Barry Sims to Speak at e2e Laramie Meeting Nov. 19

The former CEO of Taco John’s International will be the guest speaker at e2e Wyoming’s November meeting in Laramie.

Barry Sims, currently an adjunct professor in the University of Wyoming College of Business, will speak Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Laramie Hilton Garden Inn. To register, go to https://www.uwyo.edu/wtbc/e2e-wyoming/.

Sims will discuss Taco John’s journey from a small family business to a large company. Taco John’s currently operates and franchises more than 400 quick-serve Mexican restaurants across 25 states. In 2013, Sims retired as chairman and CEO of the Cheyenne-based company.

"Taco John's was founded right here in Wyoming and has experienced tremendous growth over the years,” says John Dick, assistant director of the Wyoming Technology Business Center (WTBC). “Barry will share its success story as well as insights for entrepreneurs involved in a family business and franchising as a business model."

Sims joined Taco John’s in 1986 as chief financial officer after several years with the accounting firm of McGladrey and Pullen in Rapid City, S.D. He is a certified public accountant and graduate of the University of South Dakota.

Sims currently is a board member of Visit Cheyenne (Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) and recently served on the Wyoming Lottery’s Board of Directors during the lottery’s initial startup phase. Sims also has served as president of the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association, and was a board member of Cheyenne LEADS for eight years.

E2e is an educational networking program with chapters in Laramie, Casper, Gillette and Sheridan. It is designed to improve the climate for the start-up and growth of entrepreneurial companies. Each e2e chapter meets bimonthly for 45 minutes of networking, followed by a 45-minute program. The programs include successful entrepreneurs telling their stories, panel discussions on relevant topics and advice from experts in a specific business.

The WTBC, a not-for-profit business incubator at UW that provides entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools necessary for success, launched e2e as an educational networking program.

For more information about e2e, call the WTBC at (307) 766-6395.