Denny’s (NASDAQ: DENN) is proud to announce the exceptional
recipients of the prestigious 2023 Denny’s Franchisee Awards. The
accolades, presented at the 2023 Denny's Franchisee Association
Annual Convention and Trade Show in Kansas City, MO, celebrate the
commitment and extraordinary achievements of the company’s
dedicated franchisees.
Kelli Valade, CEO and President of Denny's, expressed her
admiration for the winners, stating, “These awards are a
celebration of excellence in the Denny's family, and we couldn't be
prouder of our outstanding franchisees. They embody our commitment
to the quality and hospitality we have for our guests, setting a
remarkable standard for our brand.”
Sam Wilensky, franchisee, and Chairman of the Denny's Franchise
Association Board of Directors (DFA), added, “The franchisees that
were recognized are true champions of the Denny's brand. Their
unwavering dedication to service and community is nothing short of
inspiring. It's a privilege to recognize their accomplishments and
contributions.”
The 2023 Denny’s Franchisee Award winners and their respective
categories are as follows:
DFA Chairman Award – Carl FerlandAs a high schooler in
1973, Carl Ferland started his relationship with Denny’s as a
dishwasher in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For over 21 years, he rose
through the leadership ranks with the Brand. He became a franchisee
in 1994 and for the following 20 years, grew his portfolio to 48
restaurants across six states. Today, Carl owns one restaurant in
Orlando, FL and has the goal of running the best restaurant within
the brand before he fully retires. His exemplary service and
long-time commitment across 50 years have left an indelible mark on
the brand.
CEO Ambassador Award – Dawn LafreedaDawn Lafreeda, the
powerhouse behind Den-Tex Central Restaurants, is not only a
testament to female empowerment in the family dining sector but
also an exemplary ambassador for the Denny's brand. Beginning her
journey as a hostess at age 16, Dawn's unyielding spirit saw her
rise to become a franchisee by 23, and she now commands a
remarkable 75 Denny's restaurants. Beyond her formidable business
success, Dawn is deeply committed to community and philanthropy.
The essence of her resilience, dedication, and impactful
contributions is poignantly chronicled in the award-winning
documentary “Show Her the Money”.
Developer of the Year Award – Bistro Americano
CorporationThe Developer of the Year Award went to Bistro
Americano Corporation, which operates 15 Denny's restaurants in the
Philippines and opened five new locations in 2023. Jean-Paul
Manuud, President and COO, has been instrumental in Bistro’s growth
since March of 2016. What this team has managed to do in the
Philippines is truly amazing and they clearly have a passion for
the Denny's brand, and they're not finished yet.
Philanthropy Award – Tina & Glenn BeattieTina and
Glenn Beattie are distinguished recipients of the inaugural
Philanthropy Award for their unwavering support of Cookies for
Kids' Cancer. With heartfelt dedication, they've not only
championed awareness but have also amassed over $1.3M since 2011.
This significant contribution has catalyzed 12 pivotal childhood
cancer research projects. Their remarkable impact on this crucial
cause is deeply admirable.
People Award – David BeshayDavid Beshay, an esteemed
figure in the hospitality industry, has been recognized with the
People Award for his dedication to fostering, supporting, and
growing talent. Overseeing 23 Denny’s Restaurants in multiple
states, David stands out for his impactful business philosophy
rooted in the Service Profit Chain. His belief in empowering teams
has driven exceptional guest experiences and business growth.
Today, we celebrate David not just for his professional and
community achievements but for his unwavering commitment to his
team's holistic growth.
Marketing Award – DencanDencan opened their first Denny’s
in 1992 and currently operates 57 restaurants. They also have the
distinction of being the Denny’s development agent for all of
Canada. This exceptional franchise group was recognized for their
strong marketing efforts across paid, owned and earned channels,
which have driven sales and guest traffic by substantial margins.
They are marketing thought leaders who stay on the cutting edge of
new marketing opportunities.
Technology Champion – Frank RiveraFrank Rivera operates
three Denny’s restaurants and serves as Chairman of the Operations
Brand Advisory Committee. Frank’s knowledge and leadership in
valuable transformational technology helps Denny’s innovate with
new solutions. He consistently partners with Operations and IT to
maximize the impact of technology that benefits operations,
employees, and guests.
Small Franchisee Award – Rey HernandezRey Hernandez
operates three restaurants in California and first became a
franchisee in 2015. He leverages previous experiences working on
the food services team of the UCLA hospital system to bring the
same level of care and insight to his restaurant operations.
Celebrated as a humble, generous, and kind individual, Rey focuses
on teaching, training, and coaching his team to drive success. Rey
is also making Denny’s ownership a true family operation as he
brings his sons into the business.
Medium Franchise Award – Medhat BechayMedhat Bechay
became a franchisee in 1994. Today he operates 11 restaurants in
California and Hawaii and serves on the DFA Board of Directors as
well as the Marketing Brand Advisory Committee. Medhat is respected
as one of the most knowledgeable franchisees on systems and
standards. If asked what the current recipes are for any given menu
item, he would probably know the answer off the top of his head.
Medhat has turned his passion for Denny’s into a family affair,
working alongside his three sons and his wife.
Large Franchisee Award – Garren GrieveIn 2016, Garren
Grieve began his commendable journey with Denny's, starting with a
single establishment. Within just seven years, his leadership and
vision have grown his portfolio to 28 thriving restaurants across
California. A hallmark of innovation and operational prowess,
Garren introduced the priority kitchen system, revolutionizing
service to ensure seamless experiences for both dine-in and
off-premis patrons. Furthermore, Garren's fervent passion for
training and his commitment to delivering unparalleled service set
the gold standard. His dedication is a testament to the values of
service, quality, and community that embody the essence of the
global Denny's family.
For more information on Denny’s, please visit
www.dennys.com.
For more information on the Denny’s Franchise Association,
please visit www.dennys.org.
About Denny's Corp
Denny's is a Spartanburg, S.C.-based family dining
restaurant celebrating its 70th anniversary year and founding
purpose: We love to feed people. That purpose has led us to become
a restaurant brand that guests worldwide rely on for delicious
value and craveable contemporary meals across breakfast, lunch,
dinner, and late night. Every day, we welcome guests to dine
whenever and however they prefer, whether it's at our
brick-and-mortar locations, via Denny's on Demand – the first
delivery platform in the family dining segment, or at The Meltdown
and The Burger Den, our two virtual restaurants. Our longstanding
commitment to supporting our local communities is brought to life
with our Mobile Relief Diner that delivers hot meals to our
neighbors during times of disaster.
Denny's is one of the largest franchised full-service restaurant
brands in the world, based on the number of restaurants. As
of September 27, 2023, Denny's had 1,588 franchised, licensed
and company restaurants, which includes 166 restaurants
in Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, El
Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, New
Zealand, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, the United
Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
To learn more about Denny's, please visit our brand website
at www.dennys.com or the brand's social channels
via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or YouTube.
SOURCE Denny’s
Denny's Media Team
Denny's
864-597-8005
media@dennys.com
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