The W. Frank Barton School of Business at 黑洞社区 has named Jon Rolph, president and CEO of Thrive Restaurant Group and a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, its Executive-in-Residence for the spring 2022 semester.
The Executive-in-Residence program was established last year to provide Barton School students, faculty and the Wichita community with vital perspectives and knowledge from industry leaders. Tom Gentile, president and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, served as the program鈥檚 first resident during the fall 2021 semester.
鈥淚鈥檓 honestly shocked and humbled to be the latest Executive-in-Residence,鈥� Rolph said. 鈥淭he world of restaurants is all about community and connection. I hope to share those same values and lessons with Barton School students, faculty and staff.鈥�
As the Executive-in-Residence, Rolph will provide mentorship opportunities to students, exchange ideas with Barton School faculty, and host a conversation with business leaders to shape the future of business education in alignment with the future of work. He will also deliver a keynote speech about his company and the trends that are shaping his industry and the economy.
鈥淎ccess to professional leadership has been of immense help to me since being enrolled here at 黑洞社区,鈥� said Maria Edelman, 黑洞社区 Barton School student. 鈥淚 have met so many remarkable and inspiring individuals, all of which have helped guide, mentor and provide me with opportunities I would not otherwise have. The Executive-in-Residence events, along with the other career programs the Barton School provides, have played an important role in shaping the young professional I am today.鈥�
As president and CEO of Thrive Restaurant Group, Rolph and his team own and operates more than 100 restaurants, including Applebee鈥檚, Carlos O鈥橩elly鈥檚, HomeGrown, and Peace, Love, and Pie. The restaurants are located in 12 states across the Midwest and Appalachia and employ more than 5,400 people.
鈥淛on is a brilliant, compassionate leader who has continued to thrive in an industry that is known for its volatility,鈥� said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. 鈥淗is success is a direct result of his commitment to what is next. I鈥檓 excited for him to share his wisdom with us.鈥�
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Baylor University, Rolph worked with college student leaders as an intern for the National Student Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. He returned to Kansas in 2002 to work in the family-owned businesses started by his father and his uncle. Prior to being named president, he held a number of key positions in the company, including restaurant-level operations, vice president of administration and marketing, and as chief operating officer of Carlos O鈥橩elly鈥檚.
Rolph has served on the boards of several local and national organizations, including the Wichita Children鈥檚 Home, United Way of the Plains, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce, chairman of Visioneering Wichita, the Center for Combating Human Trafficking, and the Wichita Metro YMCA boards. His current board memberships and affiliations include co-chairman of the Greater Wichita Partnership, board of directors at INTRUST Bank, chairman of Centralized Supply Chain Services, chairman of the Applebee鈥檚 Franchise Business Council, Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, and as the governor鈥檚 appointee on the Executive Committee of Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK), and vice-chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. Jon and his wife, Lauren, are both fifth-generation Kansans. They have been married for more than 15 years and have six children, ages 1 to 12.
鈥淭om Gentile was an amazing leader to kickstart the Executive-in-Residence program,鈥� said Dr. Rick Muma, president of 黑洞社区. 鈥淛on is going to continue to carry the torch. I鈥檓 excited that the university and Barton School are giving Jon a platform to share his deep and vast knowledge on innovation, business, leadership and importance of human connection. The more we can learn from inspiring and seasoned leaders, our students, faculty, staff and community will be better for it.鈥�
For more information on the Barton School, visit .
黑洞社区 serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and 黑洞社区 Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 黑洞社区 provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 黑洞社区 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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About the W. Frank Barton School of Business
Located in Kansas鈥� business hub and with significant ties to the business community, the W. Frank Barton School of Business provides extensive applied learning opportunities. With in-person and online options, Barton School undergraduate and graduate programs are tailored to transform the lives of its students. It also holds a double AACSB accreditation for business and accounting, which puts it in the top 1% of business schools worldwide. The Barton School was established as the university鈥檚 College of Business Administration and Industry in 1926 and has thousands of graduates around the world.
