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Marco's Pizza featured on 'Undercover Boss'

Marco's Pizza President and Chief Operating Officer Bryon Stephens appeared on the CBS show "Undercover Boss."

February 25, 2016

Marco's Pizza President and Chief Operating Officer Bryon Stephens appeared on the CBS show "Undercover Boss" during an episode that aired Jan. 29. Stephens went undercover as a bearded employee named "Jay." Stephens, as "Jay," criss-crossed the country, taking on different roles at various franchise locations and at the company's distribution center in Maumee, Ohio. The show featured Stephens' interaction with key employees at each location, according to a company press release.

The episode culminated in the surprising reveal that "Jay" was actually Stephens. Having dropped the disguise, Stephens introduced himself as president and COO of Marco's Pizza to the four employees with whom "Jay" had worked. During the show's ending, Stephens extended life-changing tokens of appreciation to the employees and took what he learned from them to his executive team, in order to develop new initiatives to improve the overall quality of the Marco's Pizza franchise, the release stated.

This episode insight into the inner workings of the Marco's Pizza franchise, offering Stephens a first-hand look at the business model's strengths and challenges, as well as the personal and professional struggles of employees and franchisees. The experience was also life-changing for Stephens, who recounted the toll that ambition and the drive for excellence have taken on his personal life. Stephens' primary objective in this episode was to gauge the stores', franchisees' and employees' success as part of the Marco's Pizza franchise.

"Marco's Pizza is growing rapidly," Stephens said. "By going undercover, I had the unique opportunity to expose issues and address them so that we can continue to grow smart. I also came away from this journey incredibly proud of our employees on the front lines. It all really boils down to our product and the hardworking people behind it."