Arching Achievement

As the third-generation chairman of his family's McDonald's Corp. franchise, Blake Casper literally knows the operations of the business inside and out.

He started behind the counter as a teenager and moved up to various management and supervisory roles before going to school to earn a degree from the London School of Economics. For a few years, he even held a franchise of his own in the Florida Panhandle before selling it in 2007.

Now at age 38, Casper is leading the 50 Tampa Bay area McDonald's locations of Tampa-based Caspers Co. in a new direction, with enhanced amenities and expanded menu items geared toward the health-conscious and indulgent alike. He maintains strong ties to the Oak Brook, Ill.-based chain with 32,500 restaurants worldwide.