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Through ups and downs, McDonald’s franchise group Yontz Enterprises has relied on a strong family legacy to become a leader among peers in the industry.

Bremer Bank’s relationship with Mike Yontz, owner of Yontz Enterprises, began during the pandemic at the height of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) frenzy.

Mike describes the start of the partnership like this: “At a terrible time for all of us, Bremer did a webcast for McDonald’s operators on the East Coast. They cut through all the noise, clearly explaining what PPP was, how it worked, and how they could facilitate loans for us. It was a huge hit – and it gave me immediate peace of mind at a very challenging time for the business.”

Bremer franchise banker Neil McTiernan says that the strong relationship between Bremer and Yontz Enterprises may have started with PPP loans, but it’s lasted because, since day one, Mike has followed through on every commitment he’s made across multiple transactions. “Mike has made strong McDonald’s restaurants even better; it has been tremendous to see his growth. As a two-store operator, Mike was very hands-on. But he has transitioned to 11 stores effectively by empowering his team. He’s passionate about his relationships with his staff. And I believe this is a big part of his success,” Neil said.

Mike’s path to becoming a McDonald’s franchise owner wasn’t an easy one. He grew up in Tampa, Florida, with a father, Bill, who was a pillar of the community – and a dedicated McDonald’s executive. Mike describes his dad fondly. “He was a caring, sincere human being and a very reputable businessman. His life’s commitment was to the McDonald’s brand, the company he grew up in, where he was the number one guy at one of the largest McDonald’s franchises in the country,” he said.

After 40 years with the Caspers Company, a family-owned management company that supported McDonald’s stores in the region, Bill Yontz’s journey pivoted as he decided to pursue his own franchise opportunity due to changes in leadership. Mike and his brother and their young families followed Bill to a small town outside of Tampa, where he was operating three restaurants. For Mike, the next 11 months were some of the best months he ever had with his dad. However, before reaching his first anniversary in his new leadership role, Bill Yontz passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack at age 56.

“That’s when our world shifted. My dad was larger than life – and he was gone. What I was raised with, what I knew, was McDonald’s. But to achieve my goal of franchise ownership, I had an uphill battle. In the end, I made it through and came out on the other side,” Mike shared.

Shortly after his father’s passing, Mike enrolled in the McDonald’s franchisee training program – a pre-requisite to franchise ownership that carried no guarantees of ever becoming an owner. But Mike stayed the course, believing it was right for him. And on February 1, 2012, Mike took over his first restaurant in Tucson, Arizona. He and his wife packed up the kids and headed west with no place to stay. “We rolled in to Tucson at 11 p.m. and found a pet-friendly hotel to crash in for the night. And then we stayed for a month while we looked for a house. I look back on my decision-making habits and cringe – and even laugh – but it was a monumental life decision and milestone moment,” Mike said.

Since then, Mike has found his way back to franchise ownership in Florida, where it all began for him. He is acutely aware of the Type A tendencies that he inherited from his father. “My father’s passing is the ultimate teaching about personal values and stress. He was so dedicated to his work that it left very little time for family. I’ve learned, over time, how to step back and allow my leadership team to step forward. And I have an incredible team,” he said.

Mike is thoughtful about how he balances work and life because he is highly motivated to succeed – and be around for his family. “I owe my teenage kids a chance to get through college and figure out what they want to do with their lives, and I owe my team the opportunity to raise their families and live rewarding lives,” he said.

Mike is appreciative of Bremer’s approach and encourages business owners to consider accessibility, creativity, an understanding of your business and a willingness to take risks as key factors in choosing a banking partner. “Bremer is a true partner in my business. Instead of the typical ‘take a number, have a seat’ approach, they are on call and always ready to give smart advice and engage in outside-the-box thinking. That’s the kind of bank I want to partner with to grow my business,” Mike said.

His banker Neil finds equal value in the partnership. “Mike makes me better at my job by sharing Owner Operator insights. With 11 stores under his leadership, he has a high-performing operator’s perspective on market activity. When we connect every couple of weeks, it’s always a valuable two-way exchange,” he shared.

Over the past three years, Mike has grown his franchise footprint, and Yontz Enterprises has delivered record performance. Despite unprecedented restaurant industry challenges, an uncertain macro economy and legislative changes, Mike and his leadership team have built on the Yontz family name by consistently demonstrating agility and execution excellence, unlocking opportunities for continued growth.