Dec. 23—Sedrick Turner may have his roots in Memphis, but he's become a familiar face in Northeast Mississippi.

Turner recently opened a Checkers restaurant in Amory, the 15th restaurant in his portfolio and the ninth in Mississippi.

"I am thrilled to bring a new Checkers location to Amory, and have the opportunity to continue growing with the brand," Turner said. "With a hands-on approach, I've navigated the challenges of the industry for over 30 years, guided by values of perseverance, community and caring for our guests."

Turner, 53, is president of Global Midsouth Corp., and in addition to establishing and joining marketing co-ops in local markets, supports various philanthropic initiatives, including establishing a significant scholarship for his alma mater's band, a factor he credits for shaping his strong work ethic.

"I majored in management and marketing at Tennessee State," Turner said. "I got my first franchise right out of college — a Subway franchise, in the neighborhood I grew up in. I got to bring something back to the neighborhood."

Turner's father had a great influence on his life. He was a retired Air Force master sergeant who worked as a postal carrier and operated other businesses, including a grocery store. That entrepreneurial spirit flowed through the family, as Turner's two brothers established the first beeper and paging service in Memphis, and Turner worked for them during his summer vacations from college.

After graduation from Tennessee State and opening his first Subway franchise, within five years Turner had 14 Subway restaurants.

"Then I ventured on and opened two Red Robin franchises, then I sold out of that and ventured out to other things, including Snappy Tomato Pizza and other things including eight Hot Wings, which was my own concept," he said.

While Turner would step out of the food business for a brief period occasionally, it always pulled him back in. And Checkers was what caught his attention. He liked the concept and has jumped all in as a franchisee, starting in 2019 with his first location in Tupelo.

"Sedrick's commitment to the franchise industry defines the entrepreneurial drive we are looking for in our franchisees," said Robert Bhagwandat, Senior Director of Franchise Development at Checkers Drive In Restaurants. "His systems and processes create an environment where each team member is valued, reflected by the continuous improvement of his operations and additional openings."

In the four years since the Tupelo store opening, Turner has been on a tear in Northeast Mississippi, adding locations in Pontotoc, Ripley, Oxford, West Point, Houston, Corinth, Booneville and now Amory. He said he's not done yet, looking for other potential sites in the region.

Turner said food costs, the pandemic and hiring have been challenging for the restaurant industry, and his company has been no exception. But he said he takes a slightly different approach when it comes to conducting business, which has benefitted customers and employees alike.

"You always hear, 'put the customer first' but, for me, the team is first. Without your team, there are no customers," he said. "We are team-driven, and we try to motivate and do a lot for them ... a happy worker means a happy customer."

Putting words into action, Turner recently had a company Christmas party for his 200 or so employees. Awards were given at the celebration, which included a cruise.

Turner said business was a little down this year compared to last year, but "still good," he said. "It's sill not easy; it's very competitive and it hard to find good people. But you do what you can .... I tell people the shortages and challenges didn't start yesterday. For me, it started in 1994."

Like he has done in the past, Turner is looking to diversify his portfolio, whether by acquisition or developing something new.

"My passion in business is to succeed and do whatever it takes to provide for my family and take care of my team members," he said.

dennis.seid@djournal.com