Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen multi-unit franchisee Ali Shahid Butt learned long ago that success in business depends on other people. “Team work makes the dream work,” says Butt, president of AR Group of Restaurants, which operates 25 Popeyes restaurants in 5 states.

Butt and his wife, Arian Rahmani, received the MVP American Dream Award for achieving remarkable success in the United States. Born in Pakistan, he journeyed to the U.S. in 1992, “based on the desire for achievement and success,” he says.

“I don’t think I have reached the American Dream yet, but I am happy with what I have achieved. I remember I was opening my Olden Avenue store and there were lots of hurdles. I remember sitting on the curb across the street wondering if this store would ever open. In the end, everything worked out and when that store opened, I had a feeling of achieving the American Dream.”