Chief Executive Officer

“Treat People with Respect”

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food:
    Double Stack Sandwich

    Meet Eddie Rodriguez, a true Wendy’s tale of achievement. From modest beginnings, his journey is as iconic as Wendy’s Chili, a testament to a remarkable journey. Dave Thomas’s Core Values are deeply rooted in Eddie's business leadership and personal philosophies.

    Over 30 years of dedication has garnered him numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Dave Thomas Founders Award and induction into the Dave Thomas Hall of Fame.

    He continues to make a meaningful impact on the franchise community and Wendy’s brand by serving as Chairman on the prestigious QSCC board. Eddie’s enduring legacy extends beyond business success, as he continues to inspire and empower individuals within his community as well as his family at home.

    Currently, he’s the visionary orchestrating the business strategies at WenCo Restaurant Group but he isn't just serving plans—he's grilling up success, one restaurant at a time.

“You earn your reputation by the things you do everyday.”

Director of Finance

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food:
    Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Croissant Sandwich

    Meet Christina Schweck, a seasoned finance professional with roots in South Florida, brings a wealth of expertise to WenCo Restaurant Group as Vice President of Finance.

    With a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, Christina honed her skills at leading financial institutions like SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo. Since joining our team in 2020, Christina has played a pivotal role in shaping our company's financial strategies, ensuring sustainable growth and success.

    Beyond her dedication to finance, Christina values family time, keeping an active lifestyle, and any time she can spend by the ocean, embodying a balanced approach to both professional and personal endeavors.

    Outside the world of WenCo Restaurant Group financials, Christina's lending her expertise to Wendy's committees like WFA and championing her kids at school events, proving she's not just about dollars and cents— she's the Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich of multitasking, bringing a little spice to every moment.

“We don’t cut corners on quality”

Chief Operating Officer

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food: Big Bacon Classic

    Meet Michael Rodriguez, an experienced professional with deep roots in Operations and Management. His journey began as a Wendy’s Shift Supervisor in Miami, where he swiftly advanced to become a District Manager. In 2005, Michael became a Franchise Operator and a partner of Wen-North Holdings. And in 2014, they partnered with 2 additional Wendy’s Franchisees to create JAE Restaurant Group, turning up the heat on success.

    JAE ultimately grew to 239 restaurants across four states, generating over 390 million in annual sales, giving Michael invaluable insight and knowledge into enterprise-level operations. Today, he is the COO for WenCo Restaurant Group, operating 39 restaurants across the state of Florida, sizzling with excitement like fresh bacon. Michael is also an active community and Wendy’s leader, co-chairing the first Wendy’s Next Generation Committee and DMA President, and working with the local Boys & Girls Clubs.

    Beyond managing strategic operations at WenCo Restaurant Group, Michael enjoys perfecting his BBQ skills for family gatherings or humorously referring to his business plans as his preferred bedtime stories, making business as juicy as a Dave’s Double.

Chief Financial Officer

“Profit is not a dirty word”

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food: Vanilla Frosty

    Meet Michael Immerman, the financial virtuoso whose journey from Rockland County, New York, to the sunny shores of South Florida has been as eventful as a Wendy's drive-thru rush. Graduating from Pace University in 1983 with a degree in accounting, Michael wasted no time in becoming a Certified Public Accountant and diving headfirst into the world of finance.

    After honing his skills in public accounting, he made the leap to private industry in 1994, eventually finding his niche in the restaurant world as Controller for a franchisee of TGIF and Denny's. Fast forward to December 14, 2014, and Michael joins JAE Restaurant Group as their Controller, a pivotal role in the company's meteoric rise from 60 to 239 restaurants across five states. His financial expertise played a crucial part in navigating acquisitions and sales, ensuring the company's financial stability remained steadfast.

    Now, as the Chief Financial Officer at WenCo Restaurant Group, Michael continues to steer the financial ship with finesse, while still finding time to enjoy the water and outdoor adventures of South Florida with his Family.

    Away from the spreadsheets, Michael delights in life's simple pleasures, embracing a variety of experiences much like savoring the next Frosty flavor.

Director of Operations

“Giving Back is the right thing to do.”

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food: Dave’s Double

    Meet Steven Guzman, a dedicated professional with a stellar career at Wendy’s, seasoning success with his strategic approach. Starting as a District Manager in 2000 with Wen-North Holdings, Steven managed 8-11 restaurants and achieved impressive results, including a 16% same-store sales growth.

    After joining JAE Restaurant Group in 2015, Steven quickly rose to become one of six Area Operators, overseeing $58 million in annual sales and managing a team of five District Managers. In 2021, he joined WenCo Restaurant Group as their Senior Vice President of Operations, where he leads eight District Managers and 39 restaurants with over 1,100 employees. Steven's disciplined approach is like the secret sauce of our operations – adding just the right blend of continuous improvement and effective follow-up to create a recipe for success, with a sprinkle of Wendy's magic.

    When he's not analyzing figures, Steven could be found mastering the grill, delighting friends and family with his sizzling churrasco, or playfully suggesting that healthy P&L sheets are the secret to a long and happy life, proving he's the grill master of both business and BBQ.

VP of Marketing and Technology

“Be willing to invest the time and energy to achieve your goals.”

  • Meet Mike Schweck, a dynamic professional with a rich background in Sales, Marketing, and Technology. With a solid foundation built over 8 years at Wendy’s, Mike has progressed from a crew member to the valued role of General Manager, and eventually, District Manager overseeing 7 restaurants.

    Now, leveraging this diverse operational experience, Mike spearheads the Marketing and Technology department initiatives across 39 locations at WenCo Restaurant Group. Tasked with driving company-wide growth, he meticulously analyzes consumer trends, implements effective marketing strategies, and orchestrates seamless technology improvements, while providing valuable support to restaurant operations.

    When he's not busy strategizing, Mike finds solace in the kitchen, experimenting with flavors and recipes, much like his approach to driving success at WenCo—because in both realms, it's all about innovation and flavor, just like Wendy's.

Facility and Maintenance Supervisor

“I think the harder you work, the more luck you have.”

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food: Fish Sandwich

    Meet Gadiel Mata, an accomplished versatile maintenance specialist with rich background of experience over many years as an AC specialist, carpenter, machinist, and general handyman. Gadiel brings a diverse skill set to our team, ensuring top-notch operational efficiency.

     

    His journey through various roles and entrepreneurship has sharpened his ability to tackle complex maintenance challenges, from fixing vital equipment in the restaurant to coordinating with a variety of vendors to even improving working conditions for employees. Before joining us, Gadiel's expertise was evident in his comprehensive approach to facility management, showcasing his dedication and problem-solving skills.

     

    Today, as our Facility and Maintenance Supervisor, Gadiel leverages his extensive knowledge to keep our operations running smooth. When he’s not hard at work, you’ll find him enjoying his favorite pastime—fishing on the ocean—where he finds relaxation and inspiration. Just like his favorite fishing spots, Gadiel’s contribution is indispensable and deeply valued.

Director of Facility and Maintenance

“Our Burgers are square because we don’t cut corners”

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food: Spicy Chicken Sandwich

    Meet Angelo Izquierdo, a seasoned Wendy's professional with over 20 years of dedication, flipping burgers and serving customers with his operational prowess.

    Rising from in-store management to multi-unit leadership and eventually partnering with Eddie at Wen-North, overseeing 14 thriving restaurants in Miami and Orlando, Angelo's journey embodies resilience and expertise.

    Transitioning to JAE Restaurant Group, he managed facility and maintenance operations for 239 restaurants, showcasing his meticulous attention to detail and strategic acumen. Today, as Director of Facility and Maintenance at Wenco Restaurant Group, Angelo harnesses his extensive experience to ensure operations run as smoothly as the drive-thru. Outside of the office, he enjoys quality time with family and dominating the pickleball court, showcasing his versatility and passion both in and out of the kitchen. Just like Wendy's famous square patties, he's got a unique edge that sets him apart in any arena.

Director of Human Resources

“Opportunities don’t knock at all. They don’t have to, they’re already all around us.”

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food: Grilled Chicken Ranch Wrap

    Meet Adam Fernandez, the heart of WenCo Restaurant Group's Human Resources Division, where he proudly serves as the Director of Human Resources. With his SHRM-CP certification in hand, he leads a dedicated team committed to cooking up the perfect recipe for employee satisfaction and a thriving workplace culture.

    His role spans a diverse array of responsibilities, from spearheading health & wellness initiatives and championing employee safety to driving forward diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. With a keen eye for leveraging technology and strategic planning, Adam is committed to optimizing processes and fostering an environment where every team member can thrive and flourish.

    Should you come across him, whether submerged in employee engagement metrics or brewing up solutions in the HR kitchen, know this—he's not just interpreting data; he's crafting a fresh blend of policies and practices to elevate the WenCo HR experience!