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What do you
get when you combine 900 Coca Cola employees and some delicious Dickey’s barbecue?
A VERY successful event! A huge shout out to Daryl Sookoonsingh from store
FL-1244 for catering this event in Brandon, FL for Coca-Cola. <o:p></o:p>

Sookoonsingh
landed this great event by working extremely hard to establish a strong local
network. His store was asked to cater six small events, which in Sookoonsingh’s
words was a test to see if they could hand the 900-person order, and they
passed! <o:p></o:p>

<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Tahoma&quot;,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">The event went off without a hitch and the
community’s response on social media was beyond supportive. Sookoonsingh is
looking forward to the opportunity to work with Coca-Cola again to put on
another amazing event!<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Tahoma&quot;,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Tahoma&quot;,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">

Real Talk with Real Owners: Daryl Sookoonsingh of Riverview, FL

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Elsinore, CA celebrates Breast
Cancer Awareness Month by sponsoring the Susan G. Koman walk in their
community! Susan G. Koman reached out to this Dickey’s location asking them to
provide a few food items for the volunteers. Owner/Operators Frank and Susan
Morones provided boxed lunches for all 150 volunteers and included a $5 Be My
Guest card for each of the 350 participating survivors. <o:p></o:p>

“This was a great opportunity to really make a difference
and let the community know that we are here and we care about them,” says Susan
Morones. <o:p></o:p>

Not only did store CA-1200 participate in the race, they
designed pink shirts for every staff member to wear in the store. “We wanted
racers, survivors and volunteers to know that this was a whole store effort,”
says Tanya Korman, General Manager of CA-1200. “If anyone from the event
decided to visit Dickey’s that day, we wanted them to feel supported by our
staff as well.”<o:p></o:p>

The Morones’ are looking forward to having the opportunity
to participate in this event again, and hope to make it into a yearly
tradition.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners - Frank and Susan Morones of Lake Elsinore, CA

What do you get when you combine 900 Coca Cola employees and
some delicious Dickey’s barbecue? A VERY successful event! A huge shout out to
Daryl Sookoonsingh from store FL-1244 for catering this event in Brandon, FL
for Coca-Cola. <o:p></o:p>

Sookoonsingh landed this great event by working extremely
hard to establish a strong local network. His store was asked to cater six
small events, which in Sookoonsingh’s words was a test to see if they could
hand the 900-person order, and they passed! <o:p></o:p>

The event went off without a hitch and the community’s
response on social media was beyond supportive. Sookoonsingh is looking forward
to the opportunity to work with Coca-Cola again to put on another amazing
event!&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners - Darryl Sookoonsingh of Riverview, FL

What’s better than delicious, Texas-style barbecue? College
football and delicious, Texas-style barbecue! Patrick Harder of store OH-802
scored a touchdown this weekend for his store when he was able to cater the
University of Southern Florida football team. USF travelled to Cincinnati to
play the Bearcats, and came out victorious! Thankfully, the team and all of the
travelling personnel were able to celebrate with some good, slow-smoked
barbecue!<o:p></o:p>

The catering order turned out to be double the food that Harder
imagined when USF requested two sandwiches per player.The team was clearly
hungry after their win! <o:p></o:p>

“It took a lot of us to get this done,” says Harder. “We
loved catering this event and would love to do it again when they return to
Cincinnati!”&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners – Patrick Harder of Amelia, OH 

For Angel Gorgios of CA-263, giving back to his community in
Livermore, CA is extremely important. Every school year, Gorgios reaches out to
all of the neighboring elementary, middle and high schools offering a
fundraiser event at his Dickey’s location. On the day of the fundraising event,
a percentage of the proceeds are given to the school or organization for their
use. <o:p></o:p>

The most recent fundraiser was done with Altamont Creek
Elementary School, raising a great deal more money than was expected. With such
a great turnout, he looking forward to his next fundraiser and cannot wait to
get more planned! <o:p></o:p>

Gorgios says that he loves doing fundraising events because
it not only brings in new customers to his store, but is a great cause giving
back to the community he loves so dearly.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners - Angel Gorgios of Livermore, CA 

Giving back to those who are willing to risk their lives for others is something that is taken with great pride and honor by Preston Reeves. 
With his father’s role in law enforcement and his own personal experience in the military, Reeves understands how vital first responders are in a community
September 11, 2001 is the day that tragedy struck our country and since then has been a day where we reflect and remember the bravery of the first responders from fifteen years ago. In Beckley, they held a 9/11 Memorial where Reeves spent his day offering free meals to all first responders of their community.
This day is also an important day for communities to stand together and support one another. Reeves also played his part for his community by catering his churches’ picnic of over 400 people.  
      
      
      

Real Talk with Real Owners- Preston Reeves of Beckley, WV

With a catering percentage of 33 percent, Raji Singh knows the importance of serving great food along with great service. Recently he catered Move-In Day at University of Alabama for more than 800 people, a contract he won for the second year because he has been the only caterer to consistently show up on time to the university’s events.Understanding the value of dependability has been a key ingredient in Raji’s recipe for success. Raji opened his Dickey’s location in 2013 after a successful run as a Subway franchisee. He also owns an Indian restaurant in his area, which he opened in 2004. After attending medical school in India, Raji knew that the medical field wasn’t for him, and traded his lab coat for a chef coat. He hasn’t looked back, and has built a great business in foodservice. “Dickey’s has been very good to me,” Raji says. “Being a franchisee with this concept is different because of all the great tools the home office offers. They have great support from catering to marketing which helps us be successful in our community.”

Real Talk with Real Owners - Raji Singh of Tuscaloosa, AL

Owner/Operator John Clark of Brentwood, TN is so passionate
about the art of great barbecue, he talks to anyone and
everyone he meets about his brand of slow-smoked goodness.
A former Texan, John couldn’t wait to bring great barbecue to
his new home in the Nashville area, and the community has
responded in droves. By sharing his excitement for barbecue,
he has built an impressive catering clientele within many local
businesses.
John is currently working on a Barbecue, Boots &amp; Badges
event, in which he will offer free meals to police officers and
firefighters to show solidarity in light of recent events. “I hope
to not only share my love for great barbecue, but my support
for our community’s first responders,” John shares. “I work
hard every day to increase my business, and it is good to take a
moment to give back and show support to those who serve
us.”

Real Talk with Real Owners: John Clark of Brentwood, TN

Owner/Operator Matt Stritzinger lives by three rules in his
business:<o:p></o:p>

1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Come to work every day with a good attitude<o:p></o:p>

2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Have fun at work<o:p></o:p>

3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Make someone’s day, every day<o:p></o:p>

With those guidelines in mind, Matt focuses his team on
great service and excellence in everything they do, from smoking meat to
ringing up orders at cash. <o:p></o:p>

These guidelines have also led Matt to certain business
practices in his store. “Our community engagement begins with my philosophy
that I donate to every cause,” Matt says. In a small town of 25,000 people, the
community notices the businesses who take a personal interest in the daily
goings-on of their community. <o:p></o:p>

As a business developer for the last 25 years, Matt knows
that his catering sales are crucial to his store’s success. He regularly goes
the extra mile, literally. In fact, his store recently did a catering for 750
people about 100 miles away! For Matt, no catering job is too large, too small
or too far away. And he never forgets to include those BMGs! “We always show
our catering clients our appreciation for their business through bounce backs and
discounts on their next event. We find that by using these marketing tools, we
have many loyal guests who not only come back to us for future caterings, but
bring their families and friends into the store to enjoy our great barbecue and
great atmosphere.”<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners - Matt Stritzinger of Coldwater, MI

Ernest Royball has been a restauranteur for most of his
professional life, having owned local restaurants in Albuquerque for several
years. After moving to Farmington and briefly leaving behind the world of
foodservice, Ernest got the opportunity to become a Dickey’s franchisee.<o:p></o:p>

“I decided on Dickey’s because it has a great system and
good plan in place,” Ernest says. “The corporate support is excellent and I
know I can call on any department if I have questions.”<o:p></o:p>

Training was key for Ernest in the early days. He had experience
running restaurants, but in Barbecue University, Dickey’s four-week training
program, Ernest learned how to operate the Dickey’s way. “Training was
instrumental in my success. I knew going in that I would be successful because
I had the hands-on training in all of Dickey’s standards.”<o:p></o:p>

Having just celebrated his store’s first anniversary, Ernest
has dedicated himself to community engagement. He sponsors sports teams,
concerts and pitches in to help the community at every possible opportunity.
Through his proactive community marketing efforts, he has gotten anywhere from
five to 100 new guests. This has not only earned him a trustworthy reputation
in Farmington, but encouraged other local businesses to get involved in the
community. “My goal is to create a sense of togetherness,” says Ernest. At the
end of his first year, we would say he has accomplished that goal. Happy
anniversary, NM 1153!<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners:  Ernest Royball of Farmington, NM

In Starkville, MS, going out to Dickey’s is like going to a
family reunion for this small community in the Oktibbeha County Seat. <o:p></o:p>

When guests visit the Starkville Dickey’s, they are always
greeted warmly as if they are members of a big, happy family. They are welcome
to move the furniture around to accommodate large groups and always receive
top-notch service with a smile. <o:p></o:p>

Starkville Owner/Operator John Thomas is a 30-year military
veteran who also owned a construction company for 15 years. When he was looking
for a franchise he immediately loved that Dickey’s is a family-owned brand with
stores that are friendly, casual and always fun. “I like all the people I come
in contact with every day,” John says. “My loyal guests have become friends,
and I also appreciate all the support I get from corporate. My area director
always answers his phone and is willing to help with any issue, large or
small.”<o:p></o:p>

Even though John’s store isn’t quite a year old, the
Starkville community has become used to seeing his big yellow catering van
drive through town. Using the van and other marketing tools, John has become a
fixture in his community who is the go-to for catering and events. <o:p></o:p>

Now that is some southern hospitality done right!<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners - John Thomas in Starkville, MS

For Chef Sky Galli in Utah, community marketing is the key
to his success with Dickey’s. Formerly an executive chef, Sky decided to go
into the franchising business and chose Dickey’s because it was the fastest-growing
barbecue franchise with great opportunity for success.<o:p></o:p>Sky has seen that success first-hand in Heber City, about an
hour’s drive southeast of Salt Lake City. Heavily involved in his local chamber
of commerce and several clubs, Sky does daily outreach in his community to
build relationships. He sponsors the high school sports teams and does regular
Big Yellow Cup drops to connect with local organizations. He also has a
family-friendly band perform in his store every Monday and Tuesday, which has
increased his sales tremendously. Families enjoy their delicious barbecue while
having fun doing the limbo and shaking tambourines to the music. “Community
marketing has made a huge difference for my store,” Sky says. “I love talking
to my guests and getting out to engage with my community. We do many caterings
as a result, which is a huge part of the business.”<o:p></o:p>



Recently Sky bought a barbecue pit to give away in an
upcoming drawing. Guests who dine in his store can enter to win the prize,
which will be announced on September 10!<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners: Sky Galli of Heber City, UT

Owner/Operator Thomas Iverson is truly a jack-of-alltrades
who enjoys devoting his skill and passion to his
two Dickey’s Barbecue Pit locations in California. Prior
to owning a Dickeys, Thomas explored many career
paths as a phlebotomist, research scientist and genetic
researcher. He also went to dental school and still owns
an active orthodontic practice with a Dickey’s located
next door.
While in dental school, Thomas enjoyed visiting his local
Dickey’s regularly but had not given store ownership a
second thought. After working as an established
orthodontist, he learned about Dickey’s franchise
opportunity and jumped at the chance!
Two years and two stores later, Thomas enjoys serving
his favorite foods to all his loyal guests. He also relies
on catering to spread the word about his delicious
slow-smoked barbecue. “My brand ambassador and I use many of the great marketing strategies
provided by the home office,” he says. “Since day one we have focused on catering and building a loyal
guest base, and we couldn’t have done it without them.”
Thomas may be a jack-of-all-trades, but he is definitely a master of the art of great barbecue!        
      

Real Talk with Real Owners: Thomas Iverson of Davis and Yuba City, CA

Owner/Operators David and Ashley Mullins are passionate
about their community and passionate about the art of great barbecue. Both
having restaurant backgrounds, the couple decided to become business owners by
investing in a franchise concept. After researching several options, David
tasted Dickey’s for the first time in an airport. He was hooked on the
Texas-style, slow-smoked flavor, and knew he had to bring it to Nashville to
share with his community.<o:p></o:p>

Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in the
country, but when the couple began their barbecue venture there were not many
Texas-style options in Music City USA. David and Ashley opened their first
store in January 2016 and are opening their second next year. “This is a family
business for us,” David says. “We are always asking what we can do to improve
our community because the community has done so much for us.”<o:p></o:p>

The Mullins’ store focuses heavily on giving back to Nashville’s
first responders. They bring food to their local precincts once a month and
offer regular discounts to uniformed officers. In July their store will host a
special police night, in which the community will come together in appreciation
of the officers’ service to the community. Guests will enjoy great barbecue,
police horses and even an ice cream sundae bar.<o:p></o:p>

Both David and Ashley are adamant when it comes to Dickey’s
standards in their store. They know that their continued success is dependent
on their continued efforts. “I believe the success we’ve had in our store is
largely because of the marketing provided by the home office,” David says.
“Everyone in the home office is always happy to help. The daily training videos
are also really helpful in keeping us on our toes and giving us new ideas.”
That is music to our ears!<o:p></o:p>

Real Talk with Real Owners: David and Ashley Mullins of Nashville, TN

<div>Owner/Operator Jack Chubb is the man with a plan. The multi-unit owner with stores in Sarasota, Wesley Chapel and upcoming new store in Brandon, Florida, is also the mastermind bringing Hawaii its first Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. “Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is a nationally recognized brand that has a wonderful history and reputation. It’s a franchise that has been tried and true, a model that works when you follow the standards,” says Chubb.</div><div> </div><div>A former hospital CEO, Chubb applies the same discipline and stewardship from his 30-year experience to the success of his stores. &nbsp;“It’s important to have a great management team who believes in and understands the value in catering.” With a strong strategic business plan in place, Chubb focuses on heavily integrating in his stores’ communities. “We give the time and commitment to our community marketing initiatives with the local businesses and schools, which ultimately drives business back to the store.”</div><div> </div><div>With a vision that exceeds beyond his Florida stores, there’s no stopping Chubb’s growth as he works closely with the home office making sure his stores exceeds brand standards. “I knew nothing about the restaurant business when I joined Dickey’s. They’ve done great job putting together a group of professionals from the marketing team to the training team that share initiatives and provide support that can help Owner/Operators achieve their goals.” he adds, “I’m learning every day from the professionals that are well versed in the business and that provides an extra level of comfort as an Owner/Operator every day.”</div><div> </div>

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