Toppers Pizza honored franchisees and team members and crowned its fastest pizza maker at the brand’s 2025 National Convention, held June 9 through 11 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
Toppers welcomed a crowd of franchise owners, general managers, store employees and executives to the event, which was focused on recognizing top performers, strengthening leadership skills and uniting team members through a shared commitment to customer satisfaction and store-level excellence.
A fan-favorite tradition at the event, the Rush Competition, once again brought the energy. Rush contestants must make one Large Handtossed Pepperoni, one Large Handtossed Toppers Classic, and one Triple Order of Topperstix. The person who does this in the fastest time—while adhering to the brand’s standards—wins.
This year’s winner, Paige Stafford-Vest, area supervisor with Pizza People LLC, smashed previous records with a lightning-fast time of 1:36.69.
Perfect 10 Holding LLC took home the Franchisee of the Year Award while Erik Carstens of the La Crosse, Wisconsin location won Manager of the Year.
This year’s President’s Award went to Brian Albrecht (recognized for his work as an area supervisor with PJD Investments before becoming an owner-operator with Dough Group LLC) and Christina Szejna, area supervisor with Pizza People LLC.
“Giving customers what they want is at the core of everything we do, and this yearly convention really speaks to that,” said Vice President of Operations Matt Martin. “While we are thrilled to hand out awards every year, this convention is about so much more than winning prizes. It serves as a yearly reminder that great food, great service and great people are the real drivers of success, and when we focus on the customer, we all win.”
The convention reinforced Toppers’ brand mission to elevate every touchpoint of the guest experience by investing in team training, consistent food quality and a dynamic brand culture. With over 70 stores across the U.S. and a growing list of franchise partners, Toppers continues to carve out its space in the fast-casual pizza segment.
