Veteran Builds Dream Career with Dunkin’ Donuts

Born and raised in Panama into a military family, Mike spent most of his adolescence traveling. At the age of 15, his family settled in Ohio and he later attended Ohio State University before enlisting in the military. Mike is a retired Army Major, 22 years, served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. A graduate of the Navy Experimental Test School, Mike also spent 34 years traveling the world as a test pilot before embarking on his next career move.

With family and friends in Atlanta, Mike started to look into various franchising opportunities in the city and decided that Dunkin’ Donuts was the perfect opportunity for him.  As a loyal Dunkin’ Donuts customer, Mike was impressed with the company’s evolving product line, innovative marketing and advertising campaigns and store operations.  To top it off, he was ecstatic with the possibility of opening restaurants within a 5-mile radius of his home.  A believer in the product and a lover of coffee and donuts, Mike instantly knew he wanted to become a Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee. 

He now owns five stores in and around Atlanta.  Elected to the Brand Advisory Council for the Southeast, Mike is active in helping with the company’s recruitment of new franchisees in Atlanta, firmly believing the city is a prime market for continued expansion.  Additionally, he mentors ex-military who are looking to become potential franchisees and encouraging them to take advantage of Dunkin’ Donuts’ involvement in the IFA’s VetFran program that offers Veterans a 20 percent discount on the company’s franchisee fee. 

Active within his local community, Mike is a member of the Atlanta chapter of Les Marmitons, a club for men who share an interest in fine food, wine and culinary arts.  The group meets monthly and money raised from the cooking club is donated to worthwhile culinary charitable causes in the area.

When asked what he loves most about being a Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee, Mike says his freedom.  Unlike his job in the military where he was constantly traveling, Mike is now able to control his own schedule and attend his daughter’s dance recitals and son’s baseball games while also being passionate about his career.   He is proud to be part of the Dunkin’ Donuts family.