Well Said: Growing the family business

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As the son of Kenny Moore, the founder of Hwy 55 Burgers and Fries, Andy Moore helped the national burger chain throughout his childhood and formative years. He had several responsibilities in the restaurants, including working behind the counter and at the grill.

After graduating from Duke University in 2012, however, Andy Moore applied for jobs outside of the restaurant industry, ultimately relocating from North Carolina to New York City.

“You know, after a couple of years I kind of  — not kind of, I really did — miss the job,” Andy Moore explained. “I missed the people I had worked with, and I felt like I wanted to do something meaningful with my family’s business. So I made a pretty tough decision to come back, but I don’t regret it.”

Since returning to the restaurant chain in 2014, he has transitioned from his role as director of communications to area developer, focusing on expansion efforts in Texas, while also enrolled in the MBA@UNC program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Not only is Andy Moore learning practical skills he can immediately implement at Hwy 55, but he’s also working with the school’s Family Enterprise Center, launched with the mission of preparing next-generation family business leaders through conferences, workshops and personalized resources.

On this episode of Well Said, he tells the story of Hwy 55, discusses the unique nature of a family business and explains his experience as an online MBA student at Carolina.

Read a transcript of this episode.

Join us every Wednesday for Well Said to hear from students, faculty, staff and alumni. Each week, you’ll learn what’s going on in classrooms, labs and around campus, and how it pertains to the local, national and international headlines.