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Executive Leader, with proven success growing market value, driven by a consumer-centric…
Articles by Cody
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Wealth Creation through Franchising
Wealth Creation through Franchising
Several years back, I received some great council from a franchisee regarding his passion around being a business…
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Is a Franchise in your Future?
Is a Franchise in your Future?
In my 30 plus years with McDonald’s Corporation, I experienced first-hand the highs and lows of individuals owning a…
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Cody Teets, PhD shared this13% MAKE IT TO GENERATION 3. THIS FAMILY IS ON GENERATION 6. Most business transitions fail before the business does. In my work with @The Transition Strategists, the hardest conversation I have with leaders isn't about valuation or timing. It's this: What are you actually handing off, and to whom? Last week in Regensburg, Bavaria, I found the best answer I've ever seen to that question. Tucked against a medieval wall on the banks of the Danube sits a sausage kitchen open since 1135. The Schricker-Meier family has owned it for six generations. Six. In the US, only 13% of family businesses make it to the third generation. This family has lapped that milestone twice. THEIR SECRET? They don't think like owners. They think like custodians. The recipe is guarded. The building is small and unchanged. Nothing is scaled for growth — everything is protected for longevity. Research on long-lasting family firms confirms it: the businesses that survive generations prioritize pride, humility, and family unity over short-term profit. They aren't building an empire. They're protecting a legacy. That distinction is everything — and it's exactly what we help leaders navigate at @The Transition Strategists. THE QUESTION IS NOT JUST WHO TAKES OVER. IT'S WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR, AND WILL THE NEXT GENERATION CARRY IT FORWARD? The Wurstkuchl has answered that question six times. Have you started answering it once? #FamilyBusiness #Succession #Legacy #TransitionStrategists #Leadership
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Cody Teets, PhD reposted this💜💜💜Cody Teets, PhD reposted thisThe human brain hates one thing more than failure. Not knowing what happens next. That is why uncertainty feels so exhausting. Not because something bad has happened. But because something might happen. A changing economy. Artificial intelligence. A new role. A difficult decision. An unclear future. The mind fills the gaps with worst-case scenarios. "What if I fail?" "What if I make the wrong decision?" "What if everything changes?" Fear lives in the unknown. But every meaningful achievement requires stepping into uncertainty before you feel ready. The best leaders understand this. They do not wait for certainty. They build the ability to adapt. Because confidence is not believing everything will go according to plan. Confidence is knowing you can handle what comes next. Fear says: "What if?" Resilience says: "Even if."
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Cody Teets, PhD shared thisGreat perspective.Cody Teets, PhD shared thisMost people dismiss their biggest dreams. Not because they're impossible. Because they sound crazy out loud. I know the feeling. I spent 12 years climbing someone else's ladder — VP titles, good salary, the whole picture. On paper, it made sense. Inside, it felt like I was disappearing. The idea of walking away felt irrational to everyone around me. To me, it felt like the only option. That gap? That's where every real entrepreneur I know has lived. Most people never cross it. They wait for the idea to feel safer. They wait for someone to tell them it's okay. They wait until the timing is better. The timing never gets better. Here's what I've learned building a business 141,000+ entreprenuers: → The dream that embarrasses you in a room full of people is usually the one worth chasing → "Crazy" is just what conviction looks like before it has proof → The people who crossed that gap didn't wait for certainty — they decided the discomfort of staying was worse than the risk of going → Your idea doesn't need to make sense to everyone else — it only needs to make sense to you The entire point of life is to take chances on dreams that seem crazy to most — but feel like destiny to you. I write about this every Saturday on my newsletter giving actionable steps to stay crazy and do what you're meant to. Its free. Takes 4 minutes to read. https://lnkd.in/gfyweeTM Stay unreasonable.
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Cody Teets, PhD shared thisA must read for all women who know the path to leadership has its challenges. So proud to see one of my fellow PhD grads in Fortune Magazine. 💫 #Leadership #NASA #Artemus IIICody Teets, PhD shared thisWhen NASA named the all-male Artemis III crew, the collective disappointment among all women who look to the stars and dream was palpable. But, I just spent two years researching women astronauts. I learned first-hand that while systemic change can be slow, leadership is developed not by institutions, but in community, day-by-day, with the support of parents and caregivers, teachers, friends, bosses, partners, and more. So, I wrote an op-ed. And, this morning, Fortune published my words and my research. As I write in the article, "The walls of the [women's leadership] labyrinth will move when they move, but a woman’s belief in her ability to persist and navigate can be developed and improved right now in yourself and in the women and girls in your own life, be they your employees, your students, your friends or your daughters." So, if you're wondering, "what actions can I take today to uplift women as leaders?" you can read the article here: https://lnkd.in/eCUW2gpV Incredibly honored to be published in Fortune and have my research out in the world--and on my birthday no less!
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Cody Teets, PhD shared thisWhen hard work and luck merge, you have to follow thruCody Teets, PhD shared this🧘♂️ Discipline is the ability to make yourself do something you don't want to do, in order to get a result you really want to get. 👣 डिसिप्लिन वह काबिलियत है जिससे आप खुद से कुछ ऐसा करवाते हैं जो आप नहीं करना चाहते, ताकि आपको वह रिज़ल्ट मिल सके जो आप सच में चाहते हैं। 🚶♂️ Discipline is the bridge between your dreams and your achievements. 🧗♂️ It is the ability to take action even when you don't feel motivated, even when it's difficult, and even when no one is watching. Most people wait for the perfect mood or the right moment, but disciplined people understand that success is built through consistent effort, not temporary motivation. ⌛ The true meaning of this quote is that achieving something valuable in life often requires doing things that are uncomfortable today for a better tomorrow. 💡 Waking up early, learning new skills, exercising regularly, staying focused, and refusing distractions may not always be enjoyable, but these small daily choices create extraordinary results over time. 🎲 Discipline teaches us that feelings come and go, but commitment remains. When you choose discipline over excuses, you gain control over your habits, your time, and ultimately your future. ⛷️ Every time you do what needs to be done instead of what feels easy, you become stronger, more confident, and closer to your goals. 💥 Remember, the life you truly want is often hidden behind the work you don't feel like doing. Start with one disciplined action today, stay consistent, and watch how small efforts transform into remarkable success. 🔭 Your future self will thank you for the sacrifices and decisions you make today. #Discipline #SuccessMindset #PersonalGrowth #SelfImprovement #StayFocused #MotivationDaily #PositiveThinking #DreamBig #Consistency #GoalSetting #MindsetMatters #LifeLessons #Inspiration #NeverGiveUp #GrowthMindset #DipkulShahQuote
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisAs a business owner there are a lot of ups & downs, but last night was definitely an 'up' moment. After months of behind the scenes work, the Fitzgerald Petersen team managed all communications preparation, media relations and influencer relations for the WORLD PREMIERE of CELESTIA! I'm not exaggerating when I say that VIPs & media have been calling, emailing and texting nonstop about the awe-inspiring experience seeing this fantastic show. Thank you CELESTIA for choosing our wonderful city for this exciting debut and we can't wait to see its success! #liveentertainment #DenverCody Teets, PhD liked thisA big night for the Fitzgerald Petersen Communications team after months of preparation, we managed media representatives seeing CELESTIA's debut & interviewing CELESTIA spokespeople from the gorgeous Saint John's Cathedral in Denver. The VIP/Media Premiere marked the world launch of CELESTIA and tonight is the official opening to the public. Reviews have been incredible - you have to see it to believe the this awe-inspiring experience that will be in Denver through the summer! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/erxxDycF #CelestiaExperience #CelestiaDenver #DenverArts #ImmersiveExperience #DenverEvents #SaintJohnsCathedral
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisCody Teets, PhD liked thisWe are so grateful to present Xcel Energy as our returning Platinum Sponsor for our 2026 Annual Luncheon! Thank you to the Xcel team for their generous partnership in supporting Colorado women and families, year after year. Your partnership fuels our work in investing in gender, racial, and economic equity for women across our state. We’re excited to celebrate with you all on September 10th! Join Xcel and our community of changemakers at our 2026 Annual Luncheon. Secure your spot at wfco.org/luncheon
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisCody Teets, PhD liked thisMost of my team members have been with me since the very beginning of Canopy Advisory Group. I know how rare that is, and I feel incredibly lucky that these people have given me and this idea their time and effort and care for 17+ years. Being able to share every part of this journey, including the ups and downs, with other people who are as invested as I am, and to experience how the business has evolved over time, is a truly special thing. Thank you to my wonderful team. I could not do this without you!
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisCody Teets, PhD liked this🌟 We're Hiring: Commercialization Manager 🌟 We're growing our Innovation team at Ready Foods! This role sits at the heart of how ideas come to life—bridging R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance to turn great concepts into scalable, high-quality products. For over 50 years, we've built a culture rooted in lean principles, continuous improvement, and treating people right. We're looking for a leader who shares these values. What makes this role unique: ✨ Lead new products from concept through full-scale production ✨ Apply stage-gate discipline to commercialization and LTOs ✨ Manage plant trials and production scale-up ✨ Collaborate directly with leadership across our 4 Denver facilities Passionate about bringing products to life? Apply below! Commercialization Manager | Career Opportunities (https://lnkd.in/gzY9qQhy)
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisCody Teets, PhD liked thisWe often talk about building stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems, but what does that actually mean? For BEN CEO Mick Freeman, it started with a simple question: How are entrepreneurial ecosystems actually built? That question led to an unexpected realization. Maybe an ecosystem isn't just a collection of organizations, programs, and resources. Maybe it's a village. A place where relationships become the infrastructure that helps founders keep building through every stage of growth. It's a perspective that perfectly captures why BEN exists and the role every founder, mentor, investor, educator, and community partner plays in strengthening Colorado's entrepreneurial community. Read Mick's latest reflection why Raising a Startup is Like Raising a Child here: https://lnkd.in/e2ttbRKx
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisCody Teets, PhD liked thisWhen you grow up around money, it can quietly build a bubble around you where everything is easy and comfortable, and then you get sent out into a world that just does not work that way. If you are raising the next generation of your family, or you grew up inside a bubble like that yourself, I think you will get a lot out of this one. You're not the only one. 🎧 New episode of Your Next Gen Friend out now. https://lnkd.in/gYssS-8n
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisCody Teets, PhD liked this☕️ Boardroom Buzz | Lafayette, Colorado | July 14 There’s something special about gathering around a table with accomplished leaders who are passionate about sharing experiences, challenging perspectives, and advancing the practice of governance. This week in Lafayette, Colorado, the Private Directors Association® - Colorado hosted another engaging #BoardroomBuzz conversation with an outstanding group of leaders including David Logan, Karen Posey, Certified Board Director, Sanjay Bhagat, Chet Marino, Theresa Szczurek, PhD, and Marsh Lavenue Ph.D.. From boardroom best practices to leadership lessons and emerging opportunities, the discussion reinforced one of PDA’s greatest strengths - a trusted community where directors and executives can learn from one another and build meaningful connections. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to a thoughtful and energetic conversation. The collective wisdom, diverse experiences, and candid dialogue continue to make these gatherings invaluable. We look forward to seeing both familiar and new faces at our upcoming events as we continue strengthening Colorado’s director community. #PrivateDirectorsAssociation #BoardroomBuzz #BoardLeadership #CorporateGovernance #BoardDirectors #Leadership #ColoradoBusiness #ExecutiveLeadership #DirectorCommunity #Networking #PDACO #BoardExcellence
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisCody Teets, PhD liked thisWomen in AI Northern Colorado: The next phase of AI won't look like the last. It will be shaped by those who lead with empathy, ask deep questions, and view innovation as a creative, human-centered act. Women bring the exact, hard-earned capacities this moment requires: reinvention, holding complexity, and creating space for deeper connection. These aren’t "soft skills". They are critical leadership skills. Join us as we host Melissa Reeve, author of Hyperadaptive, to explore what women bring to this transition and how to actively shape what comes next. A Two-City Arc This is an evolving conversation across two distinct communities: --Fort Collins (Women in AI Northern Colorado): July 23: We kick off the conversation and open the space. --Boulder (Women in AI Colorado): Early September: We build on what surfaces in Fort Collins to create a richer, cross-community dialogue. ✅ Check this out! Live "Co-Sensing" This is not a presentation to sit through passively. Using the Sense app from our partner and sponsor Mnfst.ai, we will practice real-time "co-sensing." You will be able to share anonymous, honest reflections so we can see our collective intelligence and community wisdom emerge live. Come open this new chapter with us. The link to register is below in the top comment.
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Cody Teets, PhD liked thisI am honored to be included in the inaugural Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards-FARB Centralized Regulatory Agency Leaders Circle, which will bring together regulatory executives across thirteen states and territories. I look forward to joining my highly esteemed colleagues in Minneapolis as we continue to build community to promote and share best practices in government and regulatory excellence under the leadership of Chair Marlon Brown, DPA.Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards-FARB
Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards-FARB
Cody Teets, PhD liked thisWe're excited to announce the launch of the FARB Centralized Regulatory Agency Leaders Circle—a new national forum that brings together executive leaders of centralized professional licensing and regulatory agencies to strengthen collaboration, share best practices, improve government efficiency, and advance regulatory excellence. The inaugural meeting will take place during the FARB Summit on Regulatory Excellence in Minneapolis, where leaders from 13 states will come together to exchange ideas and discuss opportunities to strengthen professional regulation in the public interest. The response has already been incredibly encouraging, with leaders from 24 states expressing interest in participating as the Leaders Circle continues to grow. FARB believes that some of the best solutions come from regulators learning from one another. By fostering collaboration across jurisdictions, the Leaders Circle aims to strengthen regulatory agencies, improve government operations, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for the public. We're looking forward to this inaugural meeting and to sharing highlights from the discussion after the Summit. #FARB2026 #RegulatoryExcellence #GovernmentLeadership #ProfessionalLicensing
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Education
Volunteer Experience
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Founding President, Colorado Chapter
Private Directors Association®
- Present 5 years
Private Directors Association has more than 23 Chapters nationwide.
Mission to enhance the value, growth and resilience of privately held companies through effective governance. -
Advisor
Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network Colorado
- Present 4 years 3 months
Economic Empowerment
We serve Colorado scale-up entrepreneurs so they can grow their companies, elevate their communities, and be a force for good.
We curate resources and relationships for Colorado companies and CEOs in support of their growth goals. We work to make the right connection to the right resource, and we do it at the right time for your business. -
Board of Trustees -Investment and Academic Affairs Committees
Regis University College for Professional Studies
- 8 years
Education
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Treasurer Dress for Success Denver
Dress for Success Denver
- 6 years 1 month
Economic Empowerment
https://denver.dressforsuccess.org/
Board Member and Treasurer -
Capital Campaign Co-Chair
The Women's Foundation of Colorado
- Present 3 years 7 months
Social Services
Publications
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Golden Opportunity: Remarkable Careers That Began At McDonald's, by Cody Teets
Simon & Schuster, Distributor
See publicationWhat do 20 million Americans have in common with Tonight Show host Jay Leno, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, actress Andie MacDowell, and former White House chief of staff Andrew Card? They all started their working careers at a McDonald’s restaurant, learning some of the most important lessons of their lives. Golden Opportunity is a myth-busting collection of 44 profiles of people who went from flipping burgers to building remarkable careers in business, the arts, politics, science, the…
What do 20 million Americans have in common with Tonight Show host Jay Leno, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, actress Andie MacDowell, and former White House chief of staff Andrew Card? They all started their working careers at a McDonald’s restaurant, learning some of the most important lessons of their lives. Golden Opportunity is a myth-busting collection of 44 profiles of people who went from flipping burgers to building remarkable careers in business, the arts, politics, science, the military, and sports.
Honors & Awards
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Regis University Administrator of the Year
Regis University Student Government Association
Administrator Of the Year - Regis Univerity
Presidents Award (top 1% of Global Employees)
Global Women’s Leadership Award
US Restaurant Development Award
Outstanding Restaurant Manager
Outstanding People Manager
Organizations
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Professor
MBA Program
-• Deliver MBA course curriculum for the required strategy course as part of the MBA program at Regis University • Collaborated and developed a new Strategy course for the MBA program for Fall of 2020.
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Board of Trustees Regis University
Investment and Advancement Committees
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Retail & Hospitality Hub
According to Black Box Intelligence™ January 2026 Restaurant Industry Trends, the restaurant industry started the year with a misleadingly robust surge, fueled primarily by favorable year-over-year weather comparisons rather than a fundamental shift in consumer behavior. https://lnkd.in/gRrE9i4k
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Franchise Times
Golden Corral Restaurant CEO Lance Trenary spoke at Restaurant Finance & Development Conference (Restaurant Finance Monitor) panel, where he was joined by Zaxbys Chief Operating Officer Sharlene Smith, Revenue Management Solutions CEO John Oakes and Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Restaurant Analyst Michael Halen. Restaurant brands may be employing a slew of strategies to boost sales, but Zaxbys Chief Operating Officer Sharlene Smith said the fundamentals can’t be lost in the shuffle. “What we’ve really focused on is the experience,” Smith said. “Making sure we’re really delivering our great food faster to the guests and more accurately to the guests, and we’ve made double-digit improvements in those areas. Because when the customer finds you worth spending their hard-earned dollars, they’re going to keep coming in.” Read More: https://lnkd.in/gDJey-j6
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PizzaForno
Pizza has always been one of the most scalable categories in foodservice. But the traditional model is starting to feel the pressure. Across the industry, major pizza brands are dealing with rising labor costs, tighter margins, and the challenge of keeping large footprints profitable throughout the entire day. Recent reports around restructuring and store closures show something important: the model is evolving. Over the next 5–7 years, we’ll likely see more pizza operators experiment with smaller footprints and automated formats. Not as a replacement for restaurants but as a complement to them. Automated pizza kiosks open up locations that traditional stores simply can’t reach: Universities, Hospitals, Airports, Residential buildings, and Late-night environments where staffing a full kitchen isn’t always practical. For operators, that means: • lower real estate requirements • reduced labor dependency • 24/7 availability • incremental revenue outside the traditional restaurant model In many ways, this is less about automation and more about distribution. Pizza doesn’t only have to live inside a restaurant anymore. It can live wherever people are. We’re already seeing early signals of this shift across food tech, and it’s exciting to be working on the infrastructure that makes this possible at PFX. The next phase of pizza growth may not be bigger stores. It may simply be smarter access.
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