A History of Fresh Technology
-J. Michael Bodnar
Mike was born in rural West Virginia: Coal country.
He lived the life that most children did in the time period, but started to excel at a young age.
He approached graduation, looking to enroll at WVU that fall.
Graduated from West Virginia University with a Civil Engineering degree and Masters of Business Administration.
Served as CFO and CAO of Shoney’s Inc. averaging more than $100 million annually.
Became an early franchisee of Wendy’s International. He was the Largest Wendy’s franchisee, with over 120 locations under his ownership.
He was recognized as one of the most influential innovators in the Wendy’s system and won numerous awards for his operations, as well as serving on the prestigious Franchise Advisory Council and National Advertising Council.
Founded Restaurant Systems Inc and built it as the BOH for Wendy’s. He took the company public in ’83 under ticker symbol RSI with more than $50 million in revenue.
Mike ultimately merged RSI with the parent company and remained in the Wendy’s system as a franchisee in multiple markets and a contract manager for troubled franchisees and/or lenders.
Developed a 20 unit chain of double drive thru restaurants called Maxie’s, in the panhandle of Florida and sold the chain to Rally’s.
Served as a Managing Partner in Dairy Queen, with a territorial agreement consisting of 68 Franchised Stores and successfully sold them to international Dairy Queen.
He and a partner purchased Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs, CO a gem of the Rockies Ski Area with 550 skiable acres.
Mike managed his real estate holdings, investments in various other restaurant operating businesses and his foundation until he was recruited to Shoney’s, Inc. in 1999.
He served as CEO and helped build the sales & average annual revenue to more than $1 billion and repositioned the business to spin off Captain D’s, Pargo’s and COI.
Founded Bodnar Investment Group, Fresh Hospitality, and Fresh Technology to develop real estate, provide start-up equity, back office systems, and consulting for new restaurants including Taziki’s cafe, I love Juice bar, martin’s Bar-B-Que, among others.
Mike is an active Board Member at Fresh. His primary focus has been on developing and growing restaurants in the fast casual segment, and supporting them with world class operating support systems and training.