Seth Lyons ’08 and Ross Theesen ’15 are standouts in the franchise field, and they both got their start in a class offered through Missouri Western’s Center for Franchise Development. In 2009, Seth was the first alumnus to be awarded a franchise in the Applied Business Ownership class, and Ross ’15 was awarded a franchise in 2015.

Ross and his wife, Mackenzie ’15, formed a business partnership with Seth in 2017, and today, they own 12 Which Wich? Superior Sandwiches stores, the most of any owners in the company. Their businesses generated $7.1 million in sales last year with 175 employees and a payroll of $1.5 million. Additionally, Ross and Mackenzie own two Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory stores.