfather’s Pizza, Hungry Howie’s, Hunt Brothers Pizza, the International Pizza Hut
Franchise Holders Association, Little Caesars, Nick-N-Willy’s, Papa John’s Pizza, Papa Murphy’s
Pizza, Papa's Pizza To-Go, Papa Romano's Pizza, Pieology, Pizza Factory, Pizza Schmizza, and Sam
& Louie's Pizza. Supplier partners include Coca-Cola, Leprino Foods Company, Middleby
Marshall, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, PepsiCo and Tyson. Affiliate partners include the
Consortium for Common Food Names, the National Pork Producers Council and the Tomato
Products Wellness Council. www.americanpizzacommunity.com
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