What You Get

President and Founder

When Rodney was 24 and fresh out of graduate school at the University of Chicago, he opened the first Pancheros Mexican Grill in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1992. In that time, Pancheros has become one of the most popular Mexican fast-casual concepts in the Midwest. Under Rodney’s leadership, Pancheros has proven the business model in over 70 locations in 13 states. Today, Pancheros is actively focused on franchise development and growing the brand far beyond Rodney’s first location in Iowa City, which is still open today.

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Director of Franchise Development

Joe has 30+ years of sales, operations, and account management experience, including 20 years with Coca-Cola North America Foodservice, working closely with QSR and fast-casual brands. Most recently, Joe managed the western region franchisee relations for Coca-Cola with Dairy Queen, working with franchise owners across 22 states to improve and grow their businesses. As Director of Franchising, Joe will use his deep restaurant, franchise, and sales experience to fuel Pancheros’ national expansion.

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VP of FRAnchise Operations

Saúl Muñiz has served as the Vice President of Franchise Operations at Pancheros since November 2023. Saul has been associated with Pancheros for several years and has worked on both the company-operated and franchise side of the business in Director of Operations roles. Before joining Pancheros, he worked at Chipotle Mexican Grill for over two decades. He started as Shift Leader and gradually worked his way up to the position of Director of Operations. Saul is a passionate, energetic, committed and confident restaurant leader. He leads with integrity and professionalism. 

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VP of Company Operations and Training

Lori has served as VP of Company Operations & Training since January 2024 and is based out of our Coralville, Iowa, office. From April 2021 to October 2023, Lori served as Vice President of Operations and Training with Craveworthy Brands in Elgin, Illinois. From July 2017 to December 2020, she served as Vice President of Operations at Protein Bar & Kitchen in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to that, Lori was the Director of Operations Services and New Restaurant Openings with Roti Mediterranean Grill in Chicago, Illinois, from July of 2009 through August of 2017.

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Director of Real Estate

Nanette is a highly experienced real estate professional who helps new franchisees throughout the entire process of locating and securing the ideal location for their new Pancheros location. This includes communication of Pancheros’ real estate process and site criteria, field review, and approval of sites to move forward to real estate committee (REC) and approval of sites.

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Director of Design and Construction

In 2002 Shannon began her career with Pancheros when the ninth company-operated restaurant had just opened and franchising was taking off. After fulfilling the goals of the Opening Coordinator position, Shannon took over the Design and Construction Department for the franchisor in 2008, assisting with all new builds, remodels, and materials selection.

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Director of Marketing

Emma, started her career at Pancheros Mexican Grill as the Burrito Relations Manager in 2016. That previous role allowed her to play a vital part in supporting local marketing initiatives and gain valuable insights into company operations. Emma’s dedication and hard work motivated her to take on more responsibilities, leading her to oversee project, budget, and vendor management within the marketing team. Today, as the Director of Marketing, Emma continues to refine the company’s marketing strategies and processes.

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Director of Digital Marketing

Alexis brings extensive experience from previous marketing roles in the food delivery, publishing, and tech sectors. Her journey led her to discover a genuine passion for the restaurant industry when she joined the Pancheros team in 2019. Starting as the brand’s first Social Media Manager, Alexis seamlessly transitioned to take charge of Pancheros’ digital marketing endeavors, overseeing key initiatives such as the Burritos with Benefits^™ loyalty program and the Pancheros mobile app. Today, as the Director of Digital Marketing, Alexis continues to drive innovative strategies in the digital landscape for Pancheros.

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Franchise Business Consultant

LeAnn Meyer started her career at Pancheros Mexican Grill in 2018 as Burrito Relations Manager, overseeing local store marketing initiatives and getting a front-row seat to restaurant operations and efficiencies. In 2020, she transitioned to the Operations team assisting with training and systems management. Today, LeAnn is a Franchise Business Consultant and helps franchisees navigate Pancheros ownership through an engaged, hands-on relationship. Her extensive brand knowledge and strong operational values help franchisees learn and execute Burritos Better Built^® on a daily basis.

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