Recipes for Living Todd and Cami Thompson

The following article appeared in the Osceola Sentinel Tribune under the title:

"Todd Thompson of Osceola is the 1998 International Franchisee of the Year for Subway. The award was presented at the convention of the 8,500-franchise company in Atlanta, Georgia. Co-founders of the company...presented the award to Thompson, who, along with his wife and partner, Cami, own and operate four Subway restaurants in southern Iowa.
"The Thompsons opened their first Subway in Osceola in May, 1991. They moved here from a suburb of Denver, Colorado, where Todd was a mechanic for Firestone. They were introduced to Subway by Todd's parents, Tom and Ilene Thompson of Sun Valley Lake, who own the Subway store at Creston.
"Todd and Cami have since started Subway restaurants in Lamoni, Greenfield and Coming. They have 40-45 full- and part-time employees. Todd was nominated for the award by his three managers.
“‘He’s an awesome boss,' said Kathy Shields of Lamoni, who manages the Lamoni and Osceola stores. 'He treats us like we're the owners of the store,' Shields says about Thompson's management style. Kathy Bozwell of Greenfield said Thompson gives his managers 'freedom but guidance.' The other manager is Cindy Johnston of Corning.
"The Thompsons believe in supporting the communities where their stores are located. Todd is on the board of directors and a staunch supporter of the Osceola Main Street project, he was president of the Chamber of Commerce and serves on the finance committee of the Osceola United Methodist Church...
"Thompsons' Subways are usually one of the first businesses to support local projects and organizations, especially the schools. 'I think you have to give back to the community,' Todd said. ‘You can’t just take, take, and take. Besides, what you give comes back many times over'...
"He is also active on committees of the franchise organization. One committee evaluates advertising and another is an owner advisory council.
"The Thompsons drove to the four-day convention in Georgia, then went on to Disney World in Florida where Adam, 10, and Travis, 8, enjoyed six fun-filled days."

Todd was born in Escondido, in Orange County, California, on October 21, 1962. His parents, Tom and Ilene Thompson also have another child, Sheri, who is younger than Todd. When Todd was five, the family moved back to Spencer, where his parents' relatives lived.

Todd went to school in Spencer from kindergarten through 12th grade. Tom Murr was the athletic director when Todd was in high school, but Todd's interests were in shop classes and those kinds of things. His hobby was cars. "I spent my money on my cars. Dad helped work on them. He gave guidance for me and kids I hung around with. My pride was a '68 fast-back Mustang and I've been looking for another one for years. During Todd's last year in high school, he was in a school-to-work program at a Goodyear Dealership, changing tires, etc.

About the time Todd was in 6th grade, the family moved to the country, across the road from his grandparents. Todd's family raised dogs and developed kennels of long-haired miniature dachshunds and Yorkshire terriers. At one time they had 90 to 100 dogs. A buyer came for them regularly and sold them to pet stores. Tom invented cages "that really should have been patented. They were pretty classy." The present Thompson family has a three-year-old toy poodle that weighs five pounds, five ounces. The boys have named him Tiny, and he is another member of the family.

Todd had an uncle in Colorado who owned a Firestone dealership. He had asked Todd what he intended to do when he graduated from high school and suggested that he work for him. So, in 1981, a month after Todd received his diploma, he left for Colorado. The job proved to be an apprenticeship, with Todd doing whatever Mark, a really good mechanic, did. When his uncle retired and another manager was hired, Todd began to evaluate his life and prospects. In the present situation, he worked up to be service manager and assistant manager.

While Todd was living and working in Denver, Cami came into the picture. She had been born in Superior, Nebraska, Aug. 22, 1963, to Jerry and Alyce Cole. She has one older brother, Doug. The family lived in two other Nebraska towns before they moved to Colorado, when Cami was seven. Her father was a state meat inspector, and went to Denver to work at the King's Soopers Meat Plant. They lived in a suburb, where her parents still live.

Cami wasn't involved in any extra-curricular activities in school. From about third grade on, she had several close friends, Lynn Moore and Janet Kuretich. Janet remained her good friend through graduation. They did such innocent things as sleepovers, or going to the movies or shopping. "We didn't get wild. I was always too afraid I'd get caught."

During her junior and senior years, Cami was part of an On-The-Job Training program. She didn't have a car so it became a great advantage when she had the chance to work in the high school office for one period each day, and before and after school. Not only did she gain experience, she also had the opportunity to register first, and could select teachers she wanted. In a school that size, it was a significant advantage. The high school consisted of 2300 students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. Cami was in one of the smallest classes of about 650.

Cami decided to go into the travel and transportation field, perhaps as a ticket agent. She went to a trade school and earned a diploma but, when she went to look for job, all employers wanted experienced workers. The chicken-and-the-egg story. How could she get experience unless she was hired? She found a job as a receptionist in the International Department of First National Bank of Denver. From that position, she worked up to a secretarial position and, before she left that employment, she issued Import Letters of Credit for goods imported into the country for different merchandise people.

During this time, Cami met Todd. She had gone with friends to a bar for kids who were 18-20. Todd had gone by himself. He asked Cami to dance, but when he went back to his table, someone had taken it. He asked if he could sit with Cami and her friends. She wasn't sure she wanted him to for fear no one else would ask her to dance. Her friends, however, encouraged the idea, noting that Todd seemed like a nice fellow. The two soon discovered a common interest in motorcycles. Cami’s dad had owned one and she used to ride on it. Todd had come on one, so this was their topic of conversation. When the evening was over, Cami gave him her phone number.

Their first date was a cycle ride up in the mountains, to Flagstaff, which overlooks the city of Boulder, Colorado. Suddenly they heard a noise that sounded like a wild animal. It was very dark. There was no one else around. Todd tried to start the cycle to get out of there but, in his panic, he couldn't get it started. For awhile they thought it was their end but in due time they found out that the noise was the heavy breathing of a jogger. They began breathing again, also. Todd got the motorcycle started and they returned safely. Cami and Todd dated for 1 1/2 years and were married in Denver on April 20, 1985.

Todd continued in his same job; Cami had changed jobs and was now working at Denver National Bank as a Commercial Loan Secretary. They lived in Todd's apartment for six months but, just three months after they were married, someone broke in and took everything small enough to be shoved into a pocket. This caused Todd and Cami to give consideration to a change. There were some "wild people" living around them and, in general, they were sick of apartment living. In October, they bought and moved into a house.

On October 28, 1987, Adam was born. Todd was still with Firestone, and Cami had quit her job about one month before the baby was born. They had decided that they were going to make it work that she would stay home and raise their child. She still, however, had good rapport with the bank and they began calling her whenever secretaries took vacations. It was a wonderful opportunity. Her mom and dad had a friend who did day care in her home so she felt confident that Adam was well cared for, and was given the experience of knowing other children of the same age. Cami could work a week or two at a time but not be committed to a full-time job. Additionally, it gave her the wide experience of filling in for secretaries in the Executive Department, Loans and Investments, or wherever needed.

This was the family situation when Travis was born on September 26, 1989. During her last four months at the bank, Cami was secretary to the bank President and Vice President. It was a good education blighted by the fact that the secretary, whom she had known well, was very ill and died from breast cancer.

At this point, Todd thought seriously of getting out of Firestone. He was sure that he didn't want to be a mechanic when he was older. He had come to realize that the only profitable position was to be a store manager which didn't exactly suit his taste. And there were other influences. By now his parents and his sister had purchased a franchise agreement in the Subway system and, in addition to operating a store in Marshalltown, were in the process of expanding to Creston.

Todd and Cami decided to give Subway a shot. They returned to Iowa and looked at two possibilities-Osceola and Atlantic. Realtors showed them around each town, but Helen Saylor showed them Osceola. Around New Years Day, 1991, she spent time showing them schools, homes and the building which might be available for a Subway store. Helen's enthusiasm for Osceola won them over. They made the drive back to Denver on icy roads. In January they began the process of quitting their employment. With Todd's parents they opened the Subway store in Osceola on May 1, 1991. Both Todd and Cami worked full time, whatever hours were required. They purchased their home on April 1, 1991.

Within 1 1/2 years, Todd's mom and dad began looking toward retirement and were gone six months out of the year, so Todd began overseeing the Creston Subway. He wanted to expand further so added Greenfield in 1995; and, in a matter of nine months, also opened stores in Corning and Lamoni. It goes without saying that it was a hectic time, because, in addition to establishing the business, it was necessary to construct the buildings. There was also the need to train managers who could be relied upon to take responsibility while Todd circulated among the stores. He has found it best to have one manager manage two stores, and has been fortunate to have hired competent people who have stayed with him over several years.

Cami hasn't worked in the stores for about 1 1/2 years. She had been doing the bookwork and felt fortunate in being flexible enough to be involved otherwise. Within that period of time the managers were in place, Todd took over most of the bookwork and an accountant was hired. Cami was glad to back out of direct participation.

Cami began subbing at Clarke Elementary School as a teachers' associate. She enjoyed volunteering and loved working with the kids. In October, 1998, she took a temporary job in pre-school and presently is a teachers' associate working with children who have behavioral disorders. This school year she will be working for a new teacher. For Cami, there is nothing more rewarding than working with children--helping and watching them meet goals, grow and expand; she loves getting hugs every day. This arrangement also is great because Cami has the same school schedule as her children. This year Adam will be in 6th grade; Travis in 4th.

Todd and Cami are also active in the Osceola United Methodist Church. Todd had been raised in the Lutheran faith; Cami in the Arvada United Methodist Church in Denver. She had been in Sunday school, children’s’ choir and, in junior high, helped in the nursery. That is the church in which she and Todd were married and where Adam was baptized. When they came to Iowa, Rev. Cliff Haider went to visit and invited them to church. Cami transferred her membership and Todd became a member. Travis was baptized in this church. The boys now attend Sunday school and Todd and Cami are in a young adult Sunday school class.

As they look back on their lives, Todd and Cami recognize how each part has contributed toward the way they live now. When Todd was at Firestone, in the service department, there were some mechanics who didn't apply themselves to what they were doing. Every day a car, which had supposedly been repaired in their shop, would be towed in and Todd took the heat. He, in his line of work and Cami in banking, came to realize what it takes to keep a customer happy. They both became accustomed to thinking in terms of service to the public.

It is Todd's and Cami's style to give and they have discovered, as the article says, that "what you give comes back many times over. This is where we get our warm fuzzies." They seldom say "no", which results in their participating in benefits of various kinds by giving a percent of a day’s proceeds for the cause. They give coupons to school teachers to use as incentives in whatever way they choose. Todd is also on every state board associated with their business.

That they do this in each community is attested to by the fact that Subway was selected as the recipient of the Lamoni Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award of 1998. The certificate reads, "In special recognition for their ongoing efforts and support in seeking to enrich the community and promoting its development." In Todd and Cami’s words, “We like to be known as people who help." And their help is greatly appreciated! Ones who conducted Vacation Bible School in 1999 noted that they have been "the backbone of Marketplace (the current program). Cami had three jobs and Todd took two mornings off work to help-for his third year."

Nothing is ever for sure and, as Todd and Cami see more and more competition developing around them, they hope that Subway has proven itself and will continue to be highly regarded in the communities they serve.