Team Champion
Champion's Partners in Advocacy
Ricky Lyons – Conductor and Catalyst – CEO
In 1983 Ricky Lyons was in Edmonton, Canada working as a practicing real estate attorney when he decided to come to Scottsdale, Arizona to develop real estate. Since arriving in Arizona, Ricky has been involved in the development of more than 30 projects throughout the Country. Ricky founded Champion in 1999 and today the company has more than one million square feet of commercial real estate under development in the Valley. As Champion’s Conductor, Ricky’s role is to understand the circumstances, create and maintain relationships, make deals, and show up.
Brad Williams – Director of Development
Mr. Brad Williams hails originally from Kansas where he was managing partner and owner of a leading law firm, Williams & Williams PA, for over 35 years. In 2010 Mr. Williams and a partner became franchisees within the Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers system. Within 6 years they had opened and operated 20 stores in 4 states, becoming the second largest franchisee in the system. Additionally, they became the first franchisees to create a program involving developing, building, selling- leaseback programs with their stores. In 2015, Mr. Williams and his management group acquired Native Grill & Wings a local Phoenix area concept – the group became the operators and owners of the Native platform which had over 30 operating stores. In 2018 and 2019 he sold all of his interests in both Companies.
He is a graduate of the University of Kansas and his accomplishments include not only the opening of new restaurants and operating them but also full real estate development to build stores from the ground up. Mr. Williams is active in the community in both business and with charitable organizations both domestically and internationally. He and his wife Linda currently reside in the Phoenix area.