TIFTON — Being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy, and everyone does it a little differently. Some open online stores, while others open brick-and-mortar storefronts.

Some go all in and invest their lives into a new venture, while others start a new business as something to do on the side. Regardless of the type, entrepreneurs help drive the local economy.

Jason Teel, supervisor, started his career in the pizza business when he was in high school. Teel worked weekends for his father, Ricky Teel, president of RT Pizza. By the time he was a senior in high school, he knew he wanted to go into the family business.

RT Pizza is a locally owned company that franchises with the national Domino’s chain. RT Pizza started franchising with Domino’s in 1991.

After embarking on a career with his father and Domino’s, Teel earned an associate’s degree at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College before attending Valdosta State University and earning a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Throughout college and after graduating, Teel worked with his father, learning how to operate a store.

“Immediately, I was working with him and was learning the more serious side to running and operating a store at our store in Tifton,” he said. “Whether it be with inventory, service, our product, scheduling, labor, I was just learning some of the ins and outs of the business.”

In fall 2006, Teel began managing the Domino’s that RT owned in Cordele. He worked there for a little more than a year.

“That was a lot of practice run,” Teel said. “Me being off on my own and having to make decisions on my own. So then, after that year, I started transitioning into a supervisory role. I was looking over our store in Americus.”

RT Pizza has since sold its store in Americus.

Teel said when he first started working with his father he wasn’t sure of his role in the company and the supervisor role he holds today became necessary as the franchise grew.

“I was more of a problem fixer,” he said about his original role. “If somebody was short staffed or had an issue, I would come in and fix the production issue.”

Because Teel’s role in the family business wasn’t predetermined, he could grow as an employee and a manager.

“My father was patient to let me grow into the role and not throw me into something and not be prepared for it,” he said. “You learn through experiences. The more you experience, the more you know.”

Those experiences are the backbone of how Teel and his father manage their stores and employees. When asked for advice, Teel said to make sure as the owner you are willing to work harder and better than any employee in the store.

“That’s something I take pride in,” he said. “I can walk in and be as good as anyone. I know what to do.”

Learning from his father, Teel said he was taught to be present so the employees know him and the work he does when he walks through the door.

“He always believed in working and doing the daily operations of the store,” Teel said. “He does not want to be an absentee owner. He wanted his employees to know who he was. It all started with him. Just because we are the owners does not mean we are above work.”

RT Pizza operates Domino’s across South Georgia in Valdosta, Tifton, Moultrie, Adel, Nashville and Lake Park.