Burger Time

The fast-food industry is known for high rates of employee turnover, but Checkers franchisee Craig Joy has kept such churn to a minimum while turning over something else: profits.

Over the past decade, Joy achieved a $400,000 average sales increase across his six Tampa area Checkers locations, resulting in a $1.6 million annual sales average. That led to the Checkers and Rally's Decade of Sales Growth Award, which he received late last year. The award is given to one of the Tampa fast-food company's 260 franchisees.

The accolade is particularly remarkable considering Joy, 68, is Checkers and Rally's first franchisee. He joined the company in 1989, when he left a secure, six-figure-salary position with Taco Bell to take a chance on the new kid on the fast-food block.