Mike McFall | Source | co-CEO at BIGGBY COFFEE

Michael McFall doesn’t have a yacht, a podcast or an MBA, and you won’t hear him talking about being disruptive, leveraging assets or changing paradigms. He is, however, the founder of Global Orange Development, the co-CEO of BIGGBY COFFEE®, a fast-growing $100-million-dollar coffee franchise with 250+ locations across the Midwest and quickly expanding into the East Coast in 2020, and is author to the Inc. Original, Grind.
Mike’s story in the business world began during the Spring of 1997 when he and BIGGGBY founder Robert Fish went on their ‘infamous’ walk to discuss Mike’s role within the company which at the time had one location in East Lansing, Michigan. Two hours later, they were no longer talking about Mike managing a second store, but were agreeing on terms for creating a franchise and growing the brand. A handshake sealed the deal, and suddenly, they were partners of what is now the third-largest coffee franchise in the United States.

Having originally started with BIGGBY in 1996 as a minimum wage barista, Mike has since held every subsequent position within the company, including his current title as co-CEO (May 2016). Mike believes his time in each of his previous roles has allowed him to form a bond with his employees based on understanding, credibility, and respect. Two decades later, Mike shares his personal experiences having led Biggby through survival mode, stability, and aggressive growth.

One of many turning moments for Mike as a leader was the realization that just because BIGGBY was making money, didn’t mean they were doing a great job. From employees leaving without any notice to those who had no passion in what they were doing, Mike and his co-CEO came to the conclusion that something needed to change. Fortuitously, Mike met Nathan Havey, a man he refers to as the “shaman in the woods,” on a camping trip in northern Michigan where they discussed conscious capitalism over a campfire. After that pivotal moment, Mike was committed to making positive improvements, including creating a workplace culture based on love.

An instrumental person in Mike’s career was and continues to be SUBWAY®’s co-founder, Fred DeLuca. After 10 years of negotiations, Fred and his company, Franchise Brands, reached a deal with BIGGBY to purchase 50 percent of BIGGBY, however due to Fred’s battle with leukemia the deal was put on hold and sadly Fred passed months later. Mike praises Fred for his business intellect, including his superb ability to sense opportunities and understand people, and in his willingness to share his knowledge with others.

In August 2019, Mike wrote and published the Inc. Original book, Grind, with the mission to help founders and entrepreneurs take their business concept and turn it into a positive cash-flow business. Mike’s “no-bullshit” approach teaches founders the lessons needed to evolve their business in a conversational way while highlighting the importance of his successful components.

Mike graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1993 where he earned four varsity letters as a member of the golf team and a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He also studied six months at Fourah Bay College at the University of Sierra Leone where he wrote the life story of Johnny Smythe.
Mike participated in the West Island College Class Afloat program in 1988 and sailed halfway around the world on a square-rigged tall ship, visiting 13 countries. Mike currently teaches on the subject of finding your venture at The University of Michigan Center of Entrepreneurship and is a hockey enthusiast with a lifelong goal to one day own the Detroit Red Wings. When Mike is not spearheading BIGGBY’s latest business venture or writing his latest book, he can be found in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife, Elizaveta, and their four children, Lee, Klava, Oscar, and Lorenzo.