---
title: "Surcheros Fresh Mex Adds Top Talent Leadership Team"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/4d92e52c-2e2a-456b-ac42-0b1f030ec3f5
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20230929_surcheros_fresh_mex_adds_top_talent_leadership_team.html
category: "Staffing"
industry: "Business Services"
segment: "Staffing"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2023-09-29T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T20:04:01.529Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507679799987-c73779587ccf?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Surcheros Fresh Mex Adds Top Talent Leadership Team

**TL;DR:** Surcheros Fresh Mex has added several new members to its leadership team, including Jake Philpotts as Vice President of Business Development & Franchise Relations. The new team members bring experience from various brands such as Chick-Fil-A, Aldi, and Inspire Brands.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-09-29. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20230929_surcheros_fresh_mex_adds_top_talent_leadership_team.html).*

## Story

The Surcheros leadership team now features the following:

**Jake Philpotts: Vice President of Business Development & Franchise Relations**

Joining Surcheros in 2019, Philpotts quickly ascended to the role of Vice President of Business Development & Franchise Relations by October 2020, driving new partnerships and market opportunities. Philpotts holds over a decade of experience with brands including Chick-Fil-A and Aldi and works closely with Surcheros franchisees to align with their objectives.

**Jami Horowitz: Vice President of Marketing**

With over 15 years in restaurants and retail, Horowitz joined Surcheros in April 2023, playing a pivotal role in repositioning the brand. She has worked with proven winners in the food & beverage space such as The Coca-Cola Company, Tropical Smoothie Café, Church's Chicken, and Focus Brands.

**Brendan Wiederhold: Vice President of Operations & Construction**

With 15 years of experience, Wiederhold drives operational success as Surcheros' Vice President of Operations & Construction since 2021. His leadership optimizes performance, talent, and accountability for success.

**Jamie Hurley: Vice President of Finance**

As Surcheros' Vice President of Finance, Hurley drives strategic growth and planning. He guides his team in corporate goal-setting, finance, and accounting. With over 25 years industry experience he notably spent 12 years working with Inspire Brands.

**Ellen Rockwell: Vice President of People & Development**

Rockwell, a standout human resources professional with 20 years in the restaurant industry, leads Surcheros’ holistic talent efforts, including human resources, total rewards, recruiting and training, and people development.

**Bryan Williams: Vice President of Shared Services & Technology**

Williams, a strategic leader with 30 years of operations and shared services experience, syncs shared services and technology with Surcheros' vision. His mix of leadership, operations, technology skills, and strategy fortifies the brand in a growing market.

In 2017, Surcheros inaugurated its franchising program. In April 2023, the company celebrated two multi-unit agreements.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Business Services (sector)
- Chick-fil-A (company)
- leadership team (topic)
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe (company)
- Inspire Brands (company)
- Coke (company)
- Church's Texas Chicken (company)
- FOCUS Brands (company)
- Surcheros (company)
- franchising program (topic)
- multi-unit agreements (topic)

---
Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20230929_surcheros_fresh_mex_adds_top_talent_leadership_team.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4d92e52c-2e2a-456b-ac42-0b1f030ec3f5).