September 25, 2023
Molly Wallace graduated from the University of Oklahoma (OU) in 2020, the same year Beyond Development Group, Inc. (BDG) was established. As Molly’s university classes initially stalled and then moved online due to Covid-19, BDG was blessed with its first major assignment. Due to significant experience with Pizza Hut, Monarch Capital engaged BDG to act as the development advisor to the Ad Hoc Group of Priority and First Lien Lenders (AHG) through NPC’s chapter 11 case.
That sounds complicated, but simply said, we assessed the viability and upside opportunity for each of NPC’s 1,200 Pizza Hut restaurants, using a plethora of data and an extraordinary amount of time in Google. To say this was intense training in development and data for Molly is an understatement. Molly’s degree in Communications & Psychology doesn’t naturally lead to employment in real estate development, but my personal belief is that logical thinking, tenacity, and an openness to learning, allows you to be very impactful in the development world.
Molly very quickly understood the process, as well as the nuances of considering each restaurant within its own market across the United States. There was certainly a fair amount of shadowing, but Molly’s dedication to providing the optimal recommendations in the minimal amount of time, made her an invaluable member of the team. We couldn’t have provided and refined our recommendations in the required timeframe without Molly. Molly had already become a critical member of BDG.
As this project ended, which included the successful sale of the NPC portfolio to Flynn Restaurant Group, Covid-19 restrictions had been lifted, Molly had graduated and, with a move from Wichita to Dallas, Molly became a permanent member of BDG. It’s hard to appreciate it has been three years now. As Molly recently texted ‘it’s felt like 10 years and only 6 months all rolled into one!’
After spending so much time understanding the drivers of success for 1,200 current restaurants, it was a natural step for Molly to start assessing sites for potential new Pizza Huts for Chaac Foods, BDG’s largest client. At the end of 2020 we started identifying new sites again and had Chaac’s approval to move forward to lease (now Covid had started settling down). Those initial assessments quickly converted into Molly leading the project management of our Pizza Hut new builds and eventually becoming BDG’s COO. Molly has been running the day-to-day operations of our company for over a year now.
Since this intense introduction to real estate development, Molly has led our team through the construction of 20 new Pizza Hut’s in NY & MD, and been second on point for five new Dave’s Hot Chicken’s in IN & OH and our first Long John’s Silvers in TX.
Anyone who knows development, can appreciate the size of the task managing a team, who doesn’t directly report into you, through 30+ new builds, each at different stages from drawings to turn-over to operations. Every Tuesday Molly runs our 2-hour meeting with over 15 participants from operations, construction, architecture, IT and PHLLC corporate, ensuring weekly progress and alignment. As Ryan Narramore from MPAK Construction recently commented ‘Molly keeps us and everything together. She’s very kind, but you don’t want to drop the ball on Molly’. Kind and Tenacious - what a great reputation for a COO.
In addition to her lead on Pizza Hut, Molly has also been involved in consultancy projects on multiple other concepts including Bojangles, Dickey’s, Jimmy John’s, Peter Piper Pizza as well as remodels for Sonic.
Fortunately, Molly has been very willing to travel and hence hasn’t been stuck at her desk for the last three years. Molly’s taken site visits to New York, DC, Florida, Phoenix, San Antonio, Waco and Temple, been at corporate conferences in Dallas, worked ICSC in New York and Las Vegas, attended board meetings in New York and Southlake and been on a BDG trip to England.
Whilst Molly has a quieter nature, the confidence she's built being involved in so many different projects and experiences, has allowed her to talk to contractors, corporate development leads or capital investors, with an ability to provide sound advice anytime and anywhere. I couldn’t be more excited to have Molly as my right hand.
At some point we’d like to grow more Molly’s, so please reach out to us if you think you’d benefit and thrive in an organization like ours. If learning and experiences are what you’re looking for, we have plenty.
If you love the idea of Molly working on your business, please contact us. We love engaging with new teams and are constantly looking for opportunities to take another brand to new heights.
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