DON GLEASON
1172 Knowling Loop Road * Talbott, TN 37877
865.771.2970 * 

MANAGEMENT * OPERATIONS * TRAINING
Award-winning Business Manager with more than 30 years of progressive
contributions
to leading retail chains, offering valuable insight into high-volume customer
service

 * Practiced dynamic leadership, gaining extensive multi-unit and training
experience
evolving to oversight for 88 units and 13 franchise groups.
 * Directed openings of 70+ restaurants and coordinated training for conversions
of
newly-acquired units.
 * Developed management and training initiatives implemented company-wide.
 * Talented public speaker, coach, and trainer with extensive experience in
developing
effective supervisors, trainers, and managers.
 * Distinguished at building and sustaining honest and positive business
partnerships.

SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND ACHIEVEMENTS * VALUE OFFERED
Committed to the concepts of servant leadership

Management & Operations Expertise
Directly supervised as many as 22 units for 8 years to significantly improve
sales
and profit performance. Demonstrated effectiveness in general business
planning,
sales building, marketing, operational excellence, and people development.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Articulate and persuasive speaker who also writes with clarity and style.
Served
4 years on the Burger King Corporation General Manager Conference Project Team
as registration director, conference author, speaker, and speaker coach.

Dedicated & Innovative
Committed to an ideal of quality, combining resourcefulness with initiative and
a
drive for success. Developed a successful, four-part seminar using the concepts
in Ken Blanchard's book Gung Ho! Turn on the People in Any Organization.

CAREER TRACK
BACK YARD BURGERS, INC. Nashville, TN 2005-Present
 FIELD BUSINESS CONSULTANT

JOB ROLE: Provide leadership and expertise critical for the successful
performance of 36 units
and 14 franchise groups in 6 states. Work closely with franchisees on general
business planning, marketing and sales building, optimizing profits, managing
human resource issues, and
operational excellence. Activities include coordinating opening new restaurants,
training managers, conducting operations assessments, and recommending high
impact tactics to improve operations.

 * Developed and authored Team Huddle and Speed of Service initiatives in 2008.
 * Led franchise division for 3 years in comparable sales by focusing on speed
of service,
special guest service tactics, and local restaurant marketing initiatives.
 * Authored QSC Evaluation Guidebook for operations evaluation visits in 2007.
 * Developed 2009 Basic Management Training Class using needs analysis process
and solely authored all classroom presentations.
 Continued

BURGER KING CORPORATION Miami, FL 1994-2004
 FRANCHISE BUSINESS LEADER

JOB ROLE: Similar consulting and management job duties as BYB for 88 restaurants
and
13 franchise groups in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and Southeast
Kentucky.
Also included conducting annual business plan reviews on all franchise groups.

 * Recognized with BKC Division Award at the 2004 National Operations Summit
for outstanding accomplishment in speed of service and general operations.
 * Achieved highest mystery shop scores and best speed of service, winning the
2002 BKC Southeast Region award.
 * Developed a BKC "Spring Sparkle Program" while on temporary assignment to
the Operations Excellence Division and authored scripts for Manager Information
Meetings
that were used by the entire organization across the United States.
 * Served on special project team to develop team coaching model for unit
managers.

 REGION FRANCHISE TRAINING MANAGER Dallas, TX 1993-1994

JOB ROLE: Managed and mentored a 5-person training staff that covered one
quarter of all
U.S. franchises. Roles included implementing classroom training, conducting
staff
performance appraisals, budgeting, maintaining training records, and working
harmoniously
with regional and corporate staff, franchisees, and unit managers to meet or
exceed expectations.

 * Designed and implemented initiatives and programs to drive continuous
improvement.
 * Developed pre- and post-class learning objectives tying training outcomes to
job performance.
 * Identified training needs and skills gaps through needs analysis process.
 * Served on corporate project team to develop In-Restaurant Management Training
Program.
 * Personally delivered programs for management teams in 225 restaurants.

Previous positions include:
MANAGER OF OPERATIONS TRAINING: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado,
Arkansas,
Missouri (1990 - 1993) * DISTRICT OPERATIONS MANAGER: Dallas (1989 - 1990)
MARKET OPERATIONS MANAGER: San Antonio and Oklahoma City (1988 - 1989)
SENIOR FRANCHISE DISTRICT MANAGER: Dallas (1987 - 1988)
DALLAS REGION MANAGER FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT (1984 - 1987)

LEARNING CREDENTIALS

COMMUNICATIONS & BUSINESS 
University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 1972-1976
Founded Collegiate Civitan Club

Additional courses, seminars, and workshops include:
Positive Power and Influence * Influencing Skills * Team Effectiveness *
Socratic Selling Skills
Creative Training with Impact * Basics for the Non-Financial Manager * Harvard
Management Course
Franchise Management * Diversity Training * Leadership Through Influence and
People Skills

ORGANIZATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS

NRA Foodservice Management Professional * Certified ServeSafe Instructor
(1984-1994)
Certified Instructor in numerous BKC management development courses (1984-1998)
Chair: Pastor Search Team (2003) * Chair: Conversion of Gym to Worship Center
(2002)
Chair: Church Audio/Video Team (1999-2008) * Trustee, Church Board of
Administration (1987-1994)

REFERENCES AND FURTHER DATA PROVIDED UPON ESTABLISHMENT OF MUTUAL INTEREST