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24-year-old reels in top spot at Candy Bouquet
As published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette by Leroy Donald
Jason Risner, who started work in the Candy Bouquet International Inc. warehouse in downtown Little Rock about six years ago, has been named chief operating officer of the international franchising company.
He is 24 years old and the shining example of what Margaret McEntire, founder and chief executive officer of Candy Bouquet, wanted when she started her "Teach a Man to Fish" college scholarship program about eight years ago.
McEntire, with husband Jay McEntire, has grown Candy Bouquet from a garage operation to what is now considered on of the fastest-growing franchise operations in the world. And it's all done from the River Market area of downtown Little Rock with some 40 employees and staff personnel in the headquarters.
The work program is one of her "give back to the community" efforts, a sentiment drilled into her from childhood by her educator father in Texarkana.
She credits Risner as being a main cog in guiding Candy Bouquet from 491 units to its current 880 units in 32 countries on every continent (except Antarctica, of course), making it easily Arkansas' leading franchiser now that TCBY, the frozen-yogurt company, no longer is based in the state.
In fact, Entrepreneur magazine, the industry Bible for companies like Candy Bouquet, rank the Little Rock company the 36th fastest-growing franchiser in the world in its 20th annual Franchise 500 issue that comes out in the next few weeks.
The magazine ranks the company 18th among home-based franchisers.
The company has made this list for 10 years in a row, McEntire says.
The magazine also ranked the company No. 1 in its category and the No. 1 candy franchiser in the world.
Risner joined the company in 2001 while enrolled at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock working on a degree in finance. His brother, Jeff, worked in the Candy Bouquet warehouse, which ahs refrigeration to keep the various chocolates and other candies that are sent to franchisees around the world.
Jeff was one of the first in the Teach a Man to Fish program under which McEntire promises students who work 30 hours a week for her that she will pay for their tuition each semester as long as they maintain a B average.
In its short time, the program has put student through 45 semesters, and about 17 employees have graduate and gone into the business world with jobs ranging from hygienist to lawyer.
A number remain working with Candy Bouquet.
The program not only is a way to help with financial needs, but it also encourages loyalty to the company as well.
When Jeff brought his brother on board, he told McEntire that Jason was "something else; he's real smart."
He is just that, she says. "He crunches number and is very analytical. He logically reduces all this information, sits down quietly and suggests the direction in which we should move.
"And he is definitely loyal."
She says she and Jay got the idea from Colin Powell's "Little Red Wagon" program.
"I remember driving home with Jay and telling him 'We've gotten to the point where we can afford something like this.'"
The McEntires have hired a lot of college students over the years and they noticed how they struggled to get through school, she said.
"I see people coming through who just need a chance. I say kids going to UALR going to school a semester and working a semester to make some money." And so the program was started.
McEntire's dad, the one who ingrained in his youngsters the idea of giving back, was Frank McClain who as president of Texarkana Community College, helped to guide the college to becoming Texas A&M University-Texarkana. He also is on the college's board.
"He always said that the best thing you could give anybody is an education," McEntire said.
The Risner brothers are from a De Queen family, Larry and Lynne Risner. His mother was the owner of Lynn's place, a popular restaurant in De Queen. The recently moved to Texarkana and are about to retire in the Hot Springs area, McEntire said. Jason, their young COO is set to become a certified franchise executive, a designation of franchise management by the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. McEntire says he'll be the first in Arkansas to receive the designation.
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