From an 18-year-old prep worker to the largest owner of Papa Murphy's locations in Utah, Herriman resident Kyle McPhee's entire life has been shaped by the popular pizza chain. It's where he met his wife, and where all five of their children have worked at one time or another.
Kyle McPhee and his son, Aydon, toward the beginning of the family’s Papa Murphy’s career. Now, the father-son duo is opening a location in Eagle Mountain. (Courtesy Kyle McPhee)
In July, McPhee opened his 15th Papa Murphy's Utah location in Eagle Mountain, but this time with a business partner, his 20-year-old son, Aydon. "He's a mini-me, so we get along really well," McPhee said.
Along with the 15 Utah locations, the West Jordan High grad also owns two Papa Murphy's shops in Wyoming. His 25-year journey with the company has made him the eighth-largest brand owner in the country. He manages 140 employees, mostly teens working their first jobs, with a low turnover rate.
"I just manage the way I would want to be treated," he said. "I've had jobs in the past and hated my bosses. I decided to manage the way I would want my boss to be. Most of my employees stay with me for three or four years until they go away to college."
McPhee has faced many challenges over the years, including the COVID months when his high school employees at the Heber location were quarantined for two weeks. But employees' families stepped up to cover shifts and eventually things went back to normal.
He said that's an example of what happens when a business integrates into a community: There's an ownership and dedication to helping the business succeed. It's important to McPhee to have Papa Murphy's involved with community organizations.
Aydon McPhee partnered with his dad, Kyle McPhee, to open the family’s 15th Papa Murphy’s Utah location at Eagle Mountain. (Courtesy Kyle McPhee)
"We do a lot of fundraisers with elementary schools, doing spirit nights, and a couple of our stores provide pizzas for charter schools in the area. We do the Oakley Rodeo every year," he said. "We're trying to support our actual employees, so if they're involved in sports or cheerleading, we generally contribute to their fundraisers as well."
McPhee feels a responsibility to his employees. For many of them, it's their first job, and while he knows a starting position with Papa Murphy's might not be a career path, he wants to set an example of a boss they should look for and be in the future.
Now, a second generation of employees is walking through his doors as the kids of former workers are asking to be hired. McPhee enjoys engaging with teenagers, often working alongside them during the day.
"I always joke that they keep me young, because I try to keep up with them," he said. "I have teenagers myself, so it's easy for me to get along with them. It's a lot of fun to work with them."
Aydon McPhee is excited for the Eagle Mountain location opening, ready to bring his experience into a new chapter while building something special and shaping a future he can be proud of.
His dad told him to never limit his goals, to aim much higher than the original target. Aydon McPhee said even if he falls short of that higher goal, the results will still surpass original expectations.
"It's such a motivating mindset, and it's really stuck with me," he said. "Over the next five years, my goal is to become the best at ownership and really master that side of things. … I want to be a familiar face, helping out around town, contributing at City Hall and really supporting growth. That way, as I help the community, the community can thrive and grow stronger together."
