When Jacob Propstra sailed to America from the Netherlands in 1914, he had no idea his humble creamery would one day inspire Burgerville; an iconic restaurant chain still making a positive impact in the Pacific Northwest more than a century later. After one particularly disastrous beach retreat, Tom Mears, CEO, knew the company’s mission was in trouble. Discover the critical decisions Burgerville’s team took to build this mission-led business and laugh through several catastrophic mistakes to avoid. This business case-study includes thought-provoking questions to challenge aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned CEOs alike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Burgerville’s transformation to a mission-led company.<\/p>\n
Tom Mears is the owner of Holland Inc. and retired board chairman of Burgerville USA. Tom’s journey with the company began with him driving the ice cream scooter at age 16. After college and a season with the Del Monte Corporation, he rejoined the company and went from opening the first Burgerville in Portland, Oregon, to becoming the CEO. Tom had been recognized for several industry awards including the Trend Setter Award and was inducted into the Oregon Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. Tom is married to his high school sweetheart Kathy. They have two children, Jennifer, and David Mears.<\/p>\n