Forty Under 40: Joe Muha

Joe Muha, a licensed pharmacist who works in pharmacy loss prevention at Wal-Mart’s home office in Bentonville, is a principal in three different restaurant franchising groups.nMuha is vice president of Cardinal Enterprises, which owns Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurant in Rogers. Copeland’s opened in 2002 and last year was the state’s leading restaurant with $5.3 million in sales.nIn addition, Muha is the president of two franchise companies. Through Laughing Cow, he has opened Pizza Pro restaurants in Bentonville and Bella Vista and plans to have seven more in Northwest Arkansas. A new company, Vandalay Enterprises, named after a fictional firm on the television show “Seinfeld,” will franchise two restaurant chains: Mama Fu’s Noodle House and Moe’s Southwestern Grill, both owned by Wild Brands of Atlanta.nOriginally from Pittsburgh, Pa., Muha earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1990 from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.nHe has worked for Wal-Mart since 1991, serving as a pharmacist and district manager before his current job. Muha moved to Bella Vista seven years ago. He enjoys duck hunting, motorcycle riding and scuba diving.