Michael Bodnar

Currently, Mike is actively involved as real estate investor and equity capitalist in start-up restaurants as well as the more established restaurant brands such as Jim & Nick’s BBQ.

J. Michael Bodnar graduated from West Virginia University with a Civil Engineering degree and Masters of Business Administration in 1970. Upon graduation, he spent 5 years as CFO and CAO of Shoney’s, Inc, (averaging more than $100 million annually). Mike became an early franchisee of Wendy’s International with operations in Alabama and Georgia. In addition, he founded a software company that became the Back Office Software provided for the Wendy's System.

Over a decade, he built a very successful business and took the Company public (Restaurant Systems Incorporated ticker symbol ‘RSI’) with more than $50 million in revenue. Mike ultimately merged RSI with the parent Company and remained in the Wendy’s system as a franchisee in multiple markets and a contract manager for troubled franchisees and/or lenders. These markets included metropolitan New York and Long Island, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Ft Lauderdale, Knoxville, Austin, Pacific Northwest and Hilton Head South Carolina. During this period, Mike developed many additional Wendy’s restaurants and these operations had annual company-wide revenue of $60 million dollars. He was recognized as one of the most influential innovators in the Wendy’s system and won numerous awards for his operations, as well as serving on the prestigious Franchise Advisory Council and National Advertising Council.

He developed a 20 unit chain of double drive thru restaurants called Maxie's, in the panhandle of Florida and sold the chain to Rally's in 1994. As well, he and a partner own Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs, CO a gem of the Rockies Ski Area with 550 skiable acres. Mike also managed a Dairy Queen Territorial Agreement in Alabama and North Florida consisting of 3 Company and 68 Franchised Stores and successfully sold the company to International Dairy Queen.

Mike managed his real estate holdings, investments in various other restaurant operating businesses and his foundation until he was recruited to Shoney’s, Inc. in 1999. He served as CEO and helped build the sales to average annual revenue to more than $1 billion and repositioned the business to spin off Captain D’s, Pargo’s and COI.

Mike is an active Board Member in the business. For the past several years his focus has been on developing and growing restaurants in the fast casual segment, which include Taziki’s Mediterranean Grill, Baha Burgers, Tellini's Italian Cafe  and Martin's BBQ Joint. Emphasizing brand identification, fresh high quality food and operational excellence and by attracting and retaining the outstanding partners and operators in the industry. Also serving as an Active Advisor to WVU to help establish a Hospitality Program in the College of Business and Economics.