Pizza Today - September 2015 - 16

conversation

NICK SARILLO
NICK'S PIZZA & PUB / CRYSTAL LAKE & ELGIN, ILLINOIS

NICK LETS US IN
ON THE PIZZERIA'S
20-YEAR MILESTONE
AND ITS COMPANY
CULTURE
The two-unit, Chicagoland pizzeria celebrates its
20th anniversary this year. Its company culture is
unique and employee driven. Owner Nick Sarillo
instituted "Nick's University" a decade ago to
train his staff. The program has since evolved into
public leadership courses.

On Nick's Pizza & Pub's
20th Anniversary - We're
celebrating all summer long with
offers for our guests, two familyfun festivals, new and different
uniforms for the team, lots of fun
stories from the past, and most
of all...a ton of gratitude for our
community.
On keys to longevity - Our
people, the communities our
restaurants are in and healthy
fiscal performance. The
foundation to this success
starts with being explicit about
the culture we create within
our organization. We create
a meaningful place to work
by knowing who we are and
why we exist, which is why
clear purpose and values are
so important in that explicit,
intentional culture. We don't just
read them from a piece of paper
we BE-have them.

I have always believed in
people, so I start with trust and
the belief that people want to
do their best. Then the process
and systems we have in our
restaurants support our people
to be their best. The results are
a great place work, food that is
made with love and service that
comes from authentic care.
On "Nick's University"
- In addition to our purpose
and values, I would add our
certification system, or what
I call thinking of our business
as a school. The whole idea
is that each and every team
member can see their career
development path right there
on a chart on the wall in both
restaurants. From the 101 level to
201 to 301 to 401 levels, everyone
could see how they could
progress within the company
and get their own raises -
that along with 100-percent
transparency and open books.

1 6 / P I Z Z AT O D AY. C O M / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5

We treat each person as
a leader of their own life, and
their own path. Leadership and
communication training is open
and available to everyone in
the company. The result is a
business of business owners. A
culture built around our purpose
and values, and open books
supports our team to innovate
and perform at their best
because they are intrinsically
motivated. We don't have
managers commanding and
controlling the team members.
We trust the team, we track
performance, and the team
members hold each other
accountable. What I believe
is important in our industry, is
that managers need to learn
how to get out of the way. In
this people-centered industry,
managers need to learn how to
be coaches and lead through
inspiration. I'm blessed with
leaders in my company who
understand this well.

What's next?
I believe our country needs
many more restaurants
that truly serve that desire
we have to feel restored,
where families and friends
could come together
and enjoy authentic
conversations and build
lasting relationships
with each other and the
people who serve them.
Our country also needs
more businesses that not
only serve a need in the
community, but they also
serve to enrich the lives of
the people that work there.
Pizza is a community food,
and the perfect why for
us to live our purpose and
bring more Nick's Pizza &
Pub's to more communities
in America.
http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
Pizza Today - September 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pizza Today - September 2015
