This Is the 'Ultimate Measure of a Good Leader'

When the founder of a fast-growing North Carolina biscuit franchise passed away abruptly the company discovered the true value of founding principles.

- CARL STOFFERS

The unthinkable happened to Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken: The company's founder and CEO, Tom Ferguson, died unexpectedly in February 2022. That left his team mourning his loss, but also wondering-how can this brand survive?

The answer, it turned out, came from Ferguson himself.

He was the "heart and soul" of the brand, says one of his business partners, CFO Ken Priest. Ferguson was a chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and provided Rise with both vision and taste. Before his death, the Durham, North Carolina-based biscuit franchise had been on a steady upward trajectory, with 17 locations and more than 100 in the works. And although Ferguson planned to lead the company for a lot longer, his principles and future plans ultimately guided the company in his absence. Here, Priest explains what happened next.

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