Dow Corning Executive-in-Residence brings business to life for students

Students evaluate China expansion for Domino’s Pizza CEO David Brandon

During David Brandon’s keynote speech as Dow Corning Executive-in-Residence, he discussed how Domino’s Pizza had risen from humble beginnings in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to become a cultural icon, with mentions in movies and on shows like the Late Show with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live. Later, Brandon got students directly involved in considering how rapidly the franchise should expand in China.

“We are being talked about. We have made this cultural connection,” Brandon said. “Domino’s is one of America’s most recognized brands, with a 44-year heritage and undisputed dominance in the business of pizza delivery. I’m committed to maintaining and surpassing this high standard through ongoing store growth, flawless operations, and making Domino’s the employer of choice in the quick-serve restaurant industry.”

Brandon has been chairman and chief executive officer of Domino’s Pizza Inc. since 1999 when he replaced Domino’s founder, Tom Monaghan, upon his retirement. Under Brandon’s leadership, profits have increased dramatically through improved customer service, lower employee turnover, and product improvement. In July 2004, Brandon led the successful completion of Domino’s initial public stock offering – the largest quick-service restaurant Internet Public Offering in history.

Making business fun and real

During his visit to the College of Business Administration, Brandon participated in forums and visited classrooms.

Brandon asked the students to solve a problem for him. Should Domino’s expand in China? After giving the students some background, he had them ask detailed questions regarding marketing and logistics. Ultimately, the students decided Domino’s should wait several years to see where the Chinese market would go before opening stores there. The main reason: Domino’s delivers pizza, and, when not cooking for themselves, the people in China prefer going out to a sit-down restaurant.

“David Brandon was really interesting. He made business seem more exciting than I would have imagined, and his presentation was innovative,” said freshman Tarran Parsons. “I think having business leaders like David Brandon come into the classroom like that is a great idea because it gives us a real-life view. He gave us some real insights, and it was an amazing experience.”

David Brandon and CBA student Tarran Parsons discuss various aspects of Chinese culture that shape business decisions here in the U.S.