Veltema First Joined the Pizza Franchise in 2006
Little Caesars, a leading pizza brand, has named Jack Veltema director of franchise sales for the West. Veltema joined Little Caesars in 2006 as regional franchise manager to oversee new store development, operations and marketing for locations across the New York City, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh markets. He went on to serve as international development manager, franchise business consultant and regional franchise director before leaving in 2017 to work as a carrier development executive at Echo Global Logistics. He returned to Little Caesars in 2019 to support franchise development, eventually stepping away in 2023 to become a Hello Garage franchisee in his home state of Michigan.
“Stepping away to start my own business gave me a completely different perspective. As a business owner, every decision carries weight, and you develop an even greater appreciation for the challenges entrepreneurs navigate every day,” Veltema said. “Coming back to Little Caesars felt like the right opportunity because I could pair that firsthand experience with everything I learned throughout my years in franchise development. I have an even deeper understanding of what prospective franchisees are looking for and what kind of support helps them succeed over the long term. Owning a business reinforces that successful franchise relationships are built on trust, transparency and strong operational support.”
He looks forward to reconnecting with existing franchisees while introducing new entrepreneurs to the Little Caesars opportunity across the western U.S., including the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Des Moines, Iowa. “There are significant growth opportunities throughout the region, and my goal is to build strong relationships with qualified operators who share our long-term vision for the brand. Success isn’t just about signing new agreements — it’s about helping franchisees build sustainable businesses that can thrive for years to come.”
Veltema said Little Caesars is well-positioned for continued growth because of its investments in innovation and dedication to value, convenience, operational simplicity and franchisee support. “From new restaurant formats like the Elev8 design and POD units to technology and menu innovation, Little Caesars has continued to find ways to meet consumers where they are while creating more opportunities for franchisees to grow. It’s exciting to see the momentum the brand has built.”
Basil Kazepis, national vice president of development and franchising at Little Caesars, praised Veltema for his franchise development experience. “He knows the Little Caesars system and understands what franchisees are looking for, with a proven ability to build strong relationships with operators. We’re excited to welcome him back and confident he’ll play an important role in accelerating our growth,” Kazepis said.
When he’s not working with franchise owners, Veltema is usually spending time with his family, traveling or following his favorite professional Detroit sports teams. Veltema is also the general manager and bench coach for his son’s travel baseball team, which allows him to combine his love of baseball with mentoring young athletes.
About Little Caesars
Little Caesars was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959 and is headquartered in downtown Detroit. The pizza franchise has since expanded to locations across all 50 U.S. states and 31 countries and territories because of the popularity of its HOT-N-READY pizza, Crazy Puffs, Crazy Bread and more. Little Caesars is also home to the exclusive Pizza Portal pickup, a heated, self-service mobile order pickup station, and is the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL.
