Shawn Burcham is the Founder & CEO of Pro Food Systems, Inc. (PFSbrands), which he and his wife Julie started out of their garage in 1998. PFSbrands has grown to over 190 employee-owners and became 100% employee-owned in 2017. The company has over 2,000 branded foodservice locations across 40+ states, and they are best known for their Champs Chicken franchise brand, which was started in 1999. In addition to Champs Chicken, PFSbrands offers BluTaco and Hangar 54 Pizza as franchise brands as well as Cooper’s Express, Wingman Pizza and Hot Mex as license programs. PFSbrands works predominately with convenience stores & supermarkets across the country with plans to add standalone restaurants in 2023.

Prior to starting PFSbrands, Shawn spent 5 years with a Fortune 100 company, Mid-America Dairymen (now Dairy Farmers of America). Pioneering an intern program and a sales training program at a young age just after graduating college, he assumed a 14-state Regional Sales Manager position for the Packaged & Processed Cheese Division. He went on to spend three years as a Regional Sales Manager for a small Midwest Chester Fried chicken distributor.

Shawn decided to take a major risk in quitting his job and starting a chicken business from the ground floor in 1999. Since starting PFSbrands, Shawn has started and grown over 10 businesses while also investing in other companies where he feels he can help owners become more successful, including the business coaching company GRITT Business Coaching. He’s the author of Keeping Score with GRITT; Straight-Talk Strategies for Success, which hit the Amazon #1 Best Seller’s list and was endorsed by Forbes.

Despite what appears to be a track record of nothing but success, Shawn encountered major challenges in 2011 that completely transformed him as a leader. Because of his experiences, Shawn truly believes empowering employees to think and act like owners is the recipe for success. Shawn is passionate about helping others become more successful in work and in life. He believes in taking care of employees and providing them with opportunities where they can excel. He has a non-entitlement mentality and a straight-talk approach. And, he believes that all leaders need to CARE, HAVE FUN and HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS.