About BurgerBusters Inc.
Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA BurgerBusters Inc. is a privately held company that ranks as the 18th largest Taco Bell franchise operations in the United States with locations in four states: Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
BurgerBusters Inc. currently owns and operates 85 Taco Bell restaurants; including 80 free standing Taco Bell restaurants, 3 Taco Bell / Pizza Hut Express restaurants, and 2 Taco Bell / KFC restaurants. The Company generates over $140,000,000 in annual sales and employs more than 2,600 employees. As compiled by Restaurant Finance Monitor, BurgerBusters Inc. is currently ranked number 85 of the top 200 franchisees in the United States.
Meet Our Team
Tassos Paphites – Chairman/CEO
Mr. Paphites started a career in the restaurant industry in 1975, becoming a passionate owner of an independent restaurant. Mr. Paphites had the opportunity to become a Taco Bell franchisee in 1986 and as a result established BurgerBusters Inc. along with his partners. He has been and continues to be the driving force behind BBI, setting the strategic mandates for the Company’s marketing, development, operations, facilities, and finances. Mr. Paphites has extended his enthusiasm beyond the Company and has served on the Board of Taco Bell’s National Franchise Management Advisory Council (FRANMAC) at two different times in his career helping to shape policy and provide a unified voice to the franchise community. Mr. Paphites holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, VA and currently serves on the college’s Board of Trustees.
Joseph Mangano – Chief Operations Officer
Mr. Mangano joined the Company in 1997 as a result of BurgerBusters acquisition of 26 Taco Bell locations in Greensboro, NC where he served as the Company’s Vice President of Operations. He has over 30 years of industry experience having spent much of his career with YUM! Brands where he worked in virtually every role from front of the house, back of the house, to management in the QSR industry. Mr. Mangano’s current responsibilities include overseeing the management and operations of the 98 Taco Bells, dual-branded locations, and coordinating with the partners to execute on the partners’ directives and initiatives. Mr. Mangano has been instrumental in developing the current operational systems and processes that drive outstanding scores for the business. He takes enormous pride in having built a dedicated and loyal team that over the past 15 years has repeatedly won numerous “People Development” and “Operations” awards at the local and national DMA levels. Most recently Mr. Mangano has been elected Chairman of the Big 12 Operations Committee where he will serve a two-year term leading his fellow peer group. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Mercyhurst College located in Eric, PA.
Greg Rowland – Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Rowland is the newest member of the team having joined BurgerBusters in 2015, after the untimely passing of the previous CFO. He is responsible for developing the Company’s accounting policies and procedures, overseeing the Accounting Department, ensuring adherence to financial controls, and formulating and analyzing data pertaining to Company performance. Mr. Rowland is continually looking to improve the Company’s use of technology to increase efficiencies, implement cost saving measures, as well as identifying methods to implement and improve the Company’s overall financial performance. Mr. Rowland has over 35 years of experience in accounting and finance, with 17 years in public accounting and more than 18 years at the CFO level for various companies in food manufacturing and oil field services. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in both Virginia and California.
Kirk Jester – Director of Human Resources
Mr. Jester has been with BurgerBusters Inc. since 1996 and is responsible for overseeing all employment related issues, mitigating employee related risks, employment investigations, employee claims and lawsuits, EEOC claims, regulatory compliance, and the administration of new employee hires and terminations. He also manages all aspects of the Company’s employee related benefits and insurance programs as well as any new employment programs. Mr. Jester has also been heavily involved in the Franchise Insurance Group insurance captive. Mr. Jester holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from James Madison University located in Harrisonburg, VA.
Mike Kennedy – Senior Vice President of Operations
Mr. Kennedy joined BurgerBusters Inc. in 1995 as a Restaurant General Manager and advanced to a District Manager position shortly thereafter. In 2008 he was promoted to Vice President of Operations. He is now Senior Vice President of Operations overseeing six District Managers and the daily operations of 38 Taco Bell restaurants. Mr. Kennedy takes responsibility for the financial results of these stores, which generated approximately $59.3 million in 2016 sales as well as ensuring that the Company remains in compliance with its operating agreements and overseeing staffing and development of all managers. Mr. Kennedy served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1987 to 1991 serving the country proudly in Desert Storm and graduated from Germanna Community College in 1994.
Jeanette Jones – Senior Vice President of Special Operations
Mrs. Jones began her career with BurgerBusters Inc. as a Restaurant General Manager in 1988. BurgerBusters is proud to have Mrs. Jones as one of the longest tenured employee in the organization. She has held several positions within the company from District Training Manager to her current role as Vice President of Operations. She successfully manages 27 Taco Bell restaurants with sales exceeding $34 million annually. Mrs. Jones is a graduate of James Madison University and also has an Associate of Science Degree from Germanna Community College.
Sylvester Brown – Vice President of Operations
Mr. Brown joined the company in 1999 as a result of a BurgerBusters Inc. acquisition of the Richmond, VA market. Mr. Brown has over 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry, 10 of which he worked for Yum Brand. Mr. Brown has served in the role of a Training Manager, Assistant General Manager, General Manager, District Manager and currently he serves as Vice President of Operations. He currently oversees four District Managers and the daily operations of 24 Taco Bell restaurants with sales exceeding 32 million annually. Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and an Associate Degree in Arts from Ferrum College.
Chris Farwell – Vice President of Operations
Mr. Farwell joined BurgerBusters Inc. in 2016 on the Steak ‘n Shake side of the business as the Vice President of Operations after spending three and half years with Steak ‘n Shake Corporation as a Director of Franchise Operations. While at Steak ‘n Shake Mr. Farwell supported groups from New Jersey down to Florida, including Steaks of Virginia, and has opened 20 restaurants while in that role. Prior to working at Steak ‘n Shake, Mr. Farwell was an Executive Director at Aramark in their health care portfolio and a Director of Operations at Houlihan’s, a casual dining chain. Mr. Farwell recently transitioned over to Taco Bell in September 2019 also as a Vice President of Operation. His duties includes operations support, marketing, staffing, and process improvement initiatives. Mr. Farwell holds a Bachelor of Science degree from LaSalle University in Philadelphia with a dual major in Human Resources and Accounting.
Yianni Achilleos – Director of Assets & Marketing
Mr. Achilleos worked as a Taco Bell team member and interned at BurgerBusters corporate office for several years before permanently joining the Company in 2008. He serves as the Director of Assets & Marketing and in-house counsel. Mr. Achilleos is also a member of the Development Team, a group that oversees all projects from site selection and contract negotiation to construction completion. Mr. Achilleos holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from the College of William and Mary. He later earned his Juris Doctor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Alexi Achilleos – Director of Facilities, Maintenance, & Loss Control
Mr. Achilleos joined the Company in 2004 as a crewmember at Taco Bell Unit No. 15359 in Virginia Beach, VA and also at Unit No. 3733 in Richmond, VA through his high school and college years as well as working as an intern during one summer in the corporate office in Virginia Beach. Mr. Achilleos has worked on a permanent basis with the company since 2010, at which time he started the Loss Control Specialist position. Over 3 years, he implemented safety programs and helped mitigate costs to insurance claims to keep company premiums low. In late 2013, he was tasked with undertaking and revamping the Facilities Department. A paperless, online work order network was implemented that streamlined repairs and maintenance for stores company-wide. While still overseeing loss control, Mr. Achilleos serves as the Director of Facilities, Maintenance, & Loss Control for BurgerBusters Inc. and its affiliates. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Management from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Deborah Baylor – Director of Asset Protection
Mrs. Baylor joined the Company in 1999 as a result of BurgerBusters acquisitions of 21 Taco Bell locations in Richmond, VA. She had over 7 years of experience working with Taco Bell Corporate before joining BBI as a Restaurant General Manager. In 2000 Mrs. Baylor was promoted to District Manager until 2008 when she was given an opportunity to develop and manage an Asset Protection Department for BBI. She has operated the department with great success with a staff of two members monitoring 80 Taco Bell restaurants.