Who We Are

Roland is the founder and CEO of WKS Restaurant Group.  He began building the company in 1987 with one restaurant and one brand. Today, with the help of very talented and dedicated team members in the restaurants and support center, WKS has grown to six brands operating in 19 states with 10,000+ employees. He is proud to operate these iconic brands which offer great food & great value to our guests. Roland believes each of our restaurants should be operated with passion and commitment. He has enjoyed watching the success of many, many team members who grow their careers and families through the business. Roland is blessed with his amazing and supportive wife Sandee, six great children, and fourteen wonderful grandchildren. He is often heard saying that he doesn’t work, because when you love what you do, it isn’t work…it is a form of joy!

Debi Pellegrino is the Chief of Staff to the Founder and CEO and has been with the company for 12 years. She partners with Roland to create strategies and policies to ensure that WKS meets its goals. Debi assists in planning, directing, and coordinating the initiatives of the company. She is an air traffic controller and a communicator who links the leadership team with the company’s departmental and restaurant-brand leadership. Debi enjoys playing tennis, cooking elaborate meals, and studying Spanish with her husband.

Paul Tanner is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of WKS where he oversees all aspects of financial performance, investment, and funding for the Company. During Paul’s tenure at WKS, the company’s revenue has grown over 800%, a result attributable to WKS’ focused investment model which includes robust valuation analysis, “value-add” investment opportunities, and disciplined transaction execution. He also oversees WKS’ private commercial real estate investment arm, with a focus on acquiring, developing, and operating high-quality commercial properties. Paul holds an MBA from Yale University and has previous experience as a CPA in public accounting. Paul enjoys pickleball, skiing and traveling with his wife and four daughters.

Jay Spongberg is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of WKS.  He leads a talented team of brand leaders and oversees all company operations and people focused initiatives.  Jay and his team have created a culture that enables the growth and development of all team members both personally and professionally.  This focus on people leads to happy guests in all WKS brands and more opportunities for success as the company grows. Jay is married and the proud father of four children.  He is passionate about health, relentless improvement, and considers himself a biohacker.

Trevor Fitzgerald is the VP of Innovation and Technology at WKS where he strives to make the business more efficient and scalable through the use of technology. Data, software development and ux, process efficiency, and connected-everything are top-of-mind. Trevor works with brand leaders to plan strategic projects and oversees the IT department which runs the help desk, all network and telecom infrastructure, and software development. A Seattle native, Trevor loves biking, swimming, and running to burn off all the calories from eating copious amounts of pizza with his family.

Mike Simmons is the Vice President of People Services, Risk Management, and Legal for WKS Restaurant Group. Mike has been in the risk management field for nearly 36 years. He leads the people services, risk management, insurance, claims, safety, and asset protection functions of the organization. Mike supports an awesome team of professionals each focusing on the development of human capital and the prevention and recovery of financial losses to the organization. Mike has a double Master’s degree in organizational leadership and criminal justice administration and he possesses the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Risk Insurance Management Society, Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) designations. He and his wife, Linda, took up golf together and they enjoy travel, especially trips to wine country and abroad.

Andrew Feinour is the Vice President of Facilities and Construction for all WKS brands. The teams he leads are responsible for managing all construction and remodeling projects as well as overseeing the repair and maintenance for all locations.  He is a passionate leader who strives to excel and elevate his departments to be best in class. Developing team members by learning new skills, taking on new challenges and progressing in their careers is one of his proudest professional accomplishments.  Andrew loves spending as much time as possible with his wife and four children. He also enjoys gardening, barbequing (voted best in his family!), experiencing the great outdoors, but his biggest delight comes from embarrassing his kids in front of their friends with bad dad jokes.

Jessica Lao is the Vice President of Accounting for WKS Restaurant Group. She leads a dedicated team that oversees all activities related to financial reporting, payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable. Her team ensures the Company’s financial information is accurate and reported timely to support informed decision-making. Prior to joining WKS in 2020, Jessica was a manager at HCVT for seven years, where she provided audit and assurance services to clients in the restaurant, grocery, and real estate industries. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and is a Certified Public Accountant. Jessica enjoys practicing yoga and trying new restaurants.

Carlos Ortiz is the President of Operations for WKS Frosty Corporation. With over 30 years in the business, he oversees all operations, including people development. He is also responsible for leading 141 Wendy’s restaurants to achieve their sales and profit strategic priorities. Carlos is most proud of his team’s strategic and relentless focus on customer service that has helped to improve labor efficiency and flow-through. Under his leadership, the Wendy’s system has improved service metrics to place WKS at the top of the ranks. Carlos enjoys spending time with his family, watching old movies, and eating out with his friends. 

Jeff Fernley has a longstanding history of excellence in restaurant operations at WKS and is currently Vice President of Operations for El Pollo Loco. Jeff’s experience with WKS dates back to 2007 when he worked in the WKS support center in roles such as Catering & Community Outreach Specialist, Brand Ambassador, and Administrative Assistant. Jeff graduated from California State University of Long Beach with a degree in Investment Finance. In early 2012, Jeff worked his way through restaurant operations serving as a general manager of a high volume El Pollo Loco. In 2014, Jeff became a District Leader of nine units in the Phoenix area. In 2019, Jeff was promoted to Senior District Leader where he oversaw the operations of Arizona, Utah and San Jose. In 2020, Jeff became Director of Operations and in 2021 became the Vice President of Operations overseeing all El Pollo Loco operations for WKS.