From the ‘50s music in the parking lot to the classic ’57 Chevy just inside the doors, America's Incredible Pizza Company is an upbeat, Rockin’, Rollin’ Family Entertainment Center with enough energy to get you dancing and singing to the oldies! The Incredible Pizza Company includes an all-you-can-eat high quality food buffet, themed dining areas, private party rooms and a “Fair-grounds” fun center loaded with games, rides and attractions for family members of all ages.
Everything on the buffet is prepared fresh daily. The delicious food at the Incredible Buffet includes two pizza bars, pasta, baked potatoes, soup, an 80-item salad bar, and desserts, including ice cream, cookies, cinnamon rolls, cobblers, bread pudding and pies.
Each store provides four distinctly different eating environments: Route 66 ‘50s-style Diner, Gymnasium, Starlight Drive-In Movie Theater, or the Family Room.
The Fairgrounds is a free kid-safe children’s play area created just for the little ones and constantly monitored by Incredible team members. Additionally each store has a go-kart track, bumper cars and historic Route 66 mini-golf course geared for the entire family. There are more than 100 interactive video and redemption games that are all rated “G”, and the entire store is a smoke and alcohol-free environment! The Big Top Prize Counter is filled with toys and prizes for the ticket winning customers to redeem. Some locations include bowling, laser tag and more.
The Incredible Pizza Company is comprised of two types of stores. The smaller store concept is 25,000 to 40,000 sq. ft. with annual revenues ranging from $2M to $4M. The large store concept is 50,000 to 90,000 sq ft. with annual revenues ranging from $5M to $10M.
Currently, there are five stores operational and six more scheduled for opening in 2006.
Rick and Cheryl Barsness are the founders and only stockholders of the America’s Incredible Pizza Company. They reside in Springfield, Missouri with children and grand-children.
As a young adult, Rick graduated from the University of North Dakota majoring in personnel management and a minor in marketing. After graduation he was hired by the Mr. Gatti's Pizza Corporation as their personnel manager with responsibility for hiring for all positions in the pizza chain. In 1974 the Mr. Gatti's Pizza Corporation was sold and by 1975 Rick and Cheryl were Mr. Gatti's Pizza franchisees.
In time, Rick was able to take a one year sabbatical from the pizza business and attend the CBN University to study business from a biblical perspective. This time was foundational in shaping Rick and Cheryl’s life mission and values. Under the tutorage of Dr. Pat Robertson, Rick learned how to operate a business according to God's principals as laid out in the Bible. Those biblical principles guide his decisions and strategic planning to this day.
Following the year of sabbatical study, Rick and Cheryl went on to own and operate 11 Mr. Gatti's Pizza franchises.
In 2002, they decided to sell all their Mr. Gatti's Pizza stores and open their own concept. Their first store was developed in Springfield, Missouri and called Springfield's Incredible Pizza Company. At the time of this writing, there have been 62 franchises sold in a short 24 month period with plans to build franchise and company stores on a ratio of 4 franchise stores to each company store. The current goal of The Incredible Pizza Company is to have 100 units operational by 2010.
The overall goal for Rick and Cheryl is to use the vehicle of The Incredible Pizza Company to establish a foundation which will fund Christian ministry and philanthropic endeavors globally.
Through all the growth and success, Rick, Cheryl and their Incredible management team have focused clearly on their Mission Statement and Family Values, plus the goal of donating millions of dollars to Christian missionary activities.
The Incredible Pizza Company operates with a corporate culture of "servant management" that finds expression through the following mission and values:
To approach change with excitement and a teachable spirit, knowing that we are constantly improving everything we do.
Organizational Structure and Goals
The America’s Incredible Pizza Company is comprised of three limited liability companies that form the framework of the operation.
- The Incredible Pizza Company Franchise Group awards franchise licenses and manages the relationship with its franchisees.
- The Incredible Pizza Company Management Group manages the operations of both the company owned stores and franchise stores which are under management contract.
- The Incredible Pizza Company Consultant Group builds the company owned and franchise stores.
The America’s Incredible Pizza Company is in a unique financial position. The founders have made substantial capital contributions in the establishment of this group of profit generating companies. With over $1,000,000 in cash and the debt service coverage for the 2006 operations projected to be 185%, the company has the liquidity to meet its current and future obligations. It also has the financial strength to add company owned stores well into the foreseeable future. Each new franchise location increases revenues between $300,000 and $700,000 per year with marginal increases in costs.
The company is restructuring by adding the new position of Chief Operations Officer. To match the pace of corporate growth, the leadership structure needs to change, bring more leadership energy to the top levels of the organization. Currently, Rick Barsness is filling the role of founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer. The addition of a Chief Operations Officer will allow a division of labor that will support current growth projections.
Background
The leadership ethos at America’s Incredible Pizza Company is purpose-driven, direct and compassionate. It calls for excellence, accountability and flexibility. Mission infused initiatives are characteristic of executive and manage leaders. Open, honest communications address problems, resolve competing goals and assure clear, clean air among staff. It is a top line management company, focusing on sales while at the same time managing the bottom line. This is a refreshing departure from the trends of the day which encourage companies to exclusively focus on the bottom line to the peril of the company and its employees.
The expectation of senior staff is to maintain a personal life of character, authenticity and a lifestyle of integrity befitting a leader in The Incredible Pizza Company. An open, hands-on attitude is characteristic of all staff and ownership of one’s area of responsibility is expected.
Role and Purpose
The Chief Operations Officer at The Incredible Pizza Company oversees its finance, administration, operations, facilities, and information/technology systems.
The purpose of the position is to assist the Chief Executive Officer in a way that strengthens and supports the mission and values of The Incredible Pizza Company.
Reporting to the President/Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operations Officer serves as part of the executive management team led by the Chief Executive Officer and including the President(s) of the Management Group, Franchise Group, Consulting Group, and the members of The Incredible Pizza Company executive team.
An articulated heart for the organization of The Incredible Pizza Company and a personal commitment to its leadership will be key to the successful contribution of the Chief Operations Officer.
Professional Experience
The Chief Operations Officer should possess a thorough understanding of budget, financial, fiscal and human resource management, demonstrated over fifteen years with increasing responsibility and complexity.
Naturally they will have a documented record as a skillful administrator. They may also carry the reputation of forming cooperative working relationships with other leaders; a consensus building style and discernible qualities of a servant leader.
They will have better-than-passing knowledge of information and technology systems management from an informed user’s perspective. They will be able to interpret business needs to technology systems experts as well as to IS/IT providers onsite. Their inclination should be toward proven systems based on rationally projected future needs.
Their education will likely rest in business or a related field and they will have kept current with laws, regulations and relevant financial business practices.
Advanced credentials will be highly regarded including CPA, MBA, and MA in a relevant field.
Responsibilities
The Chief Operations Officer at The Incredible Pizza Company carries significant and demanding responsibilities including the following:
The Chief Operations Officer serves as chief administrative officer for The Incredible Pizza Company. This role entails managing the day-to-day business operations of The Incredible Pizza Company in order to free up the Chief Executive Officer to focus on broader company expansion and franchise sales. The Chief Operations Officer is responsible for the overall operational health and economic viability of The Incredible Pizza Company and its associated companies.
The Chief Operations Officer is a vital member of the Chief Executive Officer's executive staff, working with the President’s of other Incredible Pizza Company organizations and their senior staff. The Chief Operations Officer will also interact extensively with business unit heads to provide leadership and direction for all business activities.
In this role the Chief Operations Officer plans, organizes, directs, and controls the activities of all operations pertaining to the corporate operation, company stores and relationships with franchisees. This role is responsible for the attainment of short- and long-term financial and operational goals. The Chief Operations Officer directs the development of the organization in conjunction with the president(s) to ensure future growth and profitability.
Essential Functions:
Build and maintain an organizational culture that accomplishes the mission and values of The Incredible Pizza Company. Foster an atmosphere of continuous improvement.
Serve as a primary adviser to the Chief Executive Officer on strategic business development and key corporate planning issues. Make recommendations on major business decisions as needed. Keep the Chief Executive Officer informed about business activities, potential threats, opportunities, and recommended actions.
Lead the organizational and financial strategic planning process that leads to long-term economic viability.
Provides coaching and consulting to business unit presidents, vice-presidents and managers to produce profitable operations.
Provides day-to-day leadership of a professional team which develops and executes operational plans for all Incredible Pizza Company companies.
Selects and maintains qualified personnel in all positions and recommends compensation packages for those personnel to the Chief Executive Officer.
Provide for the professional development of all staff with the goal of continuous improvement and capacity building.
Develops and maintains operational systems, together with administrative policy and procedures, to accomplish company goals.
Develop and maintain a risk management program that assures the protection of the company assets. This includes maintaining adequate levels of property and liability insurance at all times.
Provides for the timely reporting and forecasting of the financial position of the company(ies), reporting of vital statistics of the company(ies) and regular reports on performance as requested by the Chief Executive Officer.
Qualifications:
Undergraduate degree in business or experience commensurate with such a degree.
Must have at least fifteen years of directly related experience from commerce, or the consulting field, as a person responsible for the performance of a major enterprise.
Significant professional management experience.
A job history of accomplishments in food service or family entertainment environments.
Proven ability to recruit, train, and motivate personnel in order to balance staffing strength with profitability and growth.
Excellent communication skills. Ability to express oneself clearly and effectively in oral and written form.
Strong presentation skills.
Able to coach and teach subordinates, peers and superiors.
Sound administrative skills, well-developed management skills.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal, state, regional, and local agencies, community leaders, and the general public.
Personal Qualities
The individual who would be most successful and find personal satisfaction in the role of Chief Operations Officer for The Incredible Pizza Company, more than likely, would possess the following qualities that would enhance a person’s integration into the ethos of The Incredible Pizza Company include the following:
Enthusiastic agreement with the organizational statements of values and mission.
Balanced but energetic lifestyle in keeping with the values of The Incredible Pizza Company, including the qualities of strong ethics, decisiveness, flexibility, firmness and fairness.
Highly participative relational and communication style, with a team member attitude.
A positive example for others through personal integrity, self discipline and accountability.
Personable, with a genuine interest in others, balancing a task orientation with sensitivity to people.
Family supportive of a transition with the implied demands of time and energy.
Participative management style-advocate of team concept.
Superior interpersonal abilities. Ability to get along with diverse personalities, tactful, mature, flexible.
Results and people oriented.
Results oriented with the ability to balance other business considerations.
Ability to be persuasive and give leadership to subordinates.
Ability to establish credibility and be decisive-but is able to recognize and support the organization's preferences and priorities.
Servant oriented, but assertive/persuasive.
Strong analytical and reasoning abilities, sound judgment.
Ability to quickly interpret and initiate actions that carry out leadership's strategies.
High energy level, comfortable performing multifaceted projects in conjunction with day-to-day activities.
Resourceful and well organized.
Inquiries, nominations and recommendations are welcome and invited.
Please contact:
Michael Messner, President
Phone: 417.861.3893
The Mobius Group
Email: mike@mikemessner.com
1780 Hickory Ridge Circle
Nixa, Missouri 65714
The Mobius Group is an Organizational Development Agency, assisting those in Christian enterprise through Executive Search, Organizational Development Consultancy and Executive Coaching. We are privileged to serve The Incredible Pizza Company in the identification and selection of the individual qualified, motivated and called to this position of responsibility.
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