Since 2022, he has been the chief operating officer at Pickleman's Franchising.
COLUMBIA, MO, November 14, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kenneth M. Rice has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Rice is a distinguished expert in restaurant franchising. Since 2022, he has been the chief operating officer at Pickleman's Franchising in Columbia, Missouri. In this role, he ensures adherence to brand standards, develops brand training, manages franchisee-franchisor relationships, supervises all business aspects, advises franchisees on operational improvements, and oversees corporate locations.
In addition to his leading role at Pickleman's, Mr. Rice's expertise is further demonstrated by his co-founding of Owl Management Consulting in 2024, where he continues to contribute his extensive knowledge and experience.
Having garnered previous executive leadership expertise, Mr. Rice was the vice president of operations at Carolina Franchise Holdings in 2021. He was also the regional director of operations for Capstone Restaurant Group from 2019 to 2021. These positions follow his first restaurant executive level career post with Kelemen & Associates Inc., where he excelled as the chief operating officer and partner between 2004 and 2018.
Mr. Rice's professional journey is deeply rooted in his military service. Between 1988 and 1996, he rose to an Specialist E4 in the United States Army, during which he served in the Gulf War as the company Nuclear, Biological & Chemical NCO.
Mr. Rice completed some college coursework at St. Petersburg College, followed by the completion of various professional designations that have bolstered his career. He became a certified DISC profile analyst through Personality Insights Inc. and holds multiple certifications from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, including as a ServSafe instructor and proctor and ServSafe certified manager. Furthermore, he is a certified speaker, trainer and coach for Maxwell Leadership.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Mr. Rice's commitment to leadership has extended to his involvement with professional organizations such as the National Leadership Group and the Society for Human Resource Management. He has also been engaged in many civic activities. He has served as the secretary and treasurer on the board of directors for Bellwood Home Owners Association since 2022 and holds multiple leadership roles at Calvary Heritage Baptist Church. Additionally, he is a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and the Black Sheep Harley Davidsons for Christ. Mr. Rice's past involvement includes mentoring at Judson Center from 2014 to 2019 and board secretary and chairing the board development committee for Spaulding for Children between 2019 and 2023.
Mr. Rice's numerous accolades include the Jim Near People Achievement Award in 2006 in his position as COO/Operating Partner at Kelemen & Associates Inc. for exceptional people development and culture within Wendy's systems and the Dave Thomas Mop Bucket Award from Wendy's in 2016. His dedication and leadership in the military were recognized with several commendations, including two Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal the Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal. Crediting much of his success to his faith and the influential individuals and mentors he has encountered throughout his life, Mr. Rice also emphasizes the importance of learning from historical figures.
Dedicated to expanding Pickleman's Franchising into a national enterprise with over 1,000 units, Mr. Rice also plans to build a robust consulting business with his partner at Owl Management Consulting. Additionally, he plans to author books on leadership and Christian literature and establish a successful speaking business to share insights from his life experiences.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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