Some careers are carefully mapped out, others evolve through a mix of curiosity and a willingness to take on challenges. For Chad Burge, President of Development & Operations at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), and son of Co-founder Krystal Burge, the path has been anything but conventional.
This year marks Chad’s 10-year anniversary with DDO. During the past decade, he’s helped guide the company’s growth while bringing a fresh perspective to operations and leadership. His journey has included big wins, difficult lessons and throughout it all, a deep commitment to carrying the family business forward.
“I’ve grown up in a household of natural born entrepreneurs.”
– Chad Burge, President of Development & Operations
A Solid Foundation
Growing up in Kingman, AZ, Chad was immersed in a family of business builders from an early age. His father built a car dealership from the ground up and his family wasn’t afraid to take calculated risks. Those experiences shaped the way Chad approaches business today.
“My parents built their own businesses, so I got to live in that world from a really young age,” Chad says. “I think it created a lot of curiosity.”
That curiosity followed him into adulthood. While studying aeronautical engineering, Chad and his sister, Tiffany (DDO President of Real Estate & Investments), pursued business opportunities of their own, including running rental properties and eventually becoming franchisees of a Dickey’s barbecue concept.
Although engineering may seem like an unexpected choice for someone leading a restaurant company today, Chad believes it taught him to solve problems differently.
Learning Through Challenges
One of Chad’s biggest growth experiences came from operating the barbecue franchise. Business expanded rapidly, but growth also exposed the realities of leadership, staffing and franchise operations.
“I had a great network that I felt like I could learn the business side of the world from,” he shares candidly. “I don’t think we expected that it wouldn’t work.”
Ultimately, Chad and his team made the difficult decision to exit the business after recognizing its long-term challenges. Rather than viewing the experience as a failure, Chad sees it as one of the most valuable lessons of his career.
“Pivoting and spending my time, energy and resources in a more impactful way will set me up for success in the future,” he says.
That mindset continues to shape how Chad approaches leadership today.
Growing Alongside DDO
Although Chad officially joined DDO in 2017, he spent years learning every aspect of the business. As a second-generation leader, you could argue he’s been part of the journey much longer!
In preparation of joining DDO full-time, Chad immersed himself in development and real estate operations, working alongside family members while building his own perspective.
“I have this stewardship mindset,” Chad says of joining a family business. “But that doesn’t always mean do what we’ve always done.”
Over time, he helped lead several key initiatives across the organization, including supporting Pizza Hut operations through a period of transformation. By embracing new ideas and empowering the right leaders, Chad helped stabilize the brand and return it to profitability.
His willingness to challenge conventional thinking while respecting the company’s foundation has become a defining part of his leadership style.
Leading with Trust
Today, as President of Development & Operations, Chad focuses less on having every answer and more on building teams that can succeed together.
He believes great leadership isn’t about doing every job yourself. It’s about creating an environment where talented people can thrive, make decisions and continue improving the business.
His philosophy reflects the culture that has helped DDO grow for decades while preparing the company for what’s next.
“Building a team that I trust and empowering them to make decisions is where I can add the most value.”
– Chad Burge, President of Development & Operations
Looking Ahead
As Chad celebrates 10 years with us, his journey serves as a reminder that growth rarely follows a straight line.
Every pivot and every challenge has helped shape the leader he is today. As DDO continues to expand, Chad remains focused on honoring the company’s roots while helping build our future. Congratulations on the first 10 years, Chad. Here’s to 20 more!
