---
title: "Longtime Pancheros Franchisees Recognized for 20+ Years of Growth With 2025 Franchisee of the Year Award"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/a0427996-0be4-4701-a617-ac9d4d46e0ee
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20251106_longtime_pancheros_franchisees_recognized_for_20_years_of_growth_with_2025_.html
category: "Mexican"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Mexican"
published: 2025-11-06T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T22:32:30.408Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561758033-d89a9ad46330?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Longtime Pancheros Franchisees Recognized for 20+ Years of Growth With 2025 Franchisee of the Year Award

**TL;DR:** Pancheros Mexican Grill has named Dan Sacco and Doug Ormsby as its 2025 Franchisees of the Year, recognizing their 20+ years of growth and dedication to the brand. Sacco and Ormsby have been franchisees since 2005, operating multiple locations in Iowa and embodying the brand's values.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2025-11-06. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20251106_longtime_pancheros_franchisees_recognized_for_20_years_of_growth_with_2025_.html).*

## Story

Coralville, IA —Iowa-based fresh-Mex concept, Pancheros Mexican Grill, has named Dan Sacco and Doug Ormsby as its 2025 Franchisees of the Year. Each year, Pancheros names the honoree at its annual Franchise Conference, this year’s being held in Nashville, TN, and have honored Iowa-based business partners Sacco and Ormsby in recognition of their 20-year partnership, steady growth and dedication to the brand and their community.

Sacco and Ormsby began their franchising careers working alongside one another, managing operations for a Pizza Hut franchisee. Through these roles, the pair gained hands-on industry experience, leading them to launch their own franchise journey with a brand they both loved: Pancheros. In 2005, Sacco and Ormsby opened their first Pancheros location in Davenport, IA, with a second location following quickly behind and opening its doors in Dubuque, IA just three months later.

After nearly two decades of continued growth at both locations, dozens of community fundraisers and events held and both franchisees remaining committed brand ambassadors, Sacco and Ormsby decided to expand their footprint in Iowa with a third location in Bettendorf, which opened late last year. Now, as the pair celebrates 20 years with Pancheros, they also receive the highest recognition from the brand, the annual Franchisee of the Year award.

“As Pancheros continues to expand, our partnerships that stand the test of time are what keep us connected to our values and ultimately, committed to the local fans fueling our growth,” said Rodney Anderson, President and Founder of Pancheros. “Partners like Dan and Doug are what our brand and our franchising program are all about. Involved leaders that genuinely invest in our brand and day-to-day operations are franchisees that will evolve with us while keeping us true to our hometown roots. Dan and Doug exemplify that sentiment to a tee and are the exact type of partners we seek out.”

While Pancheros continues to operate a number of company-owned locations in Iowa, Sacco and Ormsby have embodied the values that define the brand, fostering strong relationships within the communities they serve. True brand ambassadors, they’ve remained dedicated partners through every step of their journey with Pancheros—their commitment to excellence, collaboration and thoughtful insights have made them invaluable contributors to the brand’s ongoing growth and success.

“Since we opened our first location in 2005, Doug and I have maintained a goal of being active franchisees, whether that’s hosting an event supporting a local cause, offering menu suggestions or ensuring that our operations rival those of other industry leaders,” said Dan Sacco, 2025 Pancheros Franchisee of the Year Honoree. “With the recent opening of our Bettendorf location, our partnership with Pancheros is not slowing down any time soon. This brand has been a part of our family for more than 20 years now, and we look forward to another 20 and then some!”

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- brand growth (topic)
- community involvement (topic)
- franchise awards (topic)
- Pizza Hut (company)
- franchisee recognition (topic)
- Pancheros Mexican Grill (company)
- Rodney Anderson (person)
- Dan Sacco (person)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20251106_longtime_pancheros_franchisees_recognized_for_20_years_of_growth_with_2025_.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/a0427996-0be4-4701-a617-ac9d4d46e0ee).