Executive Committee

Buddy McClain
Chairman & CEO

Buddy began his career with Sonic in 1977 with the Mason, Harrison & Jarrod Group in Columbus, Mississippi.  He became the Managing Partner of the Selma, Alabama unit eight months later.  He then managed the Sonic Drive-In in Poplarville, Mississippi for four and one-half years.  In May of 1982, at the age of 27, Buddy became a Franchisee for sonic in Denom Springs, Louisiana.  His next move was to purchase four more units in the Baton Rouge area.  Buddy was the third person in Sonic to sign an Area Development Agreement with Sonic Industries for the Jackson, Mississippi market, in which he owned twelve units by 1996.

In 1984, Buddy McClain and Cary Harvey spearheaded organizing one of the first advertising co-ops for Sonic.  They played a key role in beginning the Jackson Advertising Co-op, which was also one of the first for the chain.  Buddy and Cary became partners in 1996.  In the year 2000, they were presented the “Turn-around operators of the year” at the Sonic national convention held in Tampa, Florida.

Buddy has earned numerous awards throughout his Sonic Career, with his most recent award of “2005 Distinguished Entrepreneur” presented by the University of Southern Mississippi and “2005 Mason Development Award” which was presented at Sonic’s national convention.  This award was created to recognize outstanding contributions to the development of new drive-ins and brand development.

Buddy has been a member of the prestigious Sonic Franchise Advisory Council (FAC) since 1998, and has served on the FAC Executive Committee since 1999.  In 2002, a newly formed Technology Committee was formed, in which Buddy served as Chairman.

As an active member of the business community, Buddy is a member of the Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce. He is on the Advisory Board of the University of Southern Mississippi as well as serving on the Board of Directors in the Jackson Area for the American Red Cross 

Buddy is married to Joni McClain and has two children, Stefanie McClain Fairly and Mallory McClain.  He is an avid hunter who also enjoys fishing and riding his Harley.

 

Bruce Vaughn

President

Bruce began with Sonic on January 2, 1979.  His relationship with Buddy McClain goes back to their first grade as classmates in elementary school.  Throughout both their childhood and adulthood, Buddy and Bruce have been a team.  Bruce became the President of the McClain, Harvey, Vaughn Group in 2004.

Bruce’s training began with Buddy McClain in the Poplarville, Mississippi Sonic.  In June of 1979, Bruce went on to become the Managing Partner in the Grenada, Mississippi unit.  In 1984, Bruce relocated to Jackson, Mississippi to develop the market with Buddy. He purchased the Clinton Blvd location as well as managed and supervised multiple stores at the same time.  Bruce owns interest in Mississippi Gulf Coast as well as Jackson, Mississippi.  He is part owner of the Tampa, Florida DMA and West Palm, Florida DMA. 

Bruce has served as President of the Jackson Co-Op from 1999 to present. He is also a member of the FAC Product Development Task Group where he has served from 2005 to the present.  Bruce is married to Wynn Vaughn and has three daughters; Katie, Olivia and Casey.  Bruce’s hobbies include hunting and fishing.

Clark Spencer

CFO

Clark, 44, joined the company in February, 1997, initially in the capacity of Controller.  At that time the company had 17 units with approximately $11 million in revenues. 

Upon the company’s second market acquisition in July, 1999, Mr. Spencer became CFO and hired John Triplett as controller to take half of his duties.  A CPA, Mr. Spencer previously worked as a public accountant for KPMG.  Just prior to coming to MHV, he worked in the Business Banking section of Deposit Guaranty Bank (now Regions).

 His father and grandfather were in the hotel/restaurant business their entire lives, and Mr. Spencer began working in his father’s restaurant, Poets, in the summer of 1975 at the age of 12, something he would do most summers of his youth.

 For him, his work at MHV is a natural culmination of his life experiences in the fields of accounting, finance, and hospitality.  Mr. Spencer holds a BBA from the University of Mississippi, as well as a Certificate of Accounting from Mississippi College.   He, his wife Susan, and two children live in Ridgeland, MS.

  

James “Andy” Alsobrook

Sr. Vice President of Operations

Andy is a 25-year veteran of the QSR industry with a proven track record of success.  In 1979, Andy began his career as the founder of the Penguin Deli Corporation in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Within 24 months, the concept grew to five locations throughout the Chattanooga area.

In the latter part of 1982, Andy joined Franco, Inc., a Cleveland, Tennessee based Hardees Food System (HFS) franchisee with at that time 19 restaurants.  As the company experienced rapid growth, to 50 stores within 7 years, Andy was promoted to Senior Vice President; he oversaw all aspects of the daily operations for the restaurants and the support center.  He also worked closely with his management team to incorporate 4 Mrs. Winner's and 5 Chesapeake Bagel Bakery concepts into the parent company.  Andy's tenure with Franco spanned 18 years.

In August of 2000, Andy joined the senior management team at Grand Star, LLC (Grand Star) as the Regional Vice President of Operations.  The company owned 112 Hardees  restaurants.  In 2001, Andy was promoted to Vice President of Operations, with a management team of 3 Regional Directors, 13 District Managers, and 3,500 employees. 

Andy joined McClain, Harvey, Vaughn Sonic Group in June 2002 as the Senior Vice President of Operations.  He is a partner in County Line, Oak Grove, Long Beach, Bayou La Batre, Daphne, Arcadia, Port Gibson, Saraland, Hwy 49, Clinton 2, Theodore, Springhill, AL, Loop, Bay Minette, Montlimar, Robertsdale and Semmes.

 

Debbie Porter

Human Resources Director

Debbie has twenty-three years experience in human resources including eighteen years in management.  Debbie began her HR career in 1980 as a personnel assistant for

General Cable Company.  While working for General Cable she completed her BA in Psychology and received her degree from Mississippi State University in 1985.

Debbie went to work for McCarty Farms as an employment manager and was subsequently promoted to personnel director of the Wilmington Street facility.  She continued in that position after Tyson Foods, Inc bought the company.  Debbie resigned in 1999 to home school her children through their middle school years.  During that time, she began working part-time for the McClain/Harvey Group.

 In her part-time capacity, she administered the company’s insurance and assisted with employment actions and other HR issues.  In August 2002, Debbie became the full-time Human Resource Director for the McClain/Harvey Group.  Although Debbie has officially been employed with Sonic for seven years, she has been a “Sonic wife” for much longer. Her husband, Barry, has been a partner with the McClain/Harvey/Vaughn Group for nearly twenty years. 

Debbie’s first hand knowledge of our business has been a valuable asset in the development of our HR function.

 

Dane Martin

Regional V.P. of Operation

Florida Market

Dane has been in the food service industry for 24 years. His first job was at McDonald’s as a cook.  Dane paid for his college education by working in the food service industry in every position from a busboy to a waiter, sometimes holding down as many as three jobs while going to school 

After graduating from college with a B.A. in management, he went to work for Taco Bell as an AGM. He worked his way through the ranks until he was a Regional Vice President with a large franchise over 64 locations ranging from taco Bells, KFC’S and Pizza Huts. Many of these were multiple concepts under one roof!!

A little over 8 years ago, Dane came to Sonic as a Director of Operations in Dallas/Fort Worth.  In his tenure he won the multi-unit operator of the year award for 5 or more drive-ins and the multi-unit operator of the year award for 5 or less drive-ins.  He took 4 different teams to the Sonic Dr Pepper games and had the highest mystery shop average as a group in the Sonic chain.  Two years ago he came to the MHV group to work with Buddy McClain and Bruce Vaughn!!!  Dane says: The difference in this group is the solid belief in giving ownership!!  Ownership is hard to come by these days, what an opportunity!! 

Dane has settled in the Tampa Florida market and plans to be the premier franchisee in the Florida market 

Dane is married to Jana Martin and has two children: Chase and Amanda.

Dane’s hobby is spending time with his family who he says that without he could not do what he does. 

Looking forward to further success!!