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.”

Vice President 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.

Facilities Manager

“Our goal must be to exceed our customers' expectations every day”

  • Favorite Wendy’s Food: Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger

    Meet Joe Kanawall, WenCo’s trusted Facilities Manager and behind-the-scenes problem solver keeping our restaurants running smoothly. With over 20 years of experience in building maintenance—much of that within the Wendy’s system—Joe brings a hands-on, solutions-first approach to every project.

    Originally from Connecticut, Joe learned the trades working alongside his father before moving to Florida with his high school sweetheart. He earned his HVACR degree while serving as a Building Manager for Volusia County Schools, later transitioning into the restaurant world with a Wendy’s franchisee. Over the years, he worked his way from Technician to Facilities Manager, overseeing 19 locations. After a brief stint in the banking industry, Joe returned to his roots—and what he calls his best career decision yet—by joining the WenCo team.

    Outside of work, Joe enjoys camping, beach days, CrossFit, and staying busy with home projects. He and his wife have been together for over 41 years, raised two children, and even dabbled in rental homes. A fan of Christmas, a good movie, and a game of fetch with his labradoodle.