Hamra Enterprises' longtime Wendy’s president retiring

provided by Hamra Enterprises LLC

Chuck Ocarz has worked at Wendy’s of Missouri for 28 years.

Chuck Ocarz, who is credited with leading a period of expansion for Springfield-based Hamra Enterprises LLC's Wendy's restaurant division, is retiring.

Chuck Ocarz has led the division, called Wendy’s of Missouri, since 1995, according to a news release. In the nearly three decades since that time, the Wendy's franchise division has grown to 98 restaurants from 15.

“Chuck has been an incredible contribution to Hamra Enterprises’ Wendy’s division, and we attribute much of our success to his leadership," said Mike Hamra, president and CEO of Hamra Enterprises, in the release. “Chuck is not only responsible for setting the highest standards for our Wendy’s restaurants, but placed a strong emphasis on customer service and employee mentorship at the center of everything we do.”

Under Ocarz's leadership, each Hamra Wendy's location now averages $2.4 million in sales, officials say. That's up from average annual restaurants sales of around $500,000 in 1995.

Hamra Enterprises founder Sam Hamra personally recruited Ocarz, who previously worked as an executive for the Wendy’s corporation.

“The closest I will ever come to knowing Dave Thomas is through knowing Chuck Ocarz,” said Simeon Shelton, chief financial officer for Hamra Enterprises, in the release, referring to the founder of Wendy's. “I've never seen anyone with a love for the Wendy's brand that I've seen from Chuck."