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Updated RecentlyKuzzo's Restaurant As Part Of Livernois Revitalization In The Plans Of Detroit Lion Ron Bartell
Monday, April 20, 2015
From franchise players to franchisees
Twenty two of those students happened to be current or former NFL players.
NFL Player Engagement worked with the Ross School of Business, the International Franchise Association and the Professional Athlete Franchise Initiative to design a weekend boot camp program that covered the basics of franchising.
Among the players in attendance were a pair with Lions connections � defensive end Jason Jones and retired cornerback Ron Bartell.
"As NFL players we get paid pretty good and we have a lot of opportunities to network and make different relationships," Jones said about his decision to attend the boot camp, which was held just a few miles from where he studied business management as an undergraduate at Eastern Michigan University.
Jones said he talked to Bartell about his recent business ventures in the city. Bartell opened Kuzzo's Chicken & Waffles earlier this year in northwest Detroit, where he grew up. In addition, Bartell owns businesses focused on developing real estate in that area of the city.
"I definitely talked to Ron and picked his brain," Jones said. "He has a lot of business ventures that I didn't even know of. He's definitely someone I will contact in the future." Drew BreesDrew Brees (Photo: Detroit Lions) Another player that Jones could turn to for advice is New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who was also in attendance. Brees already has six Jimmy John's franchises and plans to open more than 20 stores in the New Orleans area.
"This is an opportunity to continue to learn more," Brees said of the weekend classes. "You've never arrived. To have the opportunity to listen to other franchisees in other realms � some are competitors, some are completely different industries. Yet, there are a lot of consistencies and a lot of carryover. When you can learn about their operations, their efficiencies, their philosophies � there are many things you can carry over to your own business." Over the course of the weekend, attendees heard from successful franchisees, including former NFL players Tim Biakabatuka (BoJangles), Angelo Crowell (Jersey Mike's) and Van Jakes (McDonalds). One of the keys to success that presenters discussed was the importance of passion for the product.
Brees' passion for his Jimmy John's began as a frequent customer while he was in college at Purdue University.
"If you don't love the product, it'll only interest you for so long," he said. "When I went to Purdue in 1997, my freshman year, I ordered it to the dorm, Wiley Hall, three times a week my freshman year." View Gallery | 29 Photos NFL players partcipate in franchising boot camp Brees talked about the importance of taking advantage of the opportunity of the continuing education programs provided by the NFL.
"I think the biggest thing we struggle with in the NFL is with our player transition. When they're done playing football, that's been their life for such a long period of time that even though they're still young men, it's kind of like starting over.
"These extended education programs give them an opportunity to go back to school. It's almost like graduate school for us," Brees continued. "We went out in the real world and now we're coming back to figure out again and maybe fine-tune what we really want to do in that second phase of our career." Brees isn't waiting for his football career to end to start his second career as a businessman.
He already takes an active role in managing his Jimmy John's franchises in New Orleans. When he has time and drives by one of his locations, he likes to stop in and say hello to his employees and customers. Then on his way out, he'll grab an order and deliver it himself.
"I love the business world," Brees said. "I love entrepreneurship. It gets my juices flowing."
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