Amy Elder

Multi-Unit Franchising: Key Advice to Expand Your Portfolio

Amy Elder was appointed Senior Director of Franchising & Administration in December 2023. Mrs. Elder joined Papa Johns from Focus Brands, where she was Director of Franchise Administration for Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Schlotsky’s Prior to Focus, Amy was the Enterprising Manager for Inspire Brands, leading the development of Arby’s, Baskin Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Rusty Taco, Dunkin, and Jimmy John’s. Amy brings more than 12 years of franchising experience and over 20 years in the development field, focusing on design, real estate, and construction, to Papa John’s. She has worked for many other well-known companies throughout her career, such as Living Spaces, Colliers International, and Hooters

Expanding into multi-unit franchising offers an exciting pathway to growing your portfolio and multiplying your success. For franchise owners ready to scale, learn from other franchisees' approach with a proven formula to help establish brand dominance across different regions. It requires a calculated, strategic approach to ensure expansion aligns with profitability and operational excellence.

Amy will be joined by Chris Patel

Chris Patel is the COO of Pie Investments, a leading franchise group operating across the Mid-Atlantic region. He oversees 70 Papa John’s locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and the turnaround of distressed assets. His leadership has been instrumental in enhancing profitability, streamlining operations, and expanding market share in highly competitive markets.

Beyond his role at Papa John’s, Chris is part of a restaurant partnership group that includes Dunkin’ bringing his total restaurant group size to 200 units across the Mid-Atlantic region. With a collective restaurant group pipeline set to deliver over 20 new restaurants this year across various brands, further solidifying his presence in the multi-unit franchise industry. Chris also has extensive expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and capital raising. Over the course of his career, he has successfully raised more than $250 million in debt and equity placements, enabling the expansion, acquisition, and sustained success of numerous brands. His strategic planning, financial structuring, and deal execution skills have positioned him as a key influencer in the franchise and foodservice sectors.

Chris holds an MBA in Finance with a minor in Corporate Law, equipping him with the knowledge to navigate complex financial and corporate landscapes. He also serves on Papa John’s Franchise Advisory Council (FAC), representing the Northeast region of franchisees. In this role, he is dedicated to driving growth, fostering innovation, and mentoring emerging franchise operators.

With a vision for scalability, operational efficiency, and brand diversification, Chris continues to lead Pie Investments to new heights, ensuring long-term sustainability and market leadership in the franchise industry.

and Nadeem Bajwa:

‘Nadeem Bajwa is a visionary leader and entrepreneur in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry, whose inspiring career began humbly as a delivery driver for Papa Johns. Through hard work, determination, and a knack for strategic innovation, he has risen to become one of the most significant franchisees within Papa Johns network, managing and owning over 270+ locations today. His journey, spanning more than 22 years since opening his first Papa Johns location, is a testament to his operational acumen, strategic vision, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

With extensive experience expanding restaurant operations, Nadeem has consistently adopted and championed new technologies to enhance the guest experience while driving efficiencies not only for his own operations but also for the broader QSR community. His innovative mindset has made him a key contributor to industry advancements, particularly in optimizing processes and adapting to evolving consumer expectations.

As the founder of transformative ventures such as BAJCO Technologies, Call Center/TSourcing, BE Solutions, and BAJCO Construction Works, Nadeem has revolutionized franchise operations. These companies offer innovative solutions for technology integration, outsourcing, back-office support, and cost-effective construction, empowering franchisees to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth.

Nadeem attributes much of his success to his ability to build and lead exceptional teams and Papa Johns forward-thinking leadership. The franchisor’s open-minded approach and commitment to refining its business model have enabled franchisees like Nadeem to thrive and embrace innovation.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Nadeem is dedicated to mentoring and empowering others in the QSR space. His ability to navigate the complexities of scaling operations while maintaining quality and consistency has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor and industry expert’.