Our Team
Brandon Graham
President
Brandon Graham graduated from the University of Kansas, where his love for Jefferson’s first started in 2000 when they opened their second location ever in his hometown. He’s been a franchisee for nearly fifteen years and worked for the company for six years before acquiring Jefferson’s Franchise Systems in April 2018.
Additionally, he owned and operated locations with four other brands before and during his time with Jefferson’s. Brandon understands franchising, and the impact that leadership and partnership from the franchisor makes to the operators that work hard to build the brand every day.
He’s married and has triplet boys who enjoy being in their two family owned Jefferson’s restaurants in Lawrence. They’re the biggest double dipped wing fans you can find, and they’re eating a lot of them as newly minted 14 year olds!
NED NELSON
Vice President
As a 30 plus year veteran of restaurants, Ned has done it all in the business. Still not afraid of busing a table or making a drink at the bar, he loves all aspects of this business. His strength has become the business side of restaurants. The last 15 years have been focused on real estate, franchising, and helping people bring their dreams of owning their own business to life. His daily focus is to negotiate the best possible products at the best possible price coming into the back doors of our restaurants.
Ned said he joined Jefferson’s because of the unbelievable passion displayed by the support center team, franchisees, and direction of the company. This brand is going places, and he is excited to be a big part of its success. His free time is spent playing golf with his teenage son and anything to do with the Kansas Jayhawks.
ANDREW COLLMEYER
Director of Operations
Andrew spent the first two decades of his career working professionally in the beer business and came to know Jefferson’s in 2014 when moving to Lawrence, KS. Andrew’s been hooked on Double Dipped wings ever since. He worked alongside the Lawrence franchises of Jefferson’s as their beer distributor building a bigger and better beer portfolio for the restaurants.
In his 21 years in the corporate beer world, he spent 15 of those years in upper management. Andrew prides himself on his ability to effectively communicate with anybody and everybody he meets.This bodes well when it comes to communicating with our Franchisee Family.
Andrew and his wife, Mindy, have two kids, Max (20) and Chloe (14), as well as a golden retriever named Hank. Andrew is at his best grilling out for his family & friends with the tunes rocking and an ice cold beer in hand!
Arielle Long-Seabra
Director of Marketing
Arielle is an accomplished marketing leader having worked in the restaurant industry for over a decade. Her career started in 2013 when she joined Applebee’s International, igniting her passion for restaurant marketing. Since then, she has traversed various roles, from the largest grill and bar brand to the dynamic environment of Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, guiding brand leadership for the Dairy Queen account at Barkley, and now, of course, with Jefferson’s.
She has a passion for crafting strategic restaurant marketing plans and excels in forging strategic partnerships, evident from her successful collaborations with sports icons like Patrick Mahomes and Sporting Kansas City, effectively highlighting key brand messages for previous Brands. She’s also a native to the digital domain on social media. She has adeptly overseen brand-wide location-specific advertising, orchestrated hands-on community management programs for franchisees, and produced engaging social-first content that promotes the brand identity.
If you need her outside of work – you can find her enjoying an audiobook, a trip, or a full order of Buffalo Chicken Nachos.
Tim Barnes
Franchise Field Operations Consultant
Tim is a former General Manager for the Jefferson’s Downtown Lawrence location. In his 6 years in this location, he worked in every facet of the restaurant in his tenure from back-of-house to front-of-house to management. He has almost two decades of experience in the restaurant industry, including his most recent position with Granite City Food & Brewery in Naperville, IL.
Tim couldn’t stay away from Jefferson’s for long and joined the team in 2021 to lead back of house operations. He is excited to be back with Jefferson’s and to be a part of the growth of the system.
LaZarus “Z” Carter
Franchise Field Operations Consultant
Z started his career with Jefferson’s as a Manager for the Oxford, AL location back in 2010. Two short years later, he worked his way up to General Manager and never looked back. In the years to follow, Z earned further promotions, serving as the Director of Operations for several Jefferson’s restaurant markets in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
When the Jefferson’s Franchise Systems’ Field Operations position was announced in 2021, Z was excited for the opportunity to join the JFS team and take the next steps in his career. He is well versed in both Front and Back of House Operations, jumping in to help the team win by playing any role necessary. His natural leadership through coaching and remaining levelheaded in high energy environments makes him a perfect fit.
Legend has it that Z skipped a recruiting visit to hang with some buddies at Jefferson’s in Jacksonville, AL in 2001. Funny how the campus hangout spot ultimately turned into his career path (isn’t that the dream?!) In his personal time, Z can be found at the gym living out his hoop dreams, playing the stock market or shopping at Foot Locker.
Chelsea Jennings
Franchise Field Operations Consultant
Chelsea is, and always has been, outstanding with our guests and has made regulars out of first time customers her whole career. She is an excellent trainer and teacher in all aspects of the Front of House Operations, especially the instinctive nuances that make her an elite server, educator and trainer.
In 2019, Chelsea started as Jefferson’s Franchise Systems’ Operations Support Assistant, filling numerous support roles and managing the office. She is now the Regional Franchise Field Consultant, overseeing our six (and counting!) Midwest stores.
In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and letting KU sports dictate her general well-being.
James Stephenson
Franchise Field Operations Consultant
With over a decade of experience in the restaurant industry in Lawrence, KS, James has cultivated a deep understanding of the dynamics that drive success in this business. As an ardent football enthusiast, he loved watching games over a basket of wings at Jefferson’s, sparking his passion for the brand. In 2019, James took the leap and embarked on a journey with Jefferson’s, starting as the Assistant Area Manager and diligently climbing the ranks to eventually become the Area Manager in Kansas.
James became the driving force behind the successful launch of the Topeka location in 2022, serving as the General Manager. Working hand in hand with Andrew, he expertly oversaw the grand opening and skillfully managed the store’s day-to-day operations. Now, James is gearing up to share his wealth of expertise as a Franchise Field Consultant, moved him to the Chattanooga area to better cater to our Southern locations. With his unwavering commitment and boundless enthusiasm, James is set to make a significant impact on Jefferson’s growth and success.
Kelly Sullivan
Procurement Manager
After graduating from Emporia State in 1988, Kelly began his 30+ year career in the restaurant industry. Starting as a franchisee owner of two Mr Goodcents Subs and Pastas locations in the ’90s, he eventually found his way to procurement as a sales consultant for Sysco KC for 22 years.
Kelly’s Jefferson’s story began in 2000, when the 2nd Jefferson’s location opened up in Downtown Lawrence, KS. He was the initial Sysco representative for the Lawrence location when it opened, and continued in this role for Jefferson’s KC market for two decades. He couldn’t get enough of the Double Dipped wings, and finally joined the JFS team in 2022!
Kelly is married with one daughter who is a nurse. He and his family love to spend time at the beach any chance they can get and cheering on the Kansas Jayhawks!
Ryann Noyce
Brand Marketing Manager
Ryann started her college experience at Johnson County Community College where she played soccer for two years before transferring to The University of Kansas. While attending KU she started her Jefferson’s career as a server, bartender and manager. It was during this time she fell in love with the brand (and the Double Dipped wings). After graduation she joined the Jefferson’s Franchise Systems with an interest in local store marketing and building positive connections within the community.
Ryann has a passion for creativity and in her personal time you can find her crafting, reading or most likely gaming.
Alexandra b. clark
Vice President of Finance
Alexandra, or Alex to most who know her, has over 30 years in the accounting sector, specializing in franchise and restaurants for the past 20 years. Formerly CFO of the Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs franchise, Alex joined the Jefferson’s franchise organization in 2018 after working with several of the restaurant owners since 2014 in her role at Profit Plus Business Solutions, LLC. Originally hired as its Controller, Alex was promoted to Vice President – Finance in 2024.
Alex’s passion has always been helping business owners connect the impact of day to day decisions to the financial data that results, converting data to information for effective decision making and analyzing the effect of decisions in terms of profit and loss. She loves a spreadsheet!
In her spare time, Alex enjoys spending time with her kids and grandson, playing pool, working out and running.
pam kirkpatrick
Jefferson’s Foundation Executive Director
Pam received her MBA with an emphasis in nonprofit, from Park University in 2016. She joined the Jefferson’s Foundation as Executive Director in 2018. Prior to joining the foundation, she worked for Graham Restaurant Group as the Director of Marketing and Community Outreach.
She also sat on the board for Gold Glove Charities and worked for 11 years as the Director of a local nonprofit that offered recreation programs for children. She is excited every day about working with the Jefferson’s organization and is inspired by their commitment and vision to assist all children, who are less fortunate, by offering them support when needed and to ensure these children receive the physical and financial needs to encourage a stable and healthy environment to grow and develop.
Pam is married, has four children and 11 grandchildren. Her spare time consists of attending her grandchildren’s ballgames, wrestling matches, dance recitals and other activities. She and her husband are diehard KC Royal and KC Chief fans and of course, they love their Jayhawks!
Michael Brown
WingStand by Jefferson’s – Director of Operations
Michael comes to WingStand by Jefferson’s with 29+ years of experience in the fast casual restaurant space.
He has a proven track record of Operational Excellence and a passion for what he does that quickly becomes infectious.
He started his career hand-breading chicken at Go-Chicken-Go at the age of 14 and the rest is history. He joined WingStand by Jefferson’s in late 2020 as the Director of Operations. Prior to his joining the team, Michael was the Director of Operations for Grit Hospitality and an Operations Consultant. Over the years, he has had the opportunity to work with and consult for a plethora of brands such as; Pie Five Pizza, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Jefferson’s, Basil Leaf Cafe, Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, Panera Bread and Longhorn Steakhouse.
Michael has been married for 18+ years and has 2 dogs, Melvyn and Goosedown. When he is not tossing those cluck’n awesome wings, you will find him in the gym or thinking of the next great menu idea!