Cold drinks. Hot food. Friendly Service.

August 15, 2009-“If you give your customer those things, they’ll leave your lot happy, and be back.”

That’s sage advice from someone who should know. Marvin Jirous, president of the Naitonal Association of Sonic Drive-In Franchisees, has been operating Sonic Drive-ins for more than 50 years and has survived more than one economic downturn such as the one America is currently experiencing.

“We are all working very hard right now for every dollar. We are specializing the menu and doing whatever we can. But we’ll get through it. We have before.

“We keep offering good hot food, and good cold drinks and taking good care of our customers, and we’re home free,” said Jirous who is a former president of Sonic Industries and the owner-“curator” of a sizable collection of Sonic memorabilia.

Jirous’ experience and willingness to mentor new franchisors is part of the appeal of the National Association of Sonic Drive-In Franchisees. The group is marking its 20th anniversary with a membership drive and awareness campaign to tell the success stories of the men and women who operate Sonic Drive-Ins across America.

Gary Kinslow has made his career operating Sonic Drive-Ins and, along with Jirous, is one of the founders of the association.
“We really began the association for all of us to be connected and have a unified voice for our Sonic future,” said Kinslow who is from Prague, OK. Gary’s father Matt was one of a group of Sonic franchisee pioneers who helped lay the foundation of the Sonic chain.

When the Association was formed in 1989, one of the first actions of the fledgling group was to hire an executive director. They acted on a recommendation to hire Richard Hess. Hess operates Richard Hess & Associates, an association management firm in Oklahoma City specializing in assisting small non-profit and trade groups with organization, issues and operation.

“Richard is a great guy. We really feel like he was ‘a good bargain’ for us to get that caliber of a professional,” reflected Kinslow.

“He has done an outstanding job for us representing our interests to the community and helping us as an organization.”

Hess continues as the executive director of the Sonic Association and says that although it’s unbelievable that twenty years have passed, it has been an honor to watch the association grow and to serve this group.

“Sonic Drive-In franchisee owners are hard working, genuine and successful. They have great business acumen and, as a group, have accomplished much that benefits many,” said Hess.

One of the key membership benefits Sonic Association members receive is health and dental insurance.

“We know how expensive and difficult it can be for a small business owner to find affordable coverage. For more than ten years, the Sonic Association has offered coverage with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma,” said Hess.

Kinslow said the coverage is affordable and competitive with other plans, and more importantly, no one who is a member of the association is denied coverage based on age or pre-existing conditions.

“It has been good for my family and my employees. I know that without the coverage the association offers, many folks would be uninsured,” said Kinslow.

Jirous and the rest of the Sonic Association board encourages all Sonic Drive-In franchisee owners to join the association.

“It doesn’t make sense not to join,” said Jirous. “We are here to help and happy to help. We have an outstanding relationship with Sonic Industries, which isn’t always the case with franchisees and franchisors. We present ideas to them and they present ideas to us.

“Just like we’ve always taken care of our customers, we take good care of each other too,” he said.

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