Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream has added four seasoned leaders to its executive team, the Davenport–based restaurant chain announced in a news release this week.
With the changes, Abby Rock is vice president of marketing. Ashley Balluff is vice president of training and culinary services. Jenny Culp is the vice president of purchasing and supply chain, and Christopher Anschutz is vice president of restaurant operations.
Expanding the leadership team with these additions was designed, the release said, so CEO, President and Chief Happiness Officer Tom Sacco can build the chain’s leadership of the future.
“These appointments reflect our servant leadership focus on people, restaurants and franchisee support,” Mr. Sacco said. “Each of these servant leaders brings a service-minded approach and a proven expertise that will strengthen our foundation as we continue our expansion into new and existing markets.”
He added “Their focused servant leadership ensures that we’re not just getting bigger, but growing better.”
The executive additions include the internal promotion of two current successful leaders with more than 20 years of experience with Happy Joe’s as well as the addition of a pair of seasoned leaders who also boast more than two decades of professional experience.
Going forward, Happy Joe’s expanded executive team will guide brand strategy, training and culinary standards, procurement and distribution, as well as day‑to‑day restaurant operations across company and franchise locations, the release said.
That team’s focus is to deliver best-in-class support to franchisees while protecting the guest experience that defines Happy Joe’s as Happy Joe’s expands across the USA and internationally, the release said.
Meet the new leaders
Those leaders include Ms. Rock who will spearhead brand strategy, creative development, digital and social programs and field support for franchises. She brings with her extensive sales and marketing experience. That includes a decade of leading marketing for one of the country’s largest independently owned jewelry companies before launching her own consulting firm.
Ms. Balluff has been part of Happy Joe’s family since 1999. Her roles included head coach, district coach, and director of field training. She was director of training and culinary development from 2022 until her promotion to VP in 2025. In that role, she will oversee training programs and culinary development, ensuring consistent standards across the system.
Ms. Culp has played a major role within the brand’s operations and supply chain since 2007, most recently serving as the director of purchasing and supply chain. In her new role as vice president, she will oversee sourcing, vendor partnerships, and distribution strategies that position franchisees for success while ensuring consistency, quality, and value for guests.
Mr. Anschutz joins Happy Joe’s as vice president of operations. He brings leadership and franchise experience at Ponderosa Steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse, and T.G.I. Friday’s.
Since 2020, he has been part of Happy Joe’s parent organization, Dynamic Restaurant Holdings, LLC. There he rose from director of operations, to senior franchise business consultant, to vice president of operations.
As VP of operations at Happy Joe’s, he will focus on operational excellence across corporate and franchise operations, as well as, supporting Happy Joe’s franchisees in growing their high-performing restaurants.
Founded in 1972 by Joe Whitty in Davenport, Happy Joe’s is owned and operated by Dynamic Restaurant Holdings Inc. Find franchise opportunities at HappyJoesFranchising.com or email Kat Davidson at [email protected] or call 678-485-8413.
