Joe Walker wins Veteran Entrepreneurship Award
March 5, 2019
Marco’s Pizza multi-unit franchise owner Joe Walker was recently announced the winner of the Veteran Entrepreneurship Award Category for the 2019 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference and Magazine Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards.
The Multi-Unit Franchisee Conference and Magazine MVP Awards honor the best and the brightest multi-unit franchisees. The Veteran Entrepreneurship Award is earned by a veteran and top performing multi-unit franchise owner who has paved the way to success for their business. As the owner of 19 Marco’s Pizza locations across South Carolina, Walker’s smart and aggressive leadership exemplified the qualities of this recognition.
“Deciding to enlist in the U.S Army made me the leader I am today,” Walker stated. “Serving alongside some of America’s finest for over eight years, I learned how to manage a team to protect lives and represent the best values of the United States. It was with this experience I have been able to lead an amazing team within my business and move the Marco’s brand toward success.”
Walker’s dedication to his country and his community also played a large role in receiving the award. Most recently, he went above and beyond for a Marco’s Pizza customer and donated $10,000 to go towards a hypertension implant. Walker has also shut down one of his stores for multiple days to make over 2,000 pizzas for families in need throughout his community.
Walker served in the U.S Army from 2004 to 2008 and in the U.S Army National Guard from 2008 to 2012. In addition to leading operations in Iraq, Walker received many awards and citations for his leadership and earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his bravery.
Marco’s Pizza is committed to supporting military veterans and offers a discount on the franchise fee to veterans’ candidates. The brand has also developed a special outreach program to facilitate passionate, disciplined leaders’ entry into the Marco’s management and apprenticeship pipeline. Military veterans can enter at general manager level and receive extensive training for Marco’s Pizza locations nationwide.
Marco’s Pizza aims to have 1,500 locations open by late 2020. They carved out a niche in the industry for authentic Italian quality pizza, known for its fresh dough made daily onsite, a proprietary cheese blend, and a secret original pizza sauce recipe from its founder Pat Giammarco.
ABOUT MARCO’S PIZZA
Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco’s Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza companies in the United States. Marco’s was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale (“Pat”) Giammarco and thrives by making authentic Italian quality pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate 900 plus stores in over 34 states and in three countries. Most recently, Marco’s Pizza was ranked No. 5 in Forbes “Best Franchises to Buy” 2018 Study/Medium Investment, and No. 39 on Entrepreneur’s 2019 Franchise 500 ranking. Other recent accolades include ranking No. 2 on Entrepreneur’s 2018 Top 200 Food and Restaurant Franchises in the pizza segment, and No. 8 on the Military Times Best: Franchises 2018 list.
