It began with a delicious idea
In 1936, Lawrence Shipley wanted to create a gourmet donut so tasty that it would withstand the test of time.Cut by hand and served hot throughout the day, Shipley Do-Nuts were five cents a dozen and only available wholesale. But within four short years, they proved so popular that Lawrence began offering them to the public. As the business grew, life became much busier for Lawrence and his family. His wife, Lillian, would fill orders at home, baking from her humble kitchen with their infant son, Lawrence Jr., balanced on her knee while Lawrence Sr. was away on his sales route. Lawrence Jr. carried on his father’s vision and worked in the family business his entire life. Under his leadership the menu was expanded, and Shipley went beyond its original Texas location to include more than 190 stores across six states. Today, Shipley Do-Nuts is a fast-growing QSR franchise brand with over 360 locations and counting. And we still make our delicious donuts fresh every day, just like Lawrence Shipley envisioned.
Values that do goodAt the heart of every Shipley Do-Nuts bakery are the core values that have made us a beloved brand for over four generations. Our people, our process, and our products define us, and we strive to provide an experience found nowhere else on earth.
S
Service
H
Hospitality
I
Integrity
P
Passion
L
Leadership
E
Energy
Y
Yummy
“I would definitely invest in Shipley all over again if I had to go back. I would just do it sooner than later.”
Aman DhukaMulti-Unit Franchise Owner
Meet the team behind our success
Flynn DekkerChief Executive Officer
Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Flynn Dekker joined the company in 2023 to spearhead the iconic, Houston-born brand’s national expansion, bringing 30-plus years of executive leadership experience in the restaurant and retail industry and a strong track record of executing significant growth. Dekker previously served as CEO of Bonchon, a global franchisor of Korean chicken restaurants with more than 420 locations spanning nine countries. He also held chief marketer roles at Wingstop Restaurants, where he led all strategic advertising, franchisee communication, branding, media and marketing efforts, and at Rave Restaurant Group and Fogo de Chao.
In addition to expanding Shipley’s 87-year-old brand’s footprint and store count, Dekker will also focus on driving same store sales growth and investing in franchisee success with product innovation, equipment and technology upgrades and customer service enhancements.
In addition to expanding Shipley’s 87-year-old brand’s footprint and store count, Dekker will also focus on driving same store sales growth and investing in franchisee success with product innovation, equipment and technology upgrades and customer service enhancements.
Bill LeibengoodChief Marketing Officer
Bill brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in restaurant operations, marketing, and brand management. Most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer for Houlihan’s Restaurant, Inc. He has also held senior roles with Wingstop & Applebee’s International, where he led innovative marketing strategies that delivered record-breaking results. Bill is passionate about building strong teams, elevating brands, and driving operational excellence across all facets of the business.
Todd BrinnChief Development Officer
Todd is a seasoned leader with a proven track record of driving growth and operational excellence in the restaurant industry. He joined Shipley in 2025 as Vice President of Construction and Design, where he quickly made a significant impact—accelerating store openings and reducing construction costs across the system.
With more than 20 years of experience at Wingstop, Todd played a key role in scaling the brand from 85 locations to over 2,500 worldwide. His deep expertise in franchise development and system growth makes him uniquely equipped to support Shipley’s continued expansion.
Now serving as Chief Development Officer, Todd oversees franchise development, construction, design, and real estate. His leadership reflects Shipley’s commitment to providing franchisees with the tools, support, and strategic direction needed to succeed—while continuing to streamline processes, control costs, and drive sustainable growth.
With more than 20 years of experience at Wingstop, Todd played a key role in scaling the brand from 85 locations to over 2,500 worldwide. His deep expertise in franchise development and system growth makes him uniquely equipped to support Shipley’s continued expansion.
Now serving as Chief Development Officer, Todd oversees franchise development, construction, design, and real estate. His leadership reflects Shipley’s commitment to providing franchisees with the tools, support, and strategic direction needed to succeed—while continuing to streamline processes, control costs, and drive sustainable growth.
Matt KafkaChief Operating Officer
Matt Kafka brings decades of operational leadership and franchise expertise to his role as Chief Operating Officer at Shipley.
He began his career with Jamba Juice in 1998, where he advanced through a series of leadership roles in operations, ultimately serving as Senior Director of Franchise Operations. He later joined Smoothie King in 2018 as Vice President of Franchise Operations and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2023. In that role, Matt oversaw both franchise and corporate operations across approximately 1,250 locations and 440 franchisees. Most recently, he served as Interim COO.
Matt’s deep experience in scaling operations and supporting franchise systems makes him a strong addition to Shipley’s leadership team as the brand continues to grow.
He began his career with Jamba Juice in 1998, where he advanced through a series of leadership roles in operations, ultimately serving as Senior Director of Franchise Operations. He later joined Smoothie King in 2018 as Vice President of Franchise Operations and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2023. In that role, Matt oversaw both franchise and corporate operations across approximately 1,250 locations and 440 franchisees. Most recently, he served as Interim COO.
Matt’s deep experience in scaling operations and supporting franchise systems makes him a strong addition to Shipley’s leadership team as the brand continues to grow.
John FerayChief Financial Officer
John Feray brings more than 30 years of experience in financial leadership, accounting, and operations to his role as Chief Financial Officer at Shipley.
Over the course of his career, John has built a strong track record of driving value across both public and private equity-backed organizations. His expertise spans financial strategy, operational efficiency, and organizational leadership, with a consistent focus on strengthening partnerships and improving processes to support long-term growth.
As Chief Financial Officer, John is responsible for overseeing Shipley’s financial strategy and operations, helping to ensure the company continues to scale efficiently and sustainably.
Over the course of his career, John has built a strong track record of driving value across both public and private equity-backed organizations. His expertise spans financial strategy, operational efficiency, and organizational leadership, with a consistent focus on strengthening partnerships and improving processes to support long-term growth.
As Chief Financial Officer, John is responsible for overseeing Shipley’s financial strategy and operations, helping to ensure the company continues to scale efficiently and sustainably.
Kerry LeoVP of Technology
Kerry, who joined Shipley Do-Nuts in June of 2021 to head up the technological transformation of the brand, has more than two decades of technology and operational leadership experience. He was previously the Senior Director of IT at Church’s Texas Chicken®, Industry Manager for Food Service at Radiant Systems POS, and held top IT positions with Focus Brands and Chick-fil-A.
Steve SweetmanSenior Director, Franchise Sales
Stephen Sweetman serves as Senior Director of Franchise Sales for Shipley, where he leads franchise development efforts and supports the brand’s continued expansion.
With more than 15 years of experience in franchise development, Stephen has worked with leading restaurant brands including Wingstop, GoTo Foods, Jersey Mike’s, and Bonchon. Throughout his career, he has successfully guided prospective franchisees from initial interest through signed agreements, helping to build strong, scalable franchise systems.
Stephen brings deep expertise in franchise recruitment, market development, and pipeline management, along with a proven ability to identify high-quality operators and support their long-term success. His leadership plays a key role in driving strategic growth and strengthening Shipley’s franchise network.
With more than 15 years of experience in franchise development, Stephen has worked with leading restaurant brands including Wingstop, GoTo Foods, Jersey Mike’s, and Bonchon. Throughout his career, he has successfully guided prospective franchisees from initial interest through signed agreements, helping to build strong, scalable franchise systems.
Stephen brings deep expertise in franchise recruitment, market development, and pipeline management, along with a proven ability to identify high-quality operators and support their long-term success. His leadership plays a key role in driving strategic growth and strengthening Shipley’s franchise network.
Jason HighersDirector of Franchise Recruitment
Jason brings with him over 30 years of hands-on experience in the franchising industry. His professional journey began on his 15th birthday with a job at McDonald’s, and since then, he has built an impressive career holding leadership roles at well-known brands such as Wendy’s, Bahama Breeze, Burger King, and Marco’s Pizza. Most recently, Jason contributed his expertise in Franchise Sales and Operations at OpenWorks, a leading facilities management franchising company. With his deep industry knowledge and proven track record, Jason is a fantastic addition to our team.
Sarah GuestVP Supply Chain
Sarah joined Shipley Do-Nuts in 2023. Prior to Shipley, she held senior supply chain leadership roles at SPB Hospitality and Luby’s Fuddruckers Restaurants. Earlier in her career, she built a strong foundation in category and vendor management through roles at US Foods and Hilton Hotels. Known for her practical, solutions-oriented approach, Sarah has a knack for turning data and market insights into smart, actionable strategies. She enjoys bringing teams together, building strong supplier partnerships, and finding ways to improve cost, service, and reliability across systems.
Ben BassSenior Director of New Shop Development
Ben joined Shipley Do-Nuts in 2023 with a track record of helping companies identify and align business, financial, and operational objectives with real estate requirements. Those companies have included Sweetgreen, Planet Fitness, Cotton Patch Café, and Walmart. He leads the company’s franchise development execution strategy, ensuring disciplined market expansion, franchisee site success, and consistent brand-compliant buildout across the system.