Missouri Western announces franchise competition winner 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Missouri Western rewarded a recent graduate with the opportunity to own and operate a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Every year, Craig School of Business graduates compete for a business ownership opportunity through the Center for Franchise Development.

Taten Piepergerdes was announced as the winner at Friday’s ceremony. He will operate a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Corpus Christi, Texas.

"I think my life has kind of been like pointing towards this direction at getting something, especially south," he said. "I love Hispanic culture, and that's big there."

Piepergerdes prepared a 50-page business plan that he presented in the fall in the preliminary round of the process. After a business internship, he returned with a polished plan to show in the final presentation.

"A lot of times they will put some of their other responsibilities on hold because this really is such a unique opportunity," Pam Klaus, Missouri Western Director for the Center of Franchise Development, said. "It's a once in a lifetime type of deal to be able to own a business right out of college."

Klaus said competitors heard from seven alumni franchisees at a celebratory dinner on Thursday night.

"The growth they've seen in just a few years is really phenomenal," she said. "They actually gave some advice to these young people, so it really does launch that career in ways that is really unmatched."

Piepergerdes said he is grateful for the Center for Franchise Development program's leaders and everyone that dedicated their time and effort to prepare him for the moment.

"My whole life has kind of oriented me to this position," he said. "So it's a combination of bits and pieces from my entire life that has led me to this opportunity."