Birdcall is taking flight, with a leadership team built for franchise growth.
Known for award-winning, premium chicken sandwiches and design-forward restaurants, the Denver-based fast-casual brand has 18 restaurants operating in four states and more than 20 locations in development.
The executives guiding that expansion bring more than 150 years of combined restaurant and franchising know-how rooted in tech-driven operations and hospitality.
It’s a depth of experience that is winning over seasoned multi-unit operators like Nikunj Patel, owner of multiple Nekter Juice Bar locations in the Chicago area. He recently signed a five-unit deal to bring Birdcall to Indianapolis.
“Our team has developed and operated restaurants for years, and we've learned to be selective about the brands we invest in,” Patel says. “Birdcall stood out because it delivers on both sides of the equation. Guests love the food and experience, and the business model is backed by a leadership team with a clear vision for sustainable growth.”
Founded in 2017, Birdcall launched franchising in 2025, with corporate support drawn from established restaurant and franchise systems expertise that carries franchisees from site selection through opening day and beyond.
Growth and strategy: CEO Mark Lohmann previously served as president of REGO Restaurant Group and an operating partner at High Bluff Capital Partners, parent of Church’s Texas Chicken, Quiznos and Taco Del Mar. His background also includes strategy work at Qdoba and Boston Consulting Group.
Development and finance: CFO Ryan O’Haro leads finance, restaurant development, strategy, and analytics. Before Birdcall, he served as vice president of finance at Maple Street Biscuit Company, a Cracker Barrel subsidiary, where he helped grow the brand to 60 restaurants. Earlier, he handled finance, development, and analytics at Red Robin.
Brand strategy and marketing: Chief Brand Officer Brent Phillip has worked across restaurant marketing, positioning and brand leadership. As REGO’s chief marketing officer, he led repositioning for multiple international franchise brands.
Franchise development: VP of Franchise Development Justin Livingston knows both sides of the agreement. A Certified Franchise Executive with more than 20 years in franchising, he has led domestic and international development for Coyote Ugly Saloon, Ziggi's Coffee, Tapster and Maui Wowi Hawaiian. He is also a Ziggi’s Coffee multi-unit franchisee.
Operations: Director of Operations Services Gail Berard is a hospitality operations executive with two decades leading multi-unit teams at Chili's and Red Robin. At Red Robin, she rose to vice president of operations support, overseeing operational strategy across company-owned and franchise restaurants.
Technology: VP of Technology David Burton has spent more than 25 years in software engineering and SaaS, including roles as vice president of product development and chief operating officer.
Rounding out leadership are executive design advisor Katie Goldman, who led development across company-owned, franchise, and non-traditional locations at Qdoba, and executive operations advisor Tim Casey, a 30-year veteran who has led REGO, PepperJax Grill, and Qdoba Mexican Eats, with earlier time as a regional vice president at Starbucks.
“We're in this amazing position to be able to build this amazing, incredible best-in-class depth of bench and welcome in franchisees with a level of support that every franchisee should have,” Livingston says.
A six-time winner of Westword's Best of Denver award, Birdcall builds its chef-driven menu around all-natural chicken sandwiches, hand-cut tenders, and crafted salads designed to deliver quality and variety with operational simplicity.
Technology is also central to the operating model. Birdcall’s proprietary Poncho platform brings together point-of-sale, kitchen displays, online ordering, loyalty and drive-thru tools in one system, giving franchisees real-time visibility to support service speed, order accuracy, and daily decision-making.
Designed as places to gather, Birdcall restaurants feature self-order kiosks and bold artwork, with indoor and outdoor settings that balance convenience with a welcoming guest experience.
With a goal of more than 200 restaurants by the end of 2028, Birdcall is expanding with a flexible footprint that fits freestanding buildings, endcaps with a drive-thru, and non-traditional settings such as airports and college campuses. In Colorado, the brand operates venue locations at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Coors Field, and Empower Field at Mile High.
The brand’s first franchise restaurant opened in August in Starkville, Mississippi, near the historic State Theatre. Two more locations are expected by year-end in Boise, Idaho, and Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
Driving development are experienced multi-unit and multi-brand operators adding a high-volume chicken brand to their portfolio. Livingston says vetting starts with culture fit. Birdcall seeks partners who share the brand’s guest-first, community-centered approach.
Ready to join the flock? Discover more about Birdcall franchise opportunities at franchise.eatbirdcall.com.
A premium fast casual restaurant brand serving all-natural chicken sandwiches, tenders, and salads, powered by innovative tech and designed for an elevated guest experience.
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