Meet the Management Team
Betsy Schmandt
CEO and President
Betsy Schmandt serves as the CEO & President of A&W Restaurants, Inc., America’s first franchised restaurant chain. With a rich background in the franchising industry, she previously held the position of President of Franchising at Famous Brands, overseeing Mrs. Fields and TCBY. Ms. Schmandt’s expertise extends across licensing and marketing, with impactful roles at esteemed companies including Godiva Chocolatier, Sesame Workshop, and Macy’s. Ms. Schmandt holds an M.B.A. from New York University Stern School of Business and a B.A. from Miami University in Ohio.
Meredeth Jones
Vice President of Franchise Development and Design
For over 15 years, Meredeth Jones has been a driving force in the franchise industry, helping brands turn ambitious growth goals into thriving realities. Her journey began in the ever-changing world of quick-service restaurants and has since spanned various sectors, from fast-casual and full-service dining to child enrichment, health and wellness, and retail. Throughout her journey, she’s honed her expertise in franchisor growth, sales strategies, and brand sustainability.
Meredeth’s leadership has been shaped by her work with iconic names like Caribou Coffee, Inspire Brands, and Chick-fil-A, where she played pivotal roles in their growth and success. In 2010, she founded Two Chicks Consulting—a franchise consulting brand dedicated to empowering franchisors and supporting sustainable growth.
Today, as Vice President of Franchise Development and Design for A&W Restaurants, Meredeth channels her passion for excellence into leading the brand’s expansion while fostering strong franchisee relationships. Meredeth’s goal for A&W Restaurants is to drive strategic growth by expanding franchise opportunities across the U.S., enhancing brand awareness, and delivering an exceptional experience that attracts superior franchise candidates to the iconic All-American brand.
John Palumbo
Senior Director of Franchise Development
John Palumbo is a franchise development expert with over two decades of experience building franchise brands and helping entrepreneurs on their small business journey. He’s the Senior Director of Franchise Development for A&W Restaurants since 2021 supporting the growth of more than 850 stores across the United States and Asia.
Palumbo began his franchising journey over 20 years ago, with Kahala Corp as the Vice President of Franchise Development then continued his career scaling franchise brands with companies such as H&R Block, Checkers Drive In Restaurants, Primrose Schools, and Lenny’s Grilled Subs in Memphis before planting roots at the All-American favorite. The food service industry has always been a part of his life. He grew up with two Uncles who owned pizzeria restaurants in New York City and learned the industry firsthand, as well as the importance of customer service, good products and the value of support for entrepreneurs and small business owners to make their dreams come true. Palumbo knew early on that he wanted to be a part of that experience for others and hasn’t left franchising since.
Randy Cordray
Vice President of Operations & Training
Randy is a seasoned veteran of the restaurant industry with over 25 years of experience including 9 years dedicated to A&W Restaurants. He has served the Brand in several roles including Area Coach, Franchise Growth Leader, & Director of Operations during his tenure. Prior to coming on board with A&W, Randy has worked with other QSR and Fast Casual Brands both in Franchise and Corporate Operations. Randy and his Team have been and continue to be focused on driving profitable sales for the existing Franchise System, as well as opening profitable new restaurants for the Brand. Randy is passionate about helping restaurant operators identify and leverage opportunities, assisting them in maximizing their profits, and empowering their teams. He believes People are the most valuable resource a restaurant has, and the most critical to care for.
Amanda Potts
Vice President of Marketing and Innovation
Amanda Potts is the VP of Marketing and Innovation at A&W Restaurants, with over 20 years of experience working with retail and restaurant brands. Before joining A&W Restaurants, she served as Director of Franchise Marketing at Valvoline Inc., where she partnered with franchisees to implement marketing solutions for over 1,200 locations. Her prior experience includes various roles at Fazoli’s in Brand Management, Digital, and Public Relations. Amanda holds a B.S. in Integrated Strategic Communications from the University of Kentucky and resides in Lexington, KY, with her two daughters, Caroline and Jill.