When you need to feed a large group of people without breaking the bank, do you think of Little Caesars? Chairman’s Club member Linda Schoepf hopes you do. She and her husband Byron own 10 Little Caesars restaurants in Gwinnett and the surrounding area and have successfully woven their business into the fabric of the local community.
From Paper to Pizza
Schoepf spent most of her career selling paper for an international company. “I was married, had two kids and was a traveling sales rep. That was hard,” she recalls. When her husband Byron was laid off from his corporate job, they ventured into the food industry and found their niche with Little Caesars. “We liked how this franchise offered an inexpensive way to feed a lot of people,” Schoepf explains. About 20 years ago, they opened their first Little Caesars franchise, gradually expanding their reach in the Atlanta marketplace.
In addition to helping her husband with business operations, Schoepf serves as the community coordinator, working to build connections that drive business. “Our stores are a part of the local community,” she says. “Groups, teams, churches and businesses often need to feed a lot of people. We want Little Caesars to be the go-to choice for feeding large groups at an affordable cost,” she adds.
A Downturn Becomes a Turning Point
Like many businesses, Little Caesars was negatively impacted by the pandemic. As Schoepf and her husband looked for ways to reinvigorate their business, fellow leaders recommended that she join the Gwinnett Chamber and specifically the Chairman’s Club, which Schoepf did after learning about the resources and networking available to members. “This was a turning point for our business,” says Schoepf. She quickly became an active member and advocate, eventually leading to her serving on the Board of Directors’ Executive Committee. “The Chamber has enabled us to build relationships that have been very important to our business. As entrepreneurs, we don’t have our own board to bounce ideas off. But through the Chairman’s Club, I’ve built a network of people I can get feedback from,” she says.
Philanthropic Pursuits
When Schoepf worked as a traveling salesperson, she didn’t have time to pursue her true passion of making life better for others. As an entrepreneur, she has intentionally carved out time for volunteerism and philanthropy.
She is involved with multiple nonprofits and causes, but her main focus is with the Alzheimer’s Association. Ten years ago, her father-in-law developed dementia, and she turned her focus to helping find a cure. She became the top fundraiser for the Atlanta chapter’s Dancing with the Stars Gala in 2021 and then was tapped to organize the local Walk to End Alzheimer’s held yearly. She’s hard at work on this year’s event coming up Oct. 26, 2024, in Suwannee. “I’d love for Gwinnett Chamber members to join us to walk, fundraise or sponsor this important cause,” she says.
Empowering Women in Business
Schoepf’s engagement with the Gwinnett Chamber has also elevated her as a female leader in the business community. Her advice for those looking to succeed in Gwinnett’s dynamic business community is straightforward: “Go to key events at the Gwinnett Chamber, get connected to other business leaders and put the effort into building relationships.”