Celebrating Excellence: Wendy's 2024 Top General Manager Awards
Wendy’s is proud to have recently celebrated our Top General Managers (GMs) for 2024 -- recognizing the best 200 of more than 7,300 GMs in our global restaurant system.
This year’s highly anticipated Top GM Celebration and Conference, held at our Restaurant Support Center in Dublin, Ohio, highlighted the leadership and determination of our standout GMs.
GMs do it all! They are the heartbeat of the Wendy’s System, ensuring their restaurants run smoothly and inspiring their teams to deliver exceptional service to our customers every single day. No matter the challenge, these leaders tackle it head-on with passion, precision and determination.
Our System’s best-of-the-best represent 63 franchise organizations and The Wendy’s Company, spanning 10 countries, with an average tenure of 17 years. They also boast impressive results across several metrics including food safety, customer satisfaction, sales and customer count growth.
From our Top 200 GMs, one leader from each Region, Division, and Company market was selected for their exemplary performance and continued service to the Wendy’s brand. At the conference, members of our Senior Leadership Team personally recognized these nine individuals as 2024’s Top of the Top GMs:
U.S. Northeast Division Honoree: Sam Tawil from Yonkers, New York, was recognized for his expertise in hospitality and operational excellence, driving substantial sales growth even as new competitors emerged in the area.
U.S. Southeast Division Honoree: Deborah Yates from Mobile, Alabama, now a two-time Top GM, led her top-ranked restaurant with heart and a culture of recognition, where both her guests and her restaurant team are treated like family.
U.S. Midwest Division Honoree: Kevin Brooks from Pomeroy, Ohio, achieved double-digit sales growth with his relentless focus on operational systems and strengthening local community relationships.
U.S. West Division Honoree: Jose Guzman from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, revitalized his restaurant’s sales and achieved low turnover through targeted training programs and team engagement.
Latin America and the Caribbean Region Honoree: Zaimara Velez from Manatí, Puerto Rico, inspires her team as a community role model, cultivating a restaurant team motivated to exceed expectations.
Canadian Region Honoree: Natasa Pronerova from Milton, Ontario, excels in team training, inclusivity, and fundraising for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
European Region Honoree: Jordan Green from Lincoln, England, transformed his restaurant into a model of customer service excellence, supporting the launch of 12 new locations.
APMEA Region Honoree: Gourav Chhetri from Kuwait, originally a Wendy’s crew member, leads with open communication to foster a culture of pride and accountability.
The Wendy’s Company Honoree: Carmem Varela from Boston, Massachusetts, increased breakfast sales by 24.4% and late-night sales by 4.3% with her customer-first approach and team development initiatives.
Rooted in the values our founder Dave Thomas instilled – Give Something Back, Treat People with Respect, Do the Right Thing, Profit Means Growth, and Quality is Our Recipe – our Top GMs embody these principles, honoring Dave’s legacy and driving Wendy's success forward every single day.
Let’s raise a Frosty to our 2024 Top GMs for their hard work and dedication. Thank you!