The owner of Runza and her daughter, Dawn Amend and Ashley Ficken, spoke to Wayne State’s students and staff about the “Runza Success Story” in Gardner Auditorium on Nov. 7.
“We are just trying to do some community outreach and continue to get our image out there, our brand out there, our story,” Ficken, the Runza Human Resources Administrator, said. “Hopefully we can share some things about entrepreneurship or about running a business that students can learn from to keep spreading the Runza story and letting other people be a part of it.”
The two told the story of Sally Everett, Amend’s grandmother, and how she started the first Runza in 1949. Later Donald Everett, Amend’s father, opened 2 locations in 1966. He worked hard to advance the company in a creative way.
“He was a constant teacher, and he may not have been the dad who was always there but every time he was, it was a teaching opportunity,” Amend said. “It was a lot of fun, and I think it is a really unique story. If I can share with people what got him and our family to where we are today, they can dream big too.”
Amend also looked to her father as an example of how to work with employees and show them compassion.
“He wanted them to do well, and he treated them just like family,” Amend said. “If somebody was not fast enough doing the grill, he would find another position for them that would work and make them feel impowered.”
One of the things that Amend stressed was the five C’s of management: care, compassion, charisma, common sense and can-do attitude.
“I think those five C’s are very important,” Amend said. “I think a lot of those five C’s are not necessarily getting taught like they used to, but they still apply, and they are still important.”
By using the five C’s, Runza management hopes to create an environment that is compassionate and family oriented.
“I feel like being compassionate between employees and understanding has really helped and I always look for people who have can do attitudes,” Runza manager Samantha Lewis said. “I like just the quality of the company and how much they actually care for everybody that works for them.”
Amend and Ficken not only shared the beginnings and management of Runza during their presentation, but they also shared their different taglines, commercials and logos throughout the years. The talk ended with a raffle where they handed out a Runza themed sweater, candle, blanket, water bottle and more.
Amend and Ficken encourage anyone who wants to join the Runza family to apply at runza.com/jobs.
