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IN THE NEWS

WATERLOO, ON--(Marketwired - July 18, 2017) -&nbsp;Digital learning technology is transforming how organizations grow, and learning leaders must keep up with this rapid change.&nbsp;That's the theme of&nbsp;<a href="http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=11G142833-001&amp;id=11993266&amp;type=0&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.d2l.com" rel="nofollow">D2L</a>'s inaugural&nbsp;<a href="http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=11G142833-001&amp;id=11993269&amp;type=0&amp;url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.d2l.com%2fevents%2ffusion%2fenterprise-agenda%2fclo-think-tank%2f" rel="nofollow">Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Think Tank</a>&nbsp;event, which will take place on July 20th at its annual&nbsp;<a href="http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=11G142833-001&amp;id=11993272&amp;type=0&amp;url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.d2l.com%2fevents%2ffusion%2f" rel="nofollow">Fusion conference</a>&nbsp;in Las Vegas. The presentations and workshop will be led by top learning executives from Home Depot, Harvard Business Publishing, and Dickey's Barbecue Pit, among others, and respected industry analyst, Claude Werder from Brandon Hall Group. Each will address challenges companies face as technology changes the nature of learning and development in the workplace.
"Learning engagement is now essential in today's workplace and CLOs are leveraging video, gaming, social, and self-publishing, among other tools, to deliver new and more effective learning experiences," said John Baker, CEO of D2L. "Our first annual CLO Think Tank event will bring together learning executives from various industries to discuss digital transformation in enterprise learning by facilitating conversation and thoughtful analysis."
Along with listening to insightful presentations, attendees will work closely with peers in collaborative workshops to discuss how technology is transforming enterprise learning and development.
"CLOs are operating in an environment where learning is recognized as a critical corporate priority. CLOs who adopt digital learning technologies and use them to link learning to performance outcomes have an opportunity to make significant contributions to their organizations' business success," said Claude Werder, VP/Research Operations and Principal HCM Analyst, Brandon Hall Group. "This forum will provide learning leaders with leading practices and strategies about everything from micro-learning to mitigating business risk, which are profoundly important in the 21st&nbsp;century workplace."
The agenda is as follows:
<ul>
 <li>9:30am - Opening Remarks 
-&nbsp;Speaker: Erin Mills, Head of Enterprise Marketing, D2L</li>
 <li>9:45am - Session #1: Panel Discussion - Digital Transformation and The New Strategic Learning Imperative 
-&nbsp;Moderator: Brandon Carson, Director of Learning, Home Depot 
-&nbsp;Panelists: Claude Werder, VP/Research Operations and Principal HCM Analyst, Brandon Hall Group, Keith Meyerson, Sr. Director of Training &amp; Development, Topgolf, and Shawn Storer, Chief of People and Culture, Dickey's Barbecue Pit</li>
 <li>11:00am - Session #2:&nbsp;Facilitated Workshop - The Journey of Transformation for L&amp;D, Redefining the CLO 
-&nbsp;Facilitator: Jeanne Meister, Future Workplace</li>
 <li>1:00pm - Session #3: D2L Solution Spotlight in Grand Ballroom</li>
 <li>2:20pm - Session #4: Learning – The Foundation of Transformation 
-&nbsp;Speaker: Josh Brand, Sr. Director of Global Delivery, Harvard Business Publishing</li>
 <li>4:10pm - Session #5: Creating a Learning Strategy for 2020 and Beyond 
-&nbsp;Speaker: Claude Werder, HCM Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group</li>
</ul>
For more information or to sign up, please click&nbsp;<a href="http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=11G142833-001&amp;id=11993275&amp;type=0&amp;url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.d2l.com%2fevents%2ffusion%2fenterprise-agenda%2fclo-think-tank%2f" rel="nofollow">here</a>&nbsp;and follow the menu. Attendees will also have access to D2L's Annual User Group and Executive Summit.
About D2L Fusion Conference
Fusion is D2L's annual learning conference, which offers educators, instructors and leaders from around the world a chance to come together and share ideas that will shape the future of learning. Driving progress and better outcomes for learners starts with sharing knowledge and best practices for the classroom, campus or workplace. This is your chance to join the conversation and make sure your voice is heard. Fusion is where the brightest minds meet.
About Brightspace
D2L's Brightspace is a digital learning platform that helps customers deliver personalized learning experiences in a classroom or online to people anywhere in the world. Created for the digital learner, Brightspace is cloud-based, runs on mobile devices, and offers rich multimedia to increase engagement, productivity and knowledge retention. The platform makes it easy to design courses, create content, giving customers more time to focus on what's most important -- better learning and engagement.
About D2L
D2L is the software leader that makes the learning experience better. The company's cloud-based platform is easier to use, more flexible, and smart. With Brightspace, companies can personalize the experience for every learner to deliver real results. The company is a world leader in learning analytics: its platform predicts learner performance so that companies can take action in real-time to keep employees on track. Brightspace is used by learners in higher education, K-12, and the enterprise sector, including the Fortune 1000. D2L has operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil, and Singapore.&nbsp;<a href="http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=11G142833-001&amp;id=11993278&amp;type=0&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.d2l.com" rel="nofollow">www.D2L.com</a>
Twitter:&nbsp;@D2L

Discuss the Future of Enterprise Learning

Are you looking for a uniquely American culinary experience? Barbecue is a centuries-old cuisine with dozens of variations and styles – and could be a strong contender for America’s quintessential food. With barbecue being such a popular choice for Americans, CHD Expert decided to evaluate trends within the barbecue restaurant landscape across the country. 
 
As of July 2017, CHD Expert’s database has data and restaurant information for more than 15,200 barbecue restaurants across the USA. Barbecue restaurants also account for just over 2 percent of the total US restaurant landscape. 
 
Breaking down the barbecue restaurant landscape into Full Service Restaurants (FSRs) and Limited Service Restaurants (LSRs) in terms of number of units, CHD Expert’s data reveals that Independent restaurants dominate both categories: 86 percent of barbecue LSRs are classified as Independent while 88 percent of FSRs are Independent. (CHD Expert defines an Independent restaurant as one having less than 10 units in operation nationwide.)
With its roots in the South, it’s no surprise that many of the state states with the largest share of barbecue restaurants reside below the Mason Dixon Line. The top five states with the largest shares of barbecue restaurants include Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Hawaii, and chains make up 13 percent of the total barbecue restaurant landscape. The most prevalent barbecue chain restaurants in the U.S. include Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Famous Dave’s, L&amp;L Hawaiian BBQ, Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ, and Bill Miller Bar B Q.
Want more details on the barbecue restaurant landscape in the USA? 
 
CHD Expert evaluated the most recent data within its foodservice database and packaged the most interesting facts and figures into an infographic designed to help foodservice industry professionals better understand the popularity of barbecue restaurants in the United States. 
 
To access the 2017 Barbecue Restaurant Landscape Infographic in its entirety, please visit:&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://info.chd-expert.com/bbq-menu-type-united-states-by-chd-expert" target="_blank">info.chd-expert.com/bbq-menu-type-united-states-by-chd-ex...</a> 
 
To obtain detailed information on the foodservice industry landscape anywhere in the United States, or foodservice data in general, please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sales@chd-expert.com?subject=openPR.com%20contact">sales@chd-expert.com</a>. 
 
Data Ingredients. Growth Served. For over 20 years, CHD Expert has collected, analyzed, and managed foodservice and hospitality data to help businesses win in this fragmented and fast-moving industry. Our comprehensive and segmented data allows us to adapt our local and global insights to our clients’ objectives. From ideas to execution, we deliver actionable solutions that drive business growth. To learn more, please visit chd-expert.com. 
 
CHD Expert The Americas 
130 S. Jefferson St., Suite 250 
Chicago, IL, 60661 USA 
 
Phone: (312) 768-6900 
Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:bgerson@CHD-Expert.com?subject=openPR.com%20contact">bgerson@CHD-Expert.com</a>

CHD Expert Evaluates U.S. BBQ

Sales at restaurants and bars declined in June. The spread between food-away-from-home prices and food-at-home prices narrows. A consulting firm focuses on how restaurants can improve their customers’ experience. Chipotle introduces a new concept. These stories and a lot more This Week in Foodservice.
&nbsp;June total retail sales fell 0.2 percent compared to May,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/marts_current.pdf">reported the U.S. Census Bureau</a>. Total retail sales increased 2.8 percent compared to June 2016. For the first 6 months of this year retail sales are up 3.9 percent compared to the same period last year. The report also revised the advanced sales for May to down 0.1 percent, a 0.2 percent improvement from the previous estimate.
June sales at eating and drinking places declined 0.6 percent from May but were up 1.7 percent compared to June 2016. For the first 6 months of this year restaurant and bar sales increased 2.9 percent.
One positive factor in the June report was that May sales for restaurants and bars, which were originally reported as being down 0.1 percent, were revised upward to +0.4 percent.
While these results may not bring shouts of joy from foodservice operators, industry performance still shows some growth this year.
There are limitations and caveats in the Census Bureau’s survey. This is an advance report because it is based on a limited sample size. As the sample grows, the U.S. Census Bureau often revises the numbers. That happened with the May data.
The survey covers restaurants and bars only, meaning it excludes roughly a third of the foodservice industry. Not surveyed are hotels, resorts, clubs, retailers, employee feeding, K through 12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare and military feeding.
Finally, some of the data is adjusted for holidays, weekends, and seasonal changes but not for menu price increases or decreases.
<h3>Economic News This Week</h3>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/documents/newsroom/releases/eta/20170989.pdf">First-time jobless claims dipped to 247,000</a>,&nbsp;a decline of 3,000 for the week ending July 8. The 4-week moving average was 245,750, an increase of 2,250. Jobless claims remain well in the “acceptable” range.</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/g19.pdf">Consumer credit climbed by 5.8 percent in May</a>&nbsp;on an annual seasonally adjusted basis. The U.S. Federal Reserve reported that revolving credit — mostly credit card debt — increased 8.7 percent while non-revolving credit — auto loans, student loans, boat loans, etc. — grew 4.7 percent.</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ppi.pdf">The Producer Price Index for Final Demand grew 0.1 percent</a>&nbsp;with 80 percent of the increase driven by 0.2 percent growth in final demand services. The Final Demand Index for Goods rose 0.1 percent. In the last 12 months, total final demand prices are up 2.0 percent. The index for final demand food rose 0.6 percent.</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf">The Consumer Price Index was flat in Junevs. May.</a>&nbsp;In past 12 months the index increased 1.6 percent. The Core Index, which does not include food and energy prices, was down 0.1 percent in June and up 1.7 percent in the last 12 months.</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g17/current/default.htm">Industrial production rose 0.4 percent in June</a>,&nbsp;marking&nbsp;the fifth consecutive monthly increase. The Manufacturing Output Index increased 0.2 percent, the Mining Index rose 1.6 percent and the Utilities Index was flat. Capacity Utilization increased 0.2 percentage points for a final reading of 76.6, a rate that is 33 percentage points below its long run (1972-2016) average.</li>
 <li><a href="http://www.fesmag.com/%E2%80%A2%09http:/www.nfib.com/surveys/small-business-economic-trends">The Index of Small business optimism retreated</a>&nbsp;0.9 points in June to a final reading of 103.6,&nbsp;per the National Federation of Independent Businesses.</li>
 <li><a href="http://www.sca.isr.umich.edu/">The University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment was down in July</a>,&nbsp;according to the study’s preliminary results. The Index read 95.1, down 3.1 from June. The Index of Current Economic Conditions rose slightly to 113.2 from 112.5. The Index of Consumer Expectations declined to 80.2 from 83.9. A university spokesman stated the drop was not severe and probably does not signify a recession.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Foodservice News This Week</h3>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf">Food-away-from-home prices were flat in June</a>&nbsp;and up 2.2 percent for the last 12 months. Some observers blame gap between food prices out and at home for soft foodservice sales.</li>
 <li><a href="http://deloitte.wsj.com/cmo/2017/06/27/serving-up-an-engaging-restaurant-cx/?mod=WSJBlog">It’s all about the customer experience</a>&nbsp;according to Deloitte Consulting. For a strong customer experience the restaurant must engage customers in a friendly, authentic and hospitable way. Customers must feel empowered with real-time information. Customers want to be heard, particularly when something goes wrong. Customers must be delighted by being surprised and exceeding their expectations. Finally, customers want to be known by having the restaurant remember them and their preferences. Restaurants generally get low marks in the factors above but there is a clear opportunity for operators wishing to provide memorable interactions.</li>
 <li><a href="https://ny.eater.com/2017/7/10/15945712/chipotle-queso-margaritas-chelsea">Chipotle debuts a new concept in New York City</a>.&nbsp;Chipotle NEXT Kitchen will not only test new menu items but also new technology and equipment. Some of the equipment being tried is a new margarita machine and a rice cooker that prepares small batches.</li>
 <li><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170714005470/en">US Foods will acquire TOBA Inc.</a>&nbsp;TOBA owns The Thompson Company in Grand Island, Neb., Braunger Foods in Sioux City, Iowa, and Variety Foods in Sioux Falls, S.D. US Foods plans to keep all three locations and retain all of the distributors’ current employees. Price of the acquisition was not disclosed.</li>
 <li>Corporate Stirrings:&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/axum-capital-partners-acquires-controlling-121400968.html">Back Yard Burgers was sold to Axum Capital Partners</a>&nbsp;by the Pharos Capital Group. The amount of the sale was not disclosed. The chain now has 55 units down from 120 locations.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foodnewsfeed.com/fsr/chain-restaurants/prominent-private-equity-firm-buys-jim-n-nick-s-bar-b-q?utm_source=fs_insider&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=20170712">The&nbsp;Jim ‘N Nicks Bar-B-Q&nbsp;chain, a 37-unit company started in 1985, has sold a majority stake</a>&nbsp;to the Roark Capital Group. Roark has investments in 60 restaurant chains including Jimmy John’s, Arby’s, CKE Restaurants and FOCUS Brands. The purchase price was not disclosed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/panera-stockholders-ok-sale-to-jab-holdings/article_cdbb9695-d2cb-54c1-a305-2d2c8dbfe71e.html">Panera Bread Company’s sale to JAB Holdings closed</a>&nbsp;this week.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fastcasual.com/news/panera-franchisee-pan-american-group-acquires-34-locations/?utm_source=Email_marketing&amp;utm_campaign=emnaFCC07142017133406&amp;cmp=1&amp;utm_medium=HTMLEmail">The Pan American Group has purchased 34&nbsp;Panera Bread&nbsp;locations</a>&nbsp;from the Original Bread Company. This gives Pan American 130 Panera Bread restaurants making it the concept’s second largest franchisee.</li>
 <li>Growth Chains: Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen&nbsp;will open three restaurants in South Africa. A 250,000-square-foot dining and entertainment venue outside Dallas called&nbsp;The Music Factory&nbsp;will eventually have 25 concepts.&nbsp;Captain D’ssigned franchise development agreement will bring five restaurants to San Antonio, one to Jackson, Tenn., and four to Mobile, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla. CKE opened a&nbsp;Carl’s Jr. in Nicaragua and plans 200 units in the region.&nbsp;Dickey’s Barbecue Pit&nbsp;will open two restaurants in Las Vegas.&nbsp;MOD Pizza&nbsp;will open six restaurants in Houston.</li>
 <li>Comparable Store Sales Reports: Bad Daddy’s&nbsp;up 0.1 percent, Good Times Burgers up 3.7 percent, and&nbsp;Luby’s&nbsp;(All concepts down 2.7 percent, Luby’s Cafeteria down 2.5 percent, Fuddrucker’s down 0.9 percent, Cheeseburgers in Paradise down 9.8 percent and combo units down 5.5 percent.)</li>
</ul>
For details and same-store sales of other chains, p<a href="http://www.fesmag.com/images/stories/2017-07/july18Greensheet3.pdf">lease click here for the&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.fesmag.com/features/blogs/this-week-in-foodservice/14892-restaurant-and-bar-sales-decline-in-june,-chipotle-introduces-new-concept,-customers-want-memorable-interactions,-and-more#">Green Sheet</a>.&nbsp;

Customers Want Memorable Interactions

ALTOONA – Residents in Blair County came together Saturday to remember a young girl who lost her life after fighting brain cancer.
Eight-year-old Maddie Shura died in April. Her family is dedicated to raising money to help fight pediatric cancer and brain cancer.
To support the family's efforts, Dickey’s Barbecue in Altoona donated part of their sales from the fundraiser.
Though the amount raised is still being counted, Shura’s family said it was a great event.

Fundraiser honors girl who died from brain cancer

The battle for local customers has become more fierce than ever. Brick &amp; mortar brands and local storefronts alike are seeing an&nbsp;<a href="https://moz.com/local-search-ranking-factors">ever-changing environment</a>&nbsp;that requires the help of software to continually optimize and measure visibility in local search. From a marketing perspective, local data has evolved into a strategic asset on which the efficacy of geo-marketing campaigns depend to ensure ROI.&nbsp;I am thrilled to share that I have joined the leadership team at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.moz.com/">Moz</a>&nbsp;to tackle these massive opportunities for our customers. In many ways, my path to Moz has been 7 years in the making.In 2008, four optimistic people crowded into my basement in the foothills outside Seattle, ready to tackle the emerging challenge for local storefronts: how to get noticed and bring more customers to their front doors. We identified the problem in a very organic way, along the main street of my hometown of Snoqualmie, and began to build software to help out. We named our company Venuelabs. By 2014, we were helping many of the largest brick &amp; mortar brands in the U.S. We were proud to serve Starbucks, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Urban Outfitters, Albertsons, MOD Pizza, Mercedes Benz and many others. Our local analytics platform spanned 300 brands and 500,000 locations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, in mid-2015 something dramatic happened.&nbsp;<a href="http://searchengineland.com/its-official-google-says-more-searches-now-on-mobile-than-on-desktop-220369">Mobile searches by consumers surpassed desktop searches</a>, sparking the reality in the market that local search was going to be a key battleground for customers. At that same time, enterprise customers like Albertsons and others began to ask fewer questions about our shiny analytics, and focused more of their questions around the accuracy, reach and management of their local store points of presence.The shift in customer conversations was striking and underscored to me that while I was solving an interesting problem, there were in fact more foundational business problems to address in local.Accuracy and management of location data across the web was in my mind, becoming the “table stakes” of local search and marketing. Being the scrappy and nimble startup that we were, we immediately sought a relationship with the Moz team, who had introduced a true local presence product. In the earliest stages of our discussions, I could see the&nbsp;<a href="https://moz.com/about/tagfee">TAGFEE difference with Moz</a>, and looked forward to working together for years to come.In the two years since I&nbsp;stepped away from the market, Moz Local’s business has grown dramatically. The solution has matured, and the growing team is working on new and exciting capabilities that are focused on simplifying how enterprises and agencies manage, distribute, and measure their storefront data across the web.For many of the brands I have served, I am looking forward to reigniting our partnership to empower your marketing teams to continue to grow &amp; enhance your local footprint. For those of you interested in&nbsp;getting started on that partnership right way, let’s talk!&nbsp;

What Starbucks, Dickey's, and Mercedes taught me about local marketing

Last Thursday, Dickey’s Barbecue in Mandan finally opened.
If you went, you noticed you weren’t alone. But you stood in line, placed your order, made your payment and went on your way. You were most likely satisfied and may have plans to return.
But what went on behind the scenes is something else. With the long lines and high demand, Dickey’s Barbecue needed to have enough inventory to meet the large number of customers.
In a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-dickeys-barbecue-pit-opening-a-success-thanks-to-heroic-team-effort-300482175.html" target="_blank">news release from Dickey’s Barbecue</a>, they state that the new Mandan location was running low on inventory and when the necessary stock was not available at normal distribution centers, they had to turn to the corporate team for help.
And the corporate team pulled through. From the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-dickeys-barbecue-pit-opening-a-success-thanks-to-heroic-team-effort-300482175.html" target="_blank">news release</a>:
<blockquote>Dickey’s&nbsp;corporate purchasing team immediately searched the country for stock, arranged truck rentals and travel, and negotiated pricing. President of&nbsp;Dickey’s&nbsp;Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.,&nbsp;Renee Roozen, even had her husband in&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;and father in&nbsp;Minnesota&nbsp;ready to drive trucks if stock could be found in those markets. Ultimately, the stock was found in&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;and a member of&nbsp;Dickey’s&nbsp;corporate support staff volunteered to give up his off days to fly from Pacific Northwest to&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;to pick up a truck, and then drive 12 hours to&nbsp;North Dakota&nbsp;to complete the miracle.</blockquote>
Amazing what the folks at Dickey’s are willing to do for us here in the Bismarck-Mandan area. We thank you for going above and beyond to keep our cravings satisfied and our stomachs full.
I guess you can say that Dickey’s is willing to ‘brisket‘ all for us. (Get it?&nbsp;Brisket&nbsp;instead of&nbsp;risk it?)

Dickey’s Journey in Mandan

Before Laura Rea Dickey was CEO at Dicky’s Barbecue Pit she served eight years as the chief information officer at the company, fusing the world of barbecue and technology together to better accommodate the customers needs. According to the restaurant’s website, she also “led the marketing, IT and training departments at Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.” Thanks to Dickey, the company has become known for its modern technology and continues to excel in the latest and greatest. In the past, Dickey has also worked with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/index.html?iataNumber=00477153" target="_blank">W Hotels</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chick-fil-a.com/" target="_blank">Chick-Fil-A</a>.
Women tackling leadership in the restaurant industry is not necessarily an easy task but is necessary for success,&nbsp;as she describes to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fastcasual.com/blogs/15-female-execs-offer-advice-about-rising-to-the-top-of-a-male-dominated-field/">Fast Casual</a>.&nbsp;
"A range of perspectives enhances an outcome, so more woman taking leadership roles in the restaurant industry will continue to help evolve the business. Plus, woman are key decision makers for family dining choices, so it's a valuable perspective."
&nbsp;

Female CEOs to Watch Out For

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- In a world where it can sometimes be hard finding a helping hand, a local business owner is proving that you can always find the good in someone.
&nbsp;
At 24 years old, Dylan Opinker has his whole life ahead of him.
"I am very social, I like to get out and have fun and play sports and work and take care of my family," says Opinker.
Throughout the years, Opinker has come to learn that working wouldn't come so easily as a felon.
"I was young and dumb as I would say, when I was 18 years old I caught a theft charge doing some things with friends that now I think I really wouldn't have done," says Opinker.
While filling out applications, he would realize checking a box would determine his fate.
"I put in many apps, I'm talking probably over 30 or 40 applications and I just kept getting denied and it kind of made me&nbsp;feel&nbsp;like I had no hope," says Opinker.
That changed once he met Ryan, owner of Dickey's BBQ in Rockford.
"We were just talking about a lot of people having trouble getting accepted at other places," says Ryan McPeek, owner of Dickey's Barbecue Pit.
McPeek decided to become a business that gives these men and women a second chance.
Dickey's isn't only known for its BBQ since opening in 2015 they've opened the doors for more than 10 ex-felons.
"I know people have a history, but people can change and they can't change if they aren't given a chance," says McPeek.
Opinker is one of those ex-felons given a chance.
"Ryan being the good guy he is, called me and offered me this job and I couldn't be more thankful," says Opinker.
"We still have to believe that they are willing to make that change," says McPeek.
Little did Opinker know, his old ways would eventually come back to haunt him.
"I was working here and got into a little bit of trouble and had to go do some jail," says Opinker. "He called and I thought he wanted my t-shirts back."
Instead of calling to get his uniform back, McPeek was calling to give Opinker his job back.
"This is a first time for us that we rehired somebody that we thought would straighten out," says McPeek. "If you got all these people in Rockford looking for work and nobody will give them a chance, it's a tough spot."
While Dickey's is a small staff, McPeek says he hopes other businesses in the Stateline will jump on board to end the stigma of hiring ex-felons.
"Things happen and people make mistakes so now I've just owned up to it and I do what I have to do and getting my life together."
While Dickey's is currently not hiring, when asked if there was anyone McPeek wouldn't hire, he says they haven't run across anyone they weren't willing to give a chance.
McPeek says many of his employees have gone on to get better jobs because of the opportunity they got with Dickey's.

Finding work as an Ex-Felon

With the overwhelming excitement for&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;Barbecue Pit's new location opening in&nbsp;Mandan, North Dakota&nbsp;last Thursday, local Owner/Operators were faced with meeting the inventory demands of such high traffic. When the required stock could not be found at the normal distribution centers, they turned to&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;corporate team for a creative solution to ensure the expected demand could be met.
Local Owner/Operators Randy and&nbsp;Lisa Rhone,&nbsp;Amanda and Ben Zachmeier opened their first&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;location in&nbsp;Minot, North Dakota&nbsp;in 2014. Given the success of this store and anticipation from the community, their new&nbsp;Mandan location was expected to generate extremely high traffic beyond what local distribution centers could provide.&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;corporate purchasing team immediately searched the country for stock, arranged truck rentals and travel, and negotiated pricing. President of&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.,&nbsp;Renee Roozen, even had her husband in&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;and father in&nbsp;Minnesoready to drive trucks if stock could be found in those markets. Ultimately, the stock was found in&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;and a member of&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;corporate support staff volunteered to give up his off days to fly from Pacific Northwest to&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;to pick up a truck, and then drive 12 hours to&nbsp;North Dakota&nbsp;to complete the miracle.
"We are very grateful to the support staff at&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;corporate office for helping us make this grand opening such a success," said Owner/Operator Randy Rhone. "This is definitely an instance in which we were happy to be a&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;franchisee. We couldn't have done it without them!"
"This is a perfect example of one of the key reasons why entrepreneurs are attracted to franchises, and&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;in particular: they receive this type of support," said&nbsp;Renee Roozen, President of&nbsp;Dickey's&nbsp;Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "It was truly a team effort and we are proud to share this success with the Rhones and Zachmeiers. We view our franchisees as members of our family and are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure they are well taken care of and our loyal guests' expectations are met.

A Good Problem to Have

Las Vegas local Kim Fewell was a self-taught Pit Master recreationally long before he joined the Dickey's Barbecue family. Although the barbecue enthusiast enjoys the at-home pit-smoking process, what intrigued him about Dickey's was the combination of delicious, authentic barbecue with the ease and convenience of a fast casual concept.
When Fewell retired a few months ago, he began looking into joining a franchise. He first experienced Dickey's barbecue on a trip to California and got the idea to bring the concept to his home community of Las Vegas, where there isn't an abundance of easily-accessible, authentic barbecue. According to Kim and his wife, Susan, Dickey's was a natural fit for the area as well as for them, personally.
"First of all, you can't beat the barbecue, but I also like the people at Dickey's and the brand itself," said Fewell. "Meeting Roland Dickey, Jr. really sealed the deal for me. I like the direction the brand is headed and see a lot of potential for growth."
Kim and Susan Fewell currently have two Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations under development in the Las Vegas area. The first is on track to open this fall, the second in summer 2018.
"It is important to us that our Owner/Operators share our passion for the art of great barbecue, and it is clear that Kim and Susan do," said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "We are looking forward to a successful partnership and further expansion in Nevada with them."&nbsp;

Two New Locations Coming to Las Vegas

In honor of <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/dickeys-celebrates-mac-n-cheese-day-free-side">National Macaroni and Cheese Day</a>, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is offering guests a free small side of its signature home-style macaroni and cheese with the purchase of any Classic or Westerner sandwich and Big Yellow Cup.
Dickey’s fans agree: Savory macaroni and cheese is the ideal side to accompany a flavorful meal of barbecue. Added to the menu in 2006, this side was an immediate hit, particularly in conjunction with Dickey’s biggest promotion, Kids Eat Free on Sundays. In fact, last year Dickey’s Barbecue Pit sold over 4 million pounds of macaroni and cheese.
&nbsp;For this special deal available exclusively on July 14, barbecue and macaroni and cheese fans alike can celebrate the holiday with Dickey’s best-selling side with a coupon found on the promo page of Dickeys.com.
“This fun holiday is the perfect occasion to enjoy a fan favorite: our delicious macaroni and cheese,” says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.&nbsp; “We are looking forward to this opportunity to join our loyal guests in celebrating this classic comfort food tomorrow.”

Dickey's Celebrates Mac 'N' Cheese Day

Dickey's Barbecue Pit opened in Bremerton this month, adding a fourth Kitsap peninsula location for the fast-casual restaurant chain.
The Bremerton Dickey's is located at 4716 Werner Road, next to Subway.
"We are excited about our growth in Washington and this opportunity to bring more delicious, smoked-on-site barbecue to the folks in Bremerton," Dickey's CEO Laura Rea Dickey said in a news release.
The four Kitsap-area Dickey's are owned by Thomas "Doc" Driver, who launched his first restaurant in Port Orchard in 2014, followed by locations in Poulsbo and Gig Harbor.
In a 2015 interview, Driver said he also was interested in expanding to Silverdale.
Dallas-based Dickey's is the largest barbecue chain in the country, with nearly 600 restaurants in 44 states.
The Bremerton Dickey's can be reached at 360-627-7073.

Dickey's adds Bremerton location

Mabank is experiencing a growth spurt with the downtown Market Street in full swing, a new Tractor Supply Company, Panther Plaza and now a Dickey's BBQ on the corner of Business Highway 175 and State Highway198 (Third Street).
Dickey's BBQ Owner/Operator Guy New already has success with his store located in Rowlett near Lake Ray Hubbard.
A fifth-generation Texan, New is an entrepreneur who has his hand in several businesses. He has owned an information technology consulting company for the past 20 years and is also a real estate investor.
New decided to begin franchising with Dickey’s in 2011 and has successfully operated his first location in Rowlett, just east of Dallas, for the past five years.
He will open his second store in Mabank by August and a third store possibly in Gering/Scottsbluff, Nebraska. “I’m excited about opening Dickey's in Mabank, this is a great town,” New says. “Engaging with the community is the best part of owning a Dickey’s, and we look forward to expanding in this new location.”
New said he gives the Mabank Economic Development Corporation credit for Dickey's BBQ picking the location in Mabank. “They were great to work with.”
While building his new location in Mabank, New said he uses a local contractor and a local bank.
“They have all been great to work with,” New said. “Very friendly people.”
New is already making plans to become part of the Henderson County community. &nbsp;
“I am putting together a 5K run, car, truck, motorcycle, boat and off-road vehicle Show-n-Shine with Vince Vance and the Valiants,” said New.
New said his stores are in the process of raising money for the Van Zandt County tornado victims.
“I love the Dickey's corporate office is very big into supporting local police and fire department,” said New.
Mabank Mayor Jeff Norman said, “This is really exciting. We have been working on a number of things that are finally here.”
Norman said the new Panther Plaza located next to the Mabank Intermediate School will soon be the home to new dentists and some retail shops.
The Mayor said it's not only the business community growing, “ The housing industry is also showing growth. More people are moving to Mabank.”
The renovation of downtown Mabank on Market Street has attracted many new visitors to the city's historic downtown. &nbsp;
“Normally starting about Thursday Market Street sees a lot of traffic,” said Norman.&nbsp; “If you haven't visited downtown Mabank lately, maybe it's time you do.”

Several businesses to open in Mabank

<h1 class="detail__headline" style="font-size: 2.368em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Acta, Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; padding-top: 1.5rem; padding-bottom: 0px; width: 1040px;">65%
of Americans plan to celebrate&nbsp;Independence Day&nbsp;with a
cookout/barbecue/picnic, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nrf.com/resources/consumer-data/independence-day" target="_blank" style="transition: color 0.1s ease-out, border-color 0.1s ease-out; border-bottom: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-top-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-right-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-left-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25);">study</a>&nbsp;conducted by the National Retail
Federation. Whether you're planning on firing up the grill in your own back
yard or letting somebody else take care of the cooking, Dickey's Barbecue Pit
has got you covered.<o:p></o:p>

"The&nbsp;July 4th&nbsp;weekend is the height of barbecue
season and we're fortunate to be able to share our Dickey's Signature Smoked
Sausage with all barbecue enthusiasts," says&nbsp;Renee Roozen, President of Dickey's Barbecue
Restaurant, Inc. "Although our&nbsp;Pit Masters&nbsp;will be preparing over 32,000
ropes of sausage across the country for guest wanting convenience and
authenticity from our restaurants, the option of quality Dickey's sausage is
also available in retail outlets for those looking to grill and smoke at home."<o:p></o:p>

For the self-proclaimed
barbecue experts, no backyard barbecue is complete without Dickey's Signature
Smoked Sausage, which comes in three delicious flavors: Original Smoked Polish
Sausage, Smoked Spicy Cheddar Sausage and Hot Links. Competitively-priced and
easy to prepare, the sausage comes with Dickey's "No B.S. (Bad
Stuff)" guarantee, meaning it is free of MSG, nitrates and nitrites. In
fact, Dickey's is set to sell over 32,000 ropes of sausage over the course of 4th&nbsp;of July weekend.<o:p></o:p>

For
those who prefer to leave the barbecuing to the experts, Dickey's is offering
10% off catering in store, as well as 10% off all online orders of&nbsp;$100&nbsp;or
more. In addition, one special guest will win a 10-person catering giveaway.
Guests can enter to win on Dickey's Facebook page.<o:p></o:p>

To find the store nearest you,
click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dickeys.com/locations" target="_blank" style="transition: color 0.1s ease-out, border-color 0.1s ease-out; border-bottom: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-top-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-right-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-left-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25);">here</a>.
Find Dickey's on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Dickeys" target="_blank" style="transition: color 0.1s ease-out, border-color 0.1s ease-out; border-bottom: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-top-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-right-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-left-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25);">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dickeysbarbecuepit?fref=ts" target="_blank" style="transition: color 0.1s ease-out, border-color 0.1s ease-out; border-bottom: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-top-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-right-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-left-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25);">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/dickeysbarbecuepit/" target="_blank" style="transition: color 0.1s ease-out, border-color 0.1s ease-out; border-bottom: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-top-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-right-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25); border-left-color: rgba(37, 79, 156, 0.25);">Instagram</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></h1>

The Business Journals: Dickey's Barbecue Pit Offers Easy, Affordable Options for 4th of July Festivities

Here are the winners of the 2017 Leaf-Chronicle <a href="http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/entertainment/events/readers-choice/2017/06/23/winners-list-leaf-chronicle-readers-choice-2017/424595001/">Readers Choice Awards</a>.

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