If there is a system or store struggling, Aslam Khan, CEO of Falcon Holdings, Church’s largest franchisee group, is the man the people turn to for help. His 21-year journey with Church’s began behind the counter. Today Pakastani-born Khan and his partner, private equity firm Sentinel Capital, operate more than 100 Church’s throughout the Midwest and plan to double their holdings before the year is through. Falcon Holdings’s retention rates at both the corporate and hourly level are enviable to all but the best operators in the business. And because Khan is involved—with the International Franchise Association (IFA), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and his local restaurant associations—he is considered one of the key players in quick-service.

QSR talked with this consummate operator about why he’s loyal to the brand and industry that gave him his start.

How did you first become involved in quick-service? I was in my early 30s. When I arrived over here I had a friend working for Church’s. I started as a dishwasher and soon became a cashier…and then assistant manager, general manager in a very short time, less than three months.

From there, I just continued moving to bigger and better positions. I became a marketing manager for a long time. From there, I went to KFC for a couple of years.

How did you end up an operator? There were 50 [Church’s] restaurants in California that were going through bankruptcy. I took over those restaurants and turned them around.

Did you own those units? No, I was part of the management team. There were some investors who bought the stores. After I turned those restaurants around, everyone was looking at me to turn other restaurants around, as well. They sought me out.

That’s when you became an operator? Once I agreed to pick up my current restaurants, I went to Sentinel. They gave me about $8 million, and I started cleaning up the restaurants. In 2005, I gave them back $27 million. They got a good return.