Every year, at the conclusion of the Pizza Ranch National Conference Pizza Ranch, an awards ceremony is held to recognize Franchisees for all their contributions and hard work, share memories from the past year, and to award the top performers.
Franchisees of the Year
Terry Larsen & Steve Cronin were named Franchisees of the Year by Pizza Ranch Inc. at the company’s 2023 Awards Banquet held at the Keystone Conference Center in Keystone, Colorado.
The Franchisee of the Year Award celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of a Pizza Ranch franchisee and their commitment to the Pizza Ranch brand. Pizza Ranch Inc. is honored to recognize their hard work and dedication to Pizza Ranch and their communities.
Larsen’s parents opened the Pizza Ranch in Fort Pierre, South Dakota in the early 1990s which they still own and operate today. Larsen got his start working for his parents in the dish room where Cronin also worked. Their lives called them down different paths for awhile, but Larsen & Cronin came together as business partners in 2010 to open their first Pizza Ranch in Rapid City, South Dakota. The store performed well, and in 2013 the team took on the task of opening a second location less than 10 miles down the road. Getting the second location up and running was difficult, but both Larsen & Cronin were up to the challenge. Their second Rapid City location will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary this coming September.
Pizza Ranch Founder and President Adrie Groeneweg awarded the honor to Larsen & Cronin, “Terry’s parents opened the Fort Pierre location in 1992, and Pizza Ranch has been a part of Terry’s life ever since. Steve got his start working alongside the Larsens in Fort Pierre. I am so thankful Steve and Terry have found their passion for the Pizza Ranch brand and are leading a second generation of Pizza Ranch managers & franchisees. Their path has not always been easy, but through hard work they helped build and strengthen the Pizza Ranch brand in a way the whole chain can look up to.”
Manager of the Year
Pizza Ranch Inc. awarded Brook Watson of the Billings Heights, MT Pizza Ranch its Manager of the Year Award at the company’s 2023 Awards Banquet held at the Keystone Conference Center in Keystone, Colorado. The Manager of the Year Award is one of Pizza Ranch’s top honors. This award recognizes one Pizza Ranch manager who stands out among all other managers across the chain, and who has driven his or her restaurant’s performance in the most exceptional way.
Team of the Year
Pizza Ranch Inc. awarded the team at the Muscatine, IA Pizza Ranch with the outstanding Team of the Year Award at the company’s 2023 Awards Banquet held at the Keystone Conference Center in Keystone, Colorado. The award honors and recognizes the hard work, commitment, and dedication of the best Pizza Ranch team across the entire system for the year. Each member of the team received a Scheels gift card worth $150.
Community Impact Award
The Wichita Pizza Ranch was awarded the Community Impact Award by Pizza Ranch Inc. at the company’s 2023 Awards Banquet held at the Keystone Conference Center in Keystone, Colorado.
The Community Impact Award recognizes a franchisee or Pizza Ranch that has made a positive impact in their community and lives out the Pizza Ranch Vision, “To Glorify God by Positively Impacting the World.”
“To me, the Community Impact Award is the biggest award given out each year,” states Chief Vision Officer Perry Krosschell, “It’s never an easy pick because there is so much being done across our chain to positively impact our local communities. The winner of this year’s award knows what it means to have Community Impact. They have become Legendary in their community. The sheer number of events they’re involved in blew the nomination committee away.”
Owner Doug Wessley gave a special shout out to Sales/Marketing/Business Development Manager, Donnie Bean Jr., for the work he has done to help the Wichita Pizza Ranch became an asset to the community. “Donnie has not only been able to help create the partnership between these organizations, but is also active in maintaining them. He is working to build the Pizza Ranch brand, living the Pizza Ranch Vision and Mission, and truly making an impact in the community.”
Pizza Ranch President and Founder Adrie Groeneweg reflected on the Wichita Pizza Ranch’s Impact, “We see a lot of good happening across our chain, and it is our Vision ‘to Glorify God by Positively Impacting the World.’ It is so evident by the work of Doug, Donnie, and the Wichita Team, that they have truly taken this calling to heart. The Wichita Community is richly blessed by their work.”
Wichita Pizza Ranch was awarded $1,000 for receiving the Community Impact Award to donate to a local charity of their choosing. The donation will go to Creating Tomorrows – a local charity that helps individuals with cystic fibrosis.