SERVING UP A NEW CAREER
Great customer service can go a long way. For Topher Smith, it opened doors to a new career and an exciting entrepreneurial journey. Whether working as a bartender, supervisor, or restaurant general manager, Topher had been immersed in the food and beverage industry for over two decades. And while he loved the fast-paced environment, his favorite part of the job was connecting with people. “I loved developing relationships with customers,” he says. “You become part of each others’ lives and start conversations that last for years.” In 2015, one such conversation with a regular customer set Topher on the path to business ownership. The customer, a local entrepreneur, approached Topher about managing a couple of his Jimmy John’s franchises in town. “It felt like a natural progression for my career,” says Topher. “I was excited to apply what I already knew from the industry, while also learning more about the business side of things.” To read more about Topher’s entrepreneurial journey click here.
