The Pizza Hut Foundation is led by a board of directors who are part of the International Pizza Hut Franchisee Holder Association (IPHFHA). The Pizza Hut Foundation board of directors is comprised of successful professionals committed to empowering the next generation of community leaders and entrepreneurs.
Luis Veras is a passionate leader serving as President of SVM Coffee, LLC (Starbucks Licensee) and LVM Foods, LLC (Restaurant Industry Investor and Operator and former Yum! Brands / Pizza Hut Franchisee). Prior to being an entrepreneur, he was a Senior Operations Leader at 7-Eleven, Inc. and held a number of leadership roles with Yum! Brands in the U. S., including GM for KFC’s Southwest Operations, Head of Pizza Hut’s Marketing Analysis & Strategy Team, and Head of Finance for the West Territory of Pizza Hut. Luis joined Yum! Brands from KPMG Consulting’s Chicago office. There he focused on developing strategies and leading large scale transformation initiatives for Fortune 500 clients in the retail and restaurant industries.
Mr. Veras is the author of a book on business profitability and has been a speaker in multiple conferences in the U.S. and Latin America. He has a passion for teaching and is currently an Instructor in the Business Leadership Center at SMU Cox School of Business. Luis supports and has been the Board Chairman of Mi Escuelita Preschool, a non-profit that provides early childhood education to low income at risk children in the Dallas area. He is also a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), has served as Board Chairman of the International Pizza Hut Franchise Holders Association (IPHFHA) and is a founding member of the Pizza Hut Foundation.
Joe Linot has an extensive background in the restaurant/foodservice industry and in Association management. He spent 15 years of his career as Executive Director of the Kansas Beef Council and 13 years with Cargill in expanding roles of responsibility in their marketing, product innovation, and retail foodservice divisions.
Joe has been Executive Director for IPHFHA since 2016. He participates in the Advertising Committee, Asset Committee, Beverage Committee, Food Evolution Committee, Localization Committee, System Operations Committee, Government Affairs Committee, and Political Action Committee. He is also a member of the American Pizza Community.
A Kansas native, Joe and his wife Becky live in Wichita. They have two sons, Alec and Reid.
As a Pizza Hut Franchisee, Premila enjoys mentoring, coaching, and developing her team, especially the women who work for her. She believes that investing back in women is an investment in the community as a whole. She enjoys being a franchisee, as she can impact the lives of many others and is also able to motivate them to grow and be better.
Before founding AFR, Jesse built a strong foundation in Finance, Development, and Operations at Pizza Hut’s corporate office. Prior to that, he spent five years leading national Operations and Marketing programs for major retail brands. His passion for developing people and creating opportunities drives AFR’s success and company culture.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Jesse resides in Tyler, TX, with his wife of over 20 years, Cristina, and their four children. When he’s not supporting his restaurant teams, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and staying active through biking and running.
Surma works with business leaders to understand strategic talent needs and deliver sustainable, impactful solutions that accelerate business goals. With over 13 years of experience across India, Canada, and the U.S., Surma specializes in Executive Leadership Coaching, Organizational Transformation, Talent Management, and Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.
Surma holds an MBA, an Economics Honours degree, and an Advanced Diploma in Coaching from the International Coaching Federation, as well as certifications in Competency-Based Interviewing, Instructional Design, and Training Facilitation.
