Multi-Unit Franchisee Insight - Community Involvement & Leadership, Part 2

We talk to successful multi-unit operators regularly here at Franchise Update Media. These busy on-the-go people share great insight and wisdom with us through our profile stories in Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine. Here, from our archives, are some insightful responses from some of these franchisees.

How important is community involvement to you and your company?
Jersey Mike's opened our eyes to the impact one can make on a local level on an everyday basis.

What leadership qualities are important to you and to your team?
Integrity. Do what you say you're going to do. Self-starter. We can always be better. The customer, both internal and external, is of utmost importance.
  Raul and Lisa Ceide, multi-unit franchisees of Jersey Mike's Subs

How important is community involvement to you and your company?
This community is my hometown. This is where I grew up. A tremendous number of customers are friends and family--not of just me, but of people involved in our company. We give back at every opportunity we have. I feel called. Part of culture is caring for those around us who need help. We participate in many different philanthropic endeavors and we want to do more. Other than helping other entrepreneurs get started and become successful, I would love to be able to give away more.

What leadership qualities are most important to you and your team?
They don't differ from some of my other answers. Hire people who are like-minded and like-hearted. I look for honesty first, and then I look for humility, which trickles down to respect.
 Joe Walker, multi-unit franchisee of Marco's Pizza