Houston TX Hot Chicken Names Ashley Prokos Senior Director of Franchise Sales

Houston TX Hot Chicken (HHC) announced the appointment of Ashley Prokos as Senior Director of Franchise Sales.

August 14, 2026 // FranchisePR.com // LAS VEGAS, NV — Founded in 2021 by Edmond Barseghian, HHC has grown into a notable hot chicken concept with locations across Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Michigan, and Ohio and a follower base on social media. The brand has sold more than 100 franchise units nationwide, with involvement from a private equity partner to support growth.

Prokos’ appointment follows industry recognition by various outlets, including listings on industry publications and awards such as the Hot Concepts Award from Nation’s Restaurant News and Breakout Brand honors on industry lists.

In her new role, Prokos will oversee the identification, recruitment and cultivation of franchise partners to support the brand’s growth.

“My focus is on finding the right franchise partners for the right markets — operators who share our passion for the brand, know their communities intimately, and have the operational discipline to steward HHC with genuine local care as we scale,” Prokos said. “This strategic approach will open restaurants faster, drive long-term success, and strengthen the brand for the future. I couldn’t be more excited to help write this next chapter.”

Prokos brings more than a decade of franchise development experience to HHC, with a track record of helping brands achieve growth. Most recently at GoTo Foods, she built a reputation for consistently exceeding franchise sales goals and for a relationship-first approach that keeps deals and partnerships built to last. Prior to GoTo Foods, she spent nearly a decade with Jimmy John’s Franchise, holding progressive roles across franchise marketing, operations, sponsorships, and special projects, giving her a ground-level understanding of what it takes to open, operate and grow a restaurant brand. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is an active member of Women in Franchising and the Women’s Foodservice Forum.

“Ashley’s track record of building trusted relationships and identifying high-impact growth opportunities makes her exactly the right leader to guide our franchise sales strategy,” said Brian Simowitz, President of Houston TX Hot Chicken. “As we scale across the U.S. and take HHC international, having someone with her experience and instincts in this seat gives us real confidence in what’s next.”

HHC provides support for franchise partners. Known for its hot chicken sandwiches, tenders, waffles, nuggets and house sauce, the brand’s menu includes items with varying heat levels from No Spice to high heat. The brand’s offerings are described as a menu featuring a range of chicken dishes and sides.

SOURCE Houston TX Hot Chicken