A New Era Rises: Building a Legacy of Champions at the Rise Up Pep Rally

After decades of quietly building something extraordinary, Rise Up Restaurants has officially taken the stage.

On September 25th, leaders from across the company gathered for a historic Pep Rally: a high-energy, culture-driven event that marked the first time our mission and vision were shared across both brands, all teams, and all leaders.

For years, our identity has been lived out in action: the relentless drive of our Wingstop teams, the pride of our Pizza Patrón teams, and the leadership of our support teams who help build more than 4,200 champions across the country. But this moment made it official: we are two brands under one roof with one culture, one mission, one united Rise Up team!

The Pep Rally was more than a meeting; it was the beginning of the official Rise Up Restaurant’s momentum, building champions that leave a legacy.

As jerseys filled the room, voices united in chants of “We are Champions!”, and leaders connected through team-building, leadership training, and personal reflection, it became clear: our people are the heart of everything we do.

“We’ve always had a strong culture,” said Charles Loflin, our Rise Up Restaurant’s CEO, during the event. “But now we’ve put words to what we’ve always known — that we are champions! This packaged and trainable culture framework doesn’t change who we are; it amplifies it.”

During the event, our Chief Branding Officer from The Culture Agency, Emily Freemond, guided teammates through personal development and leadership training sessions, including team-building exercises and breakout groups designed to strengthen connection and collaboration across brands.

The energy in that room was undeniable. From the friendly competition of team-building challenges to the personal breakthroughs during leadership exercises, the event was a powerful reminder that champions aren’t born, they’re built.

From inspirational leadership talks to competitive team-building challenges, personal development sessions, and moments of reflection and connection, the energy, purpose, and pride were undeniable. We celebrated some incredible milestones, including 27 years with Wingstop, 40 years of Pizza Patron, landing on the cover of Franchise Times, and the 20-year anniversaries of three remarkable team members, a true testament to the legacy we’re building together.

These moments remind us why we rise: to help people win not just today, but for generations to come.

The Pep Rally also introduced our culture cultivation tools that will continue to fuel our growth: from culture-driven initiatives to recognitions that celebrate our people’s wins. Because at Rise Up Restaurants, excellence isn’t optional. We train a high standard and cultivate a high-performing culture of winners to make an impact in the future of our people, business and community.

We TRAIN. We ELEVATE. We IMPACT.

As President of Pizza Patron, Chris M. Partyka, shared in a recent message to the team:

“What began as a bold idea has now blossomed into a fully operational reality — a testament to the strength of our people and the incredible power of teamwork.”

And now, this movement is just getting started. The Rise Up Pep Rally will soon hit the road, bringing this same passion, training, and purpose to every General Manager and every restaurant across our organization.

This launch marks the beginning of a new era, one where every member of Rise Up Restaurants is committed to grow, lead, win and rise higher than ever before.

Together, we rise. Together, we win.

See the full Pep Rally experience here: