Billie Jo Waara brings 20 years’ experience to booming brand
Cicis, the nation’s top family-friendly pizza buffet restaurant company, known for its unlimited pizza, pasta, salad, soup and dessert offerings, has named brand marketing veteran Billie Jo Waara to the position of chief marketing officer.
Waara most recently served as CMO at Cheyenne, Wyoming-based Taco John’s, leading the chain’s 400 restaurants through a comprehensive brand transformation that included large-scale digital initiatives and culinary innovation. She joins Cicis as it continues a successful brand renaissance set into motion four years ago by CEO Darin Harris.
“Turning a brand around and getting it going in the right direction is only half the battle – you have to keep that momentum going with strong leadership,” said Harris. “Billie Jo has an outstanding track record of working with transforming brands and we are confident in her ability to keep the Cicis success story moving forward.”
Cicis has experienced an industry trend-busting 16 quarters of same store sales growth as it has rebranded, improved food quality and guest satisfaction, updated restaurants, increased brand perception and introduced innovative menu items. At the same time, it has signed multiple new development agreements with franchise partners representing more than 70 new restaurant commitments in 12 states.
“Cicis is alive and relevant again, and it’s a dynamic time to join the company,” said Waara, who relocated to the Dallas area this month. “I am becoming part of an incredible team and look forward to working with them to build upon their success and continue growing our brand.”
Founded in 1983, Irving, Texas-based Cicis invented the Unlimited Pizza Buffet concept, offering guests a wide variety pizzas, including, stuffed crust, deep-dish, and flatbreads, along with pastas, salads and desserts for dine-in, carry-out and catering. With nearly 430 restaurants in 32 states, Cicis has been ranked by Technomic as No. 1 in “most craveable pizza chains,” and Entrepreneur recognized Cicis on its Franchise 500 list in 2015. For more information about Cicis, visit cicis.com or Facebook.com/cicis.
For franchising information, contact Michael Iglesias at miglesias@cicispizza.com or 972-745-9313 or visit franchise.cicis.com.
