Eddie Rodriguez

Chairman

Eddie Rodriguez grew up in Brooklyn, New York and attended Hunter College, majoring in Economics. While still in school, he began his career as an Assistant Restaurant Manager for Burger King Corporation, moving quickly from restaurant manager and training manager.
In 1979, Mr. Rodriguez was promoted to Company District Manager, with responsibility for seven company owned restaurants in the Long Island, New York area. Within two years, he moved to New Jersey to become Franchise District Manager overseeing 35 franchise operations. In 1982, he became Burger King University Professor in Miami, Florida where he developed the curriculum and taught courses for managers throughout the company. Continuing his record of increasing responsibility, Mr. Rodriguez then was appointed Company Area Manager in 1984 and Company/Franchise Area Manager in 1986.

A highlight of his early career, he was named the 1986 Employee of the Year for Pillsbury Company (parent company of Burger King) based on profitability of his operations and development of people within his area. This achievement was followed by his promotion to Director of Operations, with responsibility for managing 81 company and 300 franchise operations.

In 1990, Mr. Rodriguez joined DryClean USA Florida, a division of the U.S. operations of Johnson Service Group PLC, the largest dry-cleaning company in the United Kingdom, as the Director of Franchise Operations. His performance resulted in a promotion to Vice President of Operations and then Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations, culminating in his appointment as President of the Florida Retail Division. In 1997 through 2000, he was named Chief Operating Officer for U.S. operations of Johnson Service Group, PLC, with operations responsibility for 1100 company stores 1300 franchised stores across the U.S. and Latin America.

Mr. Rodriguez is currently a Wendy’s Company franchise owner and Chairman of JAE Restaurant Group, LLC. He opened his first restaurant in 1993 and currently owns 238 restaurants throughout Florida, Tennessee, Texas and New Mexico with over $375 million in annual sales.
Mr. Rodriguez served as President of the Marketing Co-op in the Miami DMA for Wendy’s Company and is a former President of the Franchise Advisory Council (FAC), a position that was voted on by his franchise constituents in the state of Florida. He is currently an elected trustee of the Wendy’s National Advertising Program (WNAP) and an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-Op, Inc. (WQSCC) an independent purchasing cooperative for the Wendy’s system.

In 2007, Mr. Rodriguez and his organization were awarded the WENDY award for superior operations and people development; this award is given to superior operators. In 2012, Mr. Rodriguez and his organization were awarded the Dave Thomas Founders award, this award is the most prestigious and highest award given to Franchisees with only a limited number of individuals having received this honor in 40 years. In 2016, Mr. Rodriguez was inducted in the Dave Thomas Hall of Fame, an award that recognizes consistent high standards, extraordinary efforts and significant achievements in support of the Wendy’s system.

JAE Restaurant Group is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. JAE Restaurant Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may call 561-997-6002.

Notice to Employment Agencies and Professional Recruiters: JAE Restaurant Group will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any employment agency or professional recruiter (“Agency”) that submits an unsolicited resume to JAE Restaurant Group’s career site or directly to any employee, does so with the understanding that the resume will become the property of JAE Restaurant Group. JAE Restaurant Group will have the right to hire that candidate at its discretion without any fee owed to the Agency. All inquiries by Agencies to become a provider of recruiting services must be directed to and approved by JAE Restaurant Group’s Director of Human Resources.