Rising Stars: Meet Michael Brown of Mission, KS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Brown.

Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Responding for Michael Brown, our Director of Operations.

“I’ve been in the fast casual restaurant world for nearly 30 years now—and I still absolutely love it. I actually started my journey hand-breading chicken when I was just 14, and from that moment on, I was hooked. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work with or consult for some amazing brands like Pie Five Pizza, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Goodcents, Panera Bread, Longhorn Steakhouse, Jefferson’s, and more.

One of the things I’m most passionate about is concept development. I’ve helped build out restaurant concepts in both Kansas City and Dallas—including WingStand by Jefferson’s, which I joined in late 2020 as Director of Operations. Before that, I was in a similar role at Grit Hospitality and also worked as an operations consultant. I’ve always had a drive for operational excellence—finding ways to make things run smoother, better, and faster—and that energy tends to rub off on the teams I work with.

Outside of work, I’ve been happily married for over 19 years, and I’ve got two dogs, Melvyn and Goosedown, who keep things interesting. If I’m not in the kitchen tossing wings, you’ll probably find me at the gym or brainstorming the next great menu idea!”

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anyone in the restaurant business will tell you—it’s never a smooth road. Launching WingStand by Jefferson’s right in the middle of the pandemic definitely came with its share of challenges. From staffing hurdles to figuring out how to attract guests during a time when people were still hesitant to dine out, we had to be scrappy from the start. On top of that, we committed early on to using fresh (never frozen) wings—because we believe that’s what our guests deserve—even when prices hit all-time highs.

Like every operator, we’ve had to navigate changing consumer behaviors, supply chain quirks, and the day-to-day curveballs that come with running restaurants. But through it all, we’ve stayed nimble and focused on what matters: great chicken, great people, and building a brand our communities can rally around.

The support we’ve felt from the Mission and Olathe communities has made it all worth it. They’ve embraced our team, our big flavor dreams—and yes, even our Giant Chicken, Flipp. We’re proud of what we’re building with WingStand, and while the road hasn’t always been easy, it’s been incredibly rewarding.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What sets me apart is passion—for the work, and for the people behind it. I’m results-driven, but I lead with heart. One of the things I’m most proud of is taking WingStand from a simple idea to a franchise-ready brand. Seeing one of our former managers become our very first franchisee—owning and running his own WingStand—has been incredibly rewarding. Helping someone grow from team member to business owner is the kind of impact I aim for.

At my core, I specialize in building strong teams and running tight operations. If you can depend on your people, everything else falls into place. That combination of operational know-how and people-first leadership is what I bring to every brand I touch.

What does success mean to you?
To me, success is smart growth—for both our people and the brand. It’s about building something meaningful from the ground up, something that starts with great food (like really, really good chicken) and resonates with people because of the care that goes into every detail. We slow cook our wings, use high-quality oils, hand-bread every tender and sandwich, and even hand-squeeze our lemonade. Those little things matter—and when our guests notice, that feels like success.

From day one, our goal with WingStand was to enrich lives—both for our guests and our team. We set out to create something that delivers a memorable meal at a fair price, rooted in community, and built to grow leaders. When we see loyalty, leadership, and local love all coming together, that’s the real win.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wingstand.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingstandkc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingStandKC/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wingstand