A life-long commitment to giving back, creating opportunity, and carrying out the American Dream – these are the benchmarks of a Franchisee of the Year, as awarded by the International Franchise Association (IFA).  

At Inspire, we’re proud to share six Franchisees of the Year have been recognized, one for each of our brands:

• Arby’s – Andy D’Agosto
• Baskin-Robbins – Parag Patel
• Buffalo Wild Wings – Brian Carmody
• Dunkin’ – Kajal Patel
• Jimmy John’s – Brandon Bowen
• SONIC – Max Gelwix

Interested in being an Inspire franchisee? Hear from these award-winning entrepreneurs as they share what excites them most about franchising at Inspire.

Andy D’Agosto has been an Arby’s franchisee since 1981 through Panda, Inc., operating 15 locations in Nebraska and Iowa. “I love the Arby’s brand,” says Andy. ”The relationships and culture built over the years is what excites me most about this business.”

For Andy, the support of those around him has been vital to his success. “If you’re willing to work hard and align yourself with the goals and values of the organization, you’ll do very well. It’s exciting when your team achieves great things together. Our team has had operational success over the years, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Parag Patel leads the Patel family of franchisees, who established their first Dunkin’ in Maryland in 1989. Since then, they’ve expanded to operate Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins restaurants in California and Maryland. Parag believes in utilizing the latest tools and ideas to drive the business forward. “Many times, you can get caught up in success, but there’s always someone doing something better. It’s important to continue to learn and implement new techniques to go further – together, we can accomplish our goals.”

Parag says it’s that collaborative spirit that excites him most as a franchisee. “Some of my favorite moments have been working with Inspire to help shape milestone innovations. Our strong relationship as franchisee and franchisor have allowed us to continue to innovate and become a favorite brand for not only guests, but for those team members who work closely with and for the brand.”

Brian Carmody is the President of Patton Wings, operating Buffalo Wild Wings sports bars and GO locations from the Midwest to the South. For Brian, success is a team sport that relies on relationships. “Building strong relationships with guests and especially your team is the key to long-term success. It’s not just about running the business – it’s about building a team that feels like a family. That means being there to support their professional and personal development.”

Through Inspire, Brian believes Patton Wings’ 30 years with the brand is a testament to the hard work of the entire team. “The support and collaboration within the Inspire family is unparalleled. Being part of their journey means having access to cutting-edge tools, resources, and ideas that keep the business fresh. I’m so excited about the new opportunities we’ll have to meet and exceed guest expectations in the future.”

Kajal Patel is the CEO of The Hena Group who operates multiple Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, and Buffalo Wild Wings GO locations in Illinois and Kentucky. For her, the small details make all the difference. “Stay relentless in your pursuit of operational excellence. Franchising isn’t just about opening doors – it’s about consistently delivering an exceptional guest experience. Never lose sight of the small details that drive long-term success.”

As an Inspire franchisee, Kajal often applies that attention to detail towards innovation. “Inspire’s commitment to technology, the guest experience, and brand evolution creates opportunity to stay ahead of an ever-changing industry. There’s always something new to challenge us and push us to be better, and having the ability to innovate within such a dynamic and forward-thinking company is what excites me most about the future of our business.”

Brandon Bowen is a Jimmy John’s franchisee with FFSubs, which operates more than 30 restaurants across Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, and North Dakota. “I started out as a Jimmy John’s delivery driver and now I’m a franchisee.” Brandon credits Eric Olson, owner of FFSubs, for his mentorship as he started out on his entrepreneurial journey. “Eric believed in me and taught me how to run great restaurants that truly invest in our people so that we can then invest in our guests.”

Brandon’s advice for aspiring franchisees is two-fold. “First, this is really hard work. It’ll take long days and short nights, but stick with it and you’ll achieve great things. Second, take care of your people. Whatever that looks like to you, do it. They are what makes this all work and supporting them means everything else falls into place.”

Max Gelwix is a SONIC franchisee of Pacific Drive Ins, operating restaurants across California. As an entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of experience, Max champions being an engaged leader. “Understand that becoming a franchisee is not a passive endeavor! You have to be engaged with your team members, engaged with your guests, engaged with your franchisor, and engaged with your community – and that includes elected and unelected officials who can impact your business.”

For Max, being engaged is also the best part of the job. “My favorite moment is when we open a SONIC within a new community. There’s an excitement and joy that comes with being embraced by that community – we’re not just offering a new menu, but we’re creating an average of 75 to 100 new jobs.”

To learn more about franchising with Inspire and our brands, visit inspirebrands.com/Franchising/.