“I felt like I was kind of just stuck on a hamster wheel,” McNary said. “My sister asked if I had thought about going back to school and I said, ‘Absolutely not!’”

He didn’t know how he could fit classes in around his full-time job, but his sister suggested he look into online programs that would provide more flexibility. What he discovered convinced him it could work.

A search led him to University of Louisville’s , a relatively new program at the time in the College of Business. He chose UofL over the two other programs where he was accepted because of the business networking opportunities UofL could make available to him.

“The vast network that University of Louisville has as a resource for job placement was the most appealing part for me,” McNary said, adding that he also was impressed by the exceptional helpfulness of faculty.

Eye-opening fellowship unleashes McNary’s potential

During his MBA coursework, McNary got a taste of the franchising industry while participating in the Yum! Franchise Accelerator Fellowship offered through the .

The three-month fellowship offered an elective curriculum in franchise management, key experiences and mentorship by Yum! Brands executives and franchise owners. The fellowship culminated in a pitch competition for seed funding and a path to franchise ownership.

“I always wanted to create my own restaurant,” McNary said. “That’s always intrigued me. So, I was thinking I could learn about the business and if I didn’t win, I would at least have the information to do my own thing.”

A trip to California during the fellowship offered an eye-opening look at the Taco Bell brand.

“Spending four days out there in Irvine with the team and the employees and going through the different departments solidified that it was something I wanted to do.”

McNary was a finalist in the competition, and Tacala, the largest Taco Bell franchisee in the U.S., offered him an opportunity for additional training and mentorship. McNary joined Tacala after receiving his MBA from UofL in May 2023, and he was put in charge of one of the lowest performing of Tacala’s 370+ locations, a store in Auburn, Alabama.

Under McNary’s leadership, that store improved month by month, consistently finishing in Tacala’s top 50 Taco Bell restaurants, and it finished as the number one Taco Bell store between Aug. 7-Sept. 3, 2024.

McNary believes he has found his calling in franchising.

“I find more satisfaction in this role than I have in all of my corporate roles,” he said. “There are some things that make it a little challenging, but I really appreciate the people part of it, I’m a people person.”

In January, McNary moved into the role of area coach nearby Tacala’s Restaurant Support Center in Birmingham, Alabama, working with a group of restaurant leaders to help them succeed in their stores. When his apprenticeship time with Tacala is complete, McNary hopes to work with Tacala to purchase and develop his own franchise locations.

“To be able to join and to learn the ropes from such a juggernaut, it’s been a real blessing,” he said. “I understand how lucky I am to be in this position, to be a part of this program and to get an opportunity to operate my own set of Taco Bell restaurants. I know this wouldn’t have happened without me attending UofL.”

Expanded opportunity for a thriving future 

College of Business Interim Dean Jeff Guan calls McNary an inspiration.

“Ethan’s journey is a shining example of the profound impact our programs can have,” Guan said. “Stories like his reaffirm our commitment to delivering a world-class education — one that not only prepares our students to navigate the complexities of the business world but also equips them to lead with purpose and make a meaningful difference.”

Kathleen Gosser, Yum! Brands Associate Professor of Franchise Management Practice and director of the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence at the College of Business, mentored McNary during his time at UofL.

“Ethan is incredible and is learning all he needs to know about becoming a Taco Bell franchisee one day,” Gosser said. “His experience shows what a great opportunity franchising can be for entrepreneurs. And he is learning from the best. For the fifth consecutive year, Taco Bell is the number one franchise in the U.S. as ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine.”

Jamie Harrison, vice president of people & culture and interim chief people & culture officer at Taco Bell, sees Ethan’s journey as a testament to the brand’s people-first approach.

“Ethan’s dedication and passion for franchising are truly commendable, and we are proud that he is a member of our Taco Bell team. We applaud Tacala for sharing Taco Bell’s commitment to engaging top talent and delivering an environment where individuals like Ethan can achieve their full potential.”

“It’s exciting to be on this journey with Ethan. Since joining Tacala in 2023, he has enthusiastically worked through all restaurant positions to immerse himself in the business and prepare for management and ownership of a thriving business. Ethan’s passion for people and high standards combined with this experience will set him up for success in the future,” said David Morrison, chief operations officer of Tacala Companies.

McNary already is giving back to the program that injected fresh energy into his career, happy to mentor other students interested in franchising. He visited Louisville to speak to Gosser’s class and participated in the Online MBA program’s 5^th anniversary during Homecoming 2024.

Taco Bell asked itself: Shouldn’t the leaders in the Taco Bell system reflect the people who eat and work there? In an effort to break down potential barriers and further diversify its franchise system, Taco Bell is rolling out Taco Bell Business School in partnership with UofL, marking a first-of-its-kind franchise training program to elevate restaurant leaders as entrepreneurs and break down barriers to franchise ownership.

Taco Bell Business School will be supported through the at UofL. Yum! Brands, Taco Bell’s parent company, launched the center with UofL’s College of Business in 2021 to unlock opportunities for underrepresented communities through education on the business of franchising. The Taco Bell pilot program will leverage this partnership to create pathways for restaurant leaders to advance in their careers while helping the brand build a more diverse franchise system.

“We know that fast food jobs are often seen as stepping stones to other careers,” said Taco Bell CEO Mark King. “And we’re trying to change that. Through the Taco Bell Business School, we want to show our ambitious restaurant leaders how their careers could flourish at Taco Bell and see opportunities they may not have previously considered. We want to make foundational changes that positively impact our diverse team members’ growth. This program will teach them skills they need to climb the ladder – whether that’s moving up to the next level or even owning their own franchise one day.”

The six-week business bootcamp will teach top-performing restaurant leaders the fundamentals of franchise ownership, leveraging existing curriculum from the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence infused with a Taco Bell twist. The classes will provide accredited education and training on critical business and entrepreneurial skills, from financing, growth and development to marketing and HR. Taco Bell has partnered with its franchisees to share their expertise and inspire future franchise owners.

“When I first started working in a Taco Bell restaurant in 1983, I thought I would only stay for a few months,” said Tina Reagan, president and COO of franchise K-Mac Enterprises of Fort Smith, Arkansas. “Little did I know, I would end up staying for a few decades and eventually managing and operating 319 restaurants. As someone who started as a team member, I know firsthand that franchise ownership can be an intimidating path. But it’s been very rewarding. I am proud to work for a company that is working to build a path to franchise ownership for restaurant leaders from diverse backgrounds across all levels.”

Participants will be given scholarships to cover tuition for the program and will be recognized internally within the Taco Bell system for their accomplishment. They’ll also receive some branded swag so they can show off their Business School pride.

Taco Bell’s Chief Impact Officer Lil Nas X will help spread the word about Business School among restaurant leaders 

The first class of Taco Bell Business School students will start the bootcamp in February 2022. Three bootcamps are currently planned, and Taco Bell will continue to grow the program in the future and build a talent pipeline for strong field leadership.

“I believe that businesses and educational institutions have a responsibility to work together to break down barriers and create opportunities for those who wouldn’t otherwise have them,” said Kathy Gosser, director of the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence. “The close working relationship between Yum!, Taco Bell and the University of Louisville demonstrates the power of collaboration. Together we can help people learn new skills, fuel their entrepreneurial spirit and ultimately build a better future for generations.”