In this episode of Your Partner In Success Radio, Host Denise Griffitts sits down with Kacie Dancy, VP of Operations at Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage, a 40‑plus‑year Chicago family brand that has grown from a single neighborhood beef stand into a flexible, multi‑unit franchise. Kacie leads the growth of the beloved Chicago‑area brand her father founded in 1980. Combining finance expertise with hands‑on restaurant experience, she focuses on preserving Pop’s signature Italian beef while modernizing operations, systems, and guest engagement. In this episode, listeners will learn how to evolve a family business without losing its core culture, implement flexible franchising, maintain quality and profitability, leverage community and digital tools for loyal customers, and navigate leadership, succession, and family dynamics. Kacie shares what it’s really like to be “born in the business,” step into next‑generation leadership, and modernize a beloved legacy concept without losing its heart—or its famous Italian beef.

Show Notes

Kacie Dancy - Rooted in the Restaurant Industry

Kacie Dancy is the vice president of operations for Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage, the beloved Chicago‑area brand known as Pop’s Beef. She grew up in the family business started by her father, founder Frank Radochonski, who opened the first Pop’s location in 1980 in Palos Heights, Illinois. Today, Kacie oversees day‑to‑day operations, training, and franchise support across the growing fast‑casual chain, helping guide its evolution from a single neighborhood beef stand to a multi‑unit franchised concept.

With a background in finance and previous experience in wine sales, Kacie blends numbers‑driven decision‑making with hands‑on restaurant know‑how. She focuses on preserving Pop’s signature quality—especially its iconic Italian beef sandwiches—while modernizing the brand with better systems, technology, and guest engagement. Passionate about culture and community, Kacie champions a fun, family‑oriented environment, locally rooted marketing, and long‑term relationships with both staff and franchisees as the foundation for Pop’s Beef’s continued growth.

Listeners will discover:

How to evolve a long‑standing business while protecting its core brand, product, and culture.

What “format‑flexible” franchising looks like in practice, and why it matters for today’s owners and operators.

The systems, training, and KPIs Kacie leans on to keep quality high and operations profitable.

How a local, family‑owned concept uses community roots, word‑of‑mouth, and simple digital tools to keep guests coming back.

Real‑world lessons on leadership, succession, and navigating family dynamics inside a growing business.

Connect with Kacie Dancy: Website | LinkedIn

SPONSORED BY: This episode of Your Partner In Success Radio is supported by Terri Murphy - a bestselling author, nationally recognized speaker, communication strategist, and host of the Women’s Wisdom Network podcast, where she shares practical insights on leadership, engagement, and professional growth. With decades of experience training executives, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals, she specializes in helping people communicate with clarity, credibility, and confidence. As the founder of Terri Murphy Communications and the Women’s Wisdom Network, she combines media expertise, business acumen, and a passion for empowering women in business to create meaningful impact both on stage and behind the microphone.


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