Kendall Ware’s journey began in the back of a small-town restaurant — knee-deep in dishes, trying to make sense of the chaos behind the scenes. For many, it’s a familiar start. But for Kendall, it was more than a first job. It sparked a passion for hospitality, leadership, and growth that would shape the rest of his career.
While others followed the traditional path, Kendall skipped college and dove straight into the industry. By his late teens, he was managing restaurants, leading teams, and overseeing corporate training and new store openings for one of the fastest-growing franchise brands in the country — helping scale it from just seven locations to over 100.
In his mid-20s, Kendall became a franchisee — determined to understand the other side of the model. That decision changed everything. It gave him an operator’s lens and a deep respect for the challenges franchisees face every day — a perspective that continues to shape his leadership philosophy.
At 30, he became CEO of Orange Leaf, an $85 million frozen yogurt brand. He led a full turnaround and strategically built a multi-brand platform by co-founding new concepts and acquiring existing ones — ultimately positioning the company for a successful exit. At 33, he was appointed President of Cinnabon and Carvel, overseeing a $2.5 billion global portfolio. In that role, he also shaped co-branding strategy and shared growth initiatives across portfolio brands including Jamba, Auntie Anne’s, and Schlotzsky’s. Most recently, he served as COO of Walk-On’s Sports Bistro, helping scale the emerging casual dining brand nationwide.
What sets Kendall apart isn’t just the pace of his rise — it’s the range of experience that got him there. Franchisee and franchisor. Operator and strategist. Brand builder and turnaround CEO. He’s led from the front and from the field — and that’s exactly what makes his message resonate.
Today, Kendall speaks, advises, and partners with brands across the industry to do one thing: strengthen the franchisor–franchisee relationship. Because when that relationship works, everything else follows — consistency, profitability, growth, and trust. This belief ultimately led Kendall to create the term FranShip®, now central to his keynote, consulting framework, and upcoming book.
Franchising became his platform — but elevating leaders has always been his purpose.
