Early Life
Joe Rogers Jr. was born in Jackson, Tennessee, around 1950 or 1951. He is the eldest of four children born to Joe Rogers Sr. and Ruth Jolley Rogers.
Rise to Success
Rogers' career began in the restaurant industry, working at Waffle House as a teenager. He quickly advanced and was appointed CEO of the company in 1973. Under his leadership, Waffle House grew from a small chain to a nationwide brand with over 2,000 locations across 25 states. Rogers is credited with innovations like the introduction of "scattered, smothered, and covered" hash browns and the implementation of 24-hour service.
Key Business Strategies
Rogers focused on consolidating ownership within his family and eliminating the company's debt reliance. He also created an employee ownership plan, providing a stake in the business for 3,500 workers. Waffle House's success also comes from its focus on its employees and customers. Waffle House has been open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, serving more than 2.5 billion customers.
Philanthropy
Rogers is involved in philanthropic work and has donated millions of dollars to various charities, including Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the United Way of Greater Atlanta.