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.
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.
