Franchising World, January 2007
Franchisees, franchisors and suppliers make up the board and their franchised businesses range from food to fuels management, hotels and motels to commercial and residential cleaning, business services to legal consulting, lawn care to automotive aftercare and mail and package shipping to personnel services. These association leaders serve as the “Voice of Franchising.” They enable the world’s oldest and largest trade organization for the franchising sector to promote mature and emerging brands.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chairman-elect
Michael M. Isakson
President and Chief Operating Officer
ServiceMaster Franchise Services Group
Michael M. Isakson, president and chief operating officer, ServiceMaster Franchise Services Group, is responsible for more than 5,000 franchisees worldwide. Isakson leads both ServiceMaster Clean and Furniture Medic Brands, which specialize in residential and commercial cleaning services, disaster restoration, and onsite furniture repair. He also oversees the international operations of the ServiceMaster Company brands including Terminix, Trugreen and Merry Maids. He and his wife, Jinny, owned a ServiceMaster franchise in Bismarck, N.D. for 13 years, and a Merry Maids franchise for two years. As franchisees, the Isaksons received the Marion E. Wade Award of Honor, ServiceMaster’s most prestigious franchise recognition. He joined the corporate team as vice president of franchise sales in 1990. In 1992, Isakson was promoted to president and chief operating officer of Merry Maids, and in 1994, he was appointed president of the ServiceMaster Consumer Services Franchise Services Group. He has served as co-chair of the IFA Franchisor Forum.
First Vice Chairman-elect
Steven J. Greenbaum, CFE
President and Chief Executive Officer
PostNet International Franchise Corp.
Steven J. Greenbaum has served as president, chief executive officer and director since he founded PostNet International Franchise Corp. in 1992. Greenbaum is an accomplished retail professional and entrepreneur with more than 20 years’ experience in the postal and business services industry and is directly responsible for the strategic management and direction of the company.
Since the inception of PostNet’s franchising program in 1993, the company has licensed more than 925 franchises in the United States and abroad and is one of the largest and fastest growing privately-held companies in the postal and business services industry. Greenbaum is a Certified Franchise Executive and was honored with the IFA’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2003 and the Gary Rockwell Award for Excellence in Franchise Development in 2004. He presently serves on IFA’s Executive Committee as secretary, is the chairman of IFA’s Educational Foundation and also serves as a member of its Finance, Audit and Budget and Membership Committees.
Second Vice Chairwoman-elect
Dina Dwyer-Owens, CFE
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Dwyer Group
A Certified Franchise Executive with more than 26 years of industry experience, Dina Dwyer-Owens is president and CEO of the Dwyer Group, Inc., which presides over trade service brands that are welcomed into more than two million homes every year. Dwyer-Owens has been at the forefront of franchising, serving on the IFA board and as chairwoman of its VetFran program. In 2001, she was named IFA’s recipient of the Bonny LeVine Award for helping advance and mentor women in franchising. With more than 1,300 franchise locations around the world, the Dwyer Group’s concepts include Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning, Mr. Rooter Plumbing (Drain Doctor in the U.K.), Mr. Electric, Mr. Appliance, Glass Doctor and Rainbow International Restoration and Cleaning. Dwyer-Owens attributes a good part of system’s success to the company’s code of values. Ethics in business as written in her book “Live R.I.C.H.” and the organization’s innovative approach to exceeding the expectations of customers, a majority of them being women, have been the recipe for advancement. Under her tenure, the parent company has expanded from some 150 to more than 600 employees to service a growing worldwide network. For her achievements, Dwyer-Owens has been featured in “Working Mother,” “CNN“ and “Inc.” magazine.
Secretary-elect
Kenneth D. Walker
President and Chief Executive Officer
Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc.
Ken Walker joined Meineke as president and CEO in 1996 after serving nearly four years as president and CEO of Parts, Inc., in Memphis. Parts, Inc. was a distributor of automotive parts and supplies with distribution facilities and stores covering 24 states. Prior to his position with Parts, Inc., he spent 17 years in similar businesses, serving as president and CEO of Cardis Corp. Before entering the automotive aftermarket, he was a manager and CPA with Arthur Young and Co. in Fort Worth. Walker serves on the IFA board as secretary and is a member of the FranPAC Advisory Committee. He is currently a member of the World President’s Organization and has served as chairman of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association. He was an instructor for many AWDA seminars and is a recipient of the AWDA Memorial Scholarship and Pursuit of Excellence Award. He currently serves on the board of directors and Executive Committee of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association and the Government Affairs Committee. Walker is a board member of the Automotive Hall of Fame. Additionally, he serves as CEO of Driven Brands, Inc., the holding company, which is the parent company of Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc., Econo Lube and Tune, Inc., Aero-Colours, Inc. and Tortal.net. Walker is a graduate of the University of Texas.
Treasurer-elect and Past Chairman
Russell J. Frith, CFE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lawn Doctor
Russ Frith was hired by Lawn Doctor President and co-founder Tony Giordano as sales manager, but originally began his involvement with the company as a customer. Frith was promoted in rapid succession to vice president and chief operating officer, elected to the board of directors and appointed CEO in 1983. His leadership is credited for the company’s ten-fold growth to nearly 500 units. Frith has served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Federal Pesticide Advisory Council and has lectured at the Wharton School of Business. He is past president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America, and founding president of its education foundation. He served as chairman of IFA in 2003.
Immediate Past Chairman
Lawrence J. “Doc” Cohen, CFE
President
Doc & Associates, Ltd.
Lawrence “Doc” Cohen, CFE, is president of Doc & Associates, Ltd., a leading franchisee of the Great American Cookie Co. and Pretzel Time. He served as founding president of GAC’s Franchise Advisory Council and has been honored twice by IFA as Franchisee of the Year and by Great American Cookie Co. as Franchisee of the Decade. Prior to becoming a franchisee, Cohen was a pharmacist and attorney. He is an IFA Educational Foundation trustee, former chairman of the IFA Franchisee Forum and past treasurer and chairman of the board’s Finance, Audit and Budget Committee. He served as chairman of the 2006 Convention Committee, chair of the FranPAC Advisory Board and sits on the IFA Executive Committee. Cohen was the first franchisee to earn the Certified Franchise Executive designation.
Past Chairman
Richard Rennick, CFE
Founder
American Leak Detection, Inc.
Dick Rennick, CFE, called the “father of high-tech leak detection” after he built a business that revolutionized the leak-finding process, is also known for his commitment to teamwork and franchisee support. A member of IFA for two decades, Rennick has served on many committees and chaired the association’s Educational Foundation in 2004. He founded the Franchise Emergency Action Team to mobilize assistance from the franchise community when disasters strike. While serving on the IFA Convention Task Force, Rennick was the driving force for the “Taste of Franchising” idea that has been very successful during the association’s conventions since 2000. Rennick was named IFA’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997.
Chairman-elect, Franchisee Forum
David Mlotkiewicz
Owner
Lawn Doctor of South Monouth
David J. Mlotkiewicz operates eight Lawn Doctor franchises along the Jersey shore. Operating within the home services sector, his business specifically caters to residential and commercial lawn care, tree and shrub care and pest control. He has been honored with the company’s Best of the Best award four times. Mlotkiewicz is a longtime advocate of franchising, the green industry and the entrepreneurial spirit. For six of his 10 years as a member of Lawn Doctor’s President’s Advisory Council, he served as president of the organization. He is a member of IFA’s Franchise Relations Committee and Membership Committee.
Chairman-elect, Franchisor Forum
Stephen P. Joyce
Executive Vice President, Development-Owner and
Franchise Services for the Americas
Marriott International
Stephen P. Joyce is a 25-year veteran of Marriott holding numerous positions in franchising, finance and operational consulting. The company, which is one of the world’s leading lodging companies, operates under the Marriott, Renaissance, Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott Executive Residences lodging brands. Marriott’s Owner and Franchise Services Group supports owners and franchisees of more than 2,100 hotels in North America. The Development Group is responsible for all brands of hotel projects in the Americas. He serves as a member of the IFA Executive Committee of the board, a trustee of the ServiceSource Foundation and the Autism Learning Center. Joyce chaired the IFA’s Franchisor Forum in 2005. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia and has done graduate work at the Aspen Institute.
Chairman-elect, Supplier Forum
Dan Martin
President and Chief Executive Officer
IFX International, Inc.
Dan Martin is president and CEO of San Diego-based IFX Online, an application service provider specializing in the development of online franchise management systems. Since debuting IFX’s first system in 1996, the company has produced and hosted affordable solutions for more than 190 franchise organizations in the United States and internationally. Martin has 23 years of franchise structuring and management experience, including experience as an area developer franchisee and nine years of intranet development, implementation and hosting experience. He also educates the franchise community with informational seminars at IFA and industry functions about the role that technology plays in reducing costs, increasing revenues and improving communications between franchisors and franchisees. Martin has served on the IFA’s Supplier Forum Advisory Board since 2002, on the association’s Information Technology Committee since 1998 and the IFA Membership Committee since 2002. He served as vice chairman of the San Diego Franchise Business Network in 1998 and 1999. Martin was the winner of IFA’s 2003 Member Recruitment Award and the runner-up of IFA’s 2004 Member Recruitment Award.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bill Anderson
President
Wave Services Inc. (The UPS Store)
Bill Anderson is the president of Wave Services Inc. and is a franchisee of the UPS Store system. A multiple-center owner with three locations in Philadelphia and Central New Jersey, he has been a franchisee for more than a decade. He served as a member of the UPS Store Franchisee Advisory Council for eight years, three of those as chairman. Anderson has served as chairman of the IFA Franchisee Forum, on the Executive Committee, the Nominating Committee, Convention Committee, the FranPAC Advisory Board and the Franchise Relations Committee. He currently sits on the Awards and the Membership Committees and is nearing completion of his CFE requirements.
Ron Berger
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Figaro’s Italian Pizza Inc.
Ron Berger’s extensive background in franchising has prepared him for his management today of more than 100 franchised outlets in 20 states for Figaro’s. Berger founded National Video Inc., a system of franchised retail video specialty stores that grew to 750 stores throughout the United States and Canada. After taking the company public, he sold it and started Rentrak Corp., a distributor, information processor and owner of The Pro Image Inc. Berger previously served as a member of the IFA board of directors in the 1980s and again in the 1990s, chaired the Franchise Relations Committee and was a member of the Marketing and Public Relations Committee. He also currently serves on the board of directors of Fast Forward to End Hunger and National Lampoon.
Jerry Crawford, CFE
President
Jani-King International, Inc.
Jerry Crawford directs the commercial cleaning franchise, Jani-King, and holds various offices and director positions of subsidiary and affiliated companies of Jani-King International, Inc. He is president and owner of C&C Franchising, Inc. of Hampton Roads, Va. and Richmond, Va. and is president and partner of Opportunity Franchising, Inc. in Illinois. Crawford is also vice president and owner of Jani-King of Roanoke/Lynchburg, Va. He joined Jani-King of Oklahoma, Inc. in 1987 and in 1988 was promoted to corporate headquarters in Dallas, where he is responsible for marketing and supporting master franchises in the United States and overseas. Later, he was promoted to president of Jani-King Franchising, Inc. and Jani-King, Inc. In 1996, he was promoted to president of Jani-King International, Inc. He has served on the IFA board of directors for more than 10 years. He was chairman of the association’s International Affairs Committee and is currently a trustee of the IFA Educational Foundation. Prior to joining Jani-King, he was district computer center manager for Tandy Corp. in Oklahoma City.
Richard Crawford
Vice President, Corporate Government Relations
McDonald’s Corp.
Richard “Dick” Crawford directs McDonald’s international, federal, state and local government relations activities. Crawford serves as principal government relations advisor to the board of directors, CEO and other senior managers. He provides guidance and representation in domestic and international matters, develops and coordinates multi-national strategies and manages the company’s relationships with multilateral agencies. He supervises three staff directors and oversees the work of 57 contract lobbyists. Crawford co-chairs and oversees administration of the McDonald’s Federal Political Action Committee. He was promoted from the position of senior director for government relations to his current position. In addition to his responsibilities at McDonald’s, Crawford is a member of the IFA board of directors and the National Restaurant Association’s Executive Committee, chairman of the National Council of Chain Restaurants’ Executive Committee and a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Food Forum. Before joining McDonald’s, Crawford was a managing partner at Whitten & Diamond, a Washington, D.C. law firm.
John F. “Jack” Earle
Managing Partner
Earle Enterprises, LP (McDonald’s Corp.)
Jack Earle heads Earle Enterprises, LP and is a franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. He joined the system in 1983 and has served in a variety of leadership positions during his franchising career, which spans more than two decades. Earle served as first vice chairman of IFA’s Franchisee Forum. Currently he chairs the National Restaurant Building and Equipment Standards Team, as well as the Legal Team for McDonald’s Franchisees National Leadership Council. He is a board member of the McDonald’s Political Action Committee. Additionally, Earle is a member of the Division Leadership Council for the East Division, as well as the Regional Leadership Council for Greater Philadelphia. He is vice president of the board of the Jeffrey Weinberg Foundation. In past years, Earle served as secretary-treasurer, partners brands chair and operations advocacy chair for the NLC. Earle has also been treasurer and director of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House Board. Prior to joining McDonald’s, he was vice president, national lending divisional head for Fidelity Bank in Philadelphia.
William G. Hall
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
William G. Hall & Co. (International Dairy Queen)
William Hall is a franchisee of International Dairy Queen operating five Diary Queen units in Texas. In his 20-year foodservice career, Hall has owned and operated more than 80 units of various concepts and served as a franchisee leader in each concept. Hall is a CPA and was affiliated with a national public accounting firm before acquiring and operating a number of companies in the transportation, real estate, banking, manufacturing and foodservice industries. Hall is a past chair of the IFA’s Franchisee Forum, a past president (for multiple terms) of the Texas Dairy Queen Operators Council, co-chair of the National Franchise Mediation Program Steering Committee and a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Small Business Advisory Board.
David Jordan
Vice President, National Accounts
PepsiCo Foodservice
David Jordan has more than 25 years in the foodservice industry. Throughout a 10-year career with Procter & Gamble Co., he progressed from sales representative to district manager. In 1989, he joined Coca-Cola’s Fountain business as account manager for the Southwest, followed by a promotion to director of national chain accounts, where he was successful in significantly increasing incremental sales. At Sonic Industries, Inc., he successfully built system-wide sales with the creation of differentiated advertising, the implementation of a new soft-serve dessert program and the development of more than 200 new outlets. He then moved to Shoney’s, where he served as vice president of strategic planning and later as senior vice president of business development. Jordan was recruited to PepsiCo in 1998, where he began as vice president of fountain beverage business development. In 2000, he assumed responsibility as vice president of national account sales and business development. In 2001, he became vice president of beverage development-national accounts east. In 2002, he was named to lead the National Account Group, which includes all restaurants (except YUM), C&G and Access channels.
Aslam Khan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Falcon Holdings, LLC (Church’s Chicken franchisee)
Aslam Khan is a prominent restaurant executive who rose from dishwasher to turnaround artist. He left home at age 14. After putting himself through school, his first job was in the American Club at the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. He ultimately became club manager, skilled in food and beverage service operations. Khan worked at the U.S. Embassy for seven-and-a-half-years before coming to the United States. He joined Church’s Chicken as a team member washing dishes and developed expertise in both operations and marketing to later enter and excel within the corporate office of a Church’s franchisee. Khan left Church’s and served several years with KFC in Los Angeles. Returning to Church’s Chicken in 1997, he took over 48 stores, becoming one of the system’s largest company operations in Los Angeles. Khan reversed these restaurants in two-and-a-half years to become some of the best-run stores in the system. He was named a Hometown Hero by Church’s Chicken for his success and involvement in the community. Khan was also awarded the Restaurant of the Year designation for his efforts in California. Khan then acquired a 100-unit group of Church’s restaurants in the Midwest that were on the verge of bankruptcy during 1999 and turned them around. For this accomplishment, he was honored with the Most Improved Restaurant Operations (Turnaround Expert) award. In 2002 he became active in the Illinois Restaurant Association as a board member and served on the Political Affairs and Membership committees. Khan is chairman of the Development Committee and a member of the Marketing Committee at Church’s Chicken. The company has a purchasing co-op with which he was past chairman and now serves as a board member.
Kirk Kinsell, CFE
Senior Vice Pres., Chief Development Officer
Americas Division of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
of the United Kingdom
Kirk Kinsell is responsible for unit growth across all brands including franchise, management contracts and real estate development and acquisition activities. Kinsell has been instrumental in the development of multiple brand concepts. He led the development of Hotel Indigo, a lifestyle brand rolled out by the company in 2004. This position marks Kinsell’s return to the company. As senior vice president responsible for franchising from 1988 to 1995 for Holiday Inn Worldwide, a predecessor of InterContinental Hotels Group, Kinsell led the launch of Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn Select brands. In 1995 and 1996, he was president of the franchise division at ITT Sheraton when he created the Four Points Hotels concept. Kinsell became president and chief operating officer in 1997 of Avado Brands Inc., which during his tenure operated more than 220 restaurants, including Don Pablo’s Mexican Kitchen, Hops Restaurant Bar and Brewery, McCormick & Schmick Restaurants and Canyon Cafe restaurants. Most recently, Kinsell served as president and chief executive officer of Micell Technologies Inc. Under his leadership, the company was recognized as the 2001 Entrepreneurial Company of the Year for North Carolina.
William Kussell
Chief Operating Officer
Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.
William Kussell is responsible for overseeing marketing, operations and development of Dunkin’ Brands three companies, Baskin-Robbins, Togo’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, as well as multi-branding and new market entry and retail excellence. Kussell joined the company in 1994. Prior to assuming his current position, he was retail concept officer of Allied Domecq QSR from 1998 to 2003, president of Dunkin’ Donuts from 1996 to 1997 and senior vice president of marketing and purchasing for Dunkin’ Donuts from 1994 to 1996. Before coming to Allied Domecq, he was vice president of marketing for Reebok and international group product manager for Polaroid. Kussell received a master’s degree in business administration at Boston University and graduated magna cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in history and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the board of directors of Zoots.
R. Eric McCarthey
President, 7-Eleven Global Business Team
The Coca-Cola Co.
Eric McCarthey is president of the 7-Eleven global business division with the Coca-Cola Co. where he directs value creation strategies, business system design, product and service innovation, revenue growth, and supply chain support for one of the Coca-Cola system’s largest and most complex customers. With approximately 25 years of business, marketing development, operations, and general management experience, McCarthey has significantly contributed to the development of the company’s sales and global business system, establishing innovative customer and commercial leadership capabilities, consumer marketing initiatives and increasing growth opportunities. He joined the company in 1981 as a territory sales manager. Throughout his tenure, he held such positions as division marketing director and deputy division president for the Nordic and North Eurasia division, vice president and managing director of the global Burger King account team, and most recently senior vice president of sales and marketing of the North American foodservice division. He earned an executive master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado. He consults with Emory University’s Center for Relationship Marketing and is a board member of Global Imaging Systems where he has served since 2001. He currently chairs GIS’ audit committee and is a member of the nominating-governance committee and compensation committee. McCarthey is featured in the article “Inside the Minds,” a special book publication on “The Art of Sales” by Aspatore Books and published an article in the May 2005 issue of “Leadership Excellence” called “High-Impact Boards.”
Barbara Moran
Chief Executive Officer and President
Moran Industries, Inc.
As president and CEO of Moran Industries, Inc., Mor Property Development, LLC and Transmission City, Inc., Barbara Moran manages all aspects of the business, encompassing five franchise brands with 239 franchise locations nationwide and operates one of the leading franchisors of automobile aftermarket centers in the $300 billion auto care industry. Key achievements since taking over as president in 1999 include the brand conversion of Atlas Transmission to Mr. Transmission in the Texas market, the development and implementation of a thriving Franchise Advisory Council that promotes active franchisee participation, and the development and execution of the company’s mentorship program, Helping Hands. Prior to her presidency at Moran Industries, Inc., she worked in all aspects of the business and also successfully operated a Mr. Transmission franchise. She has been a member of many committees, including IFA’s Women’s Franchise Committee, Women’s Franchise Network and the WFC Mentorship Program. She has been an active task force participant, including the IFA Convention Task Force, WFC Leadership Conference, WFC Mentorship Guideline Development and the task force for the development of regional support groups within the WFC. She co-founded the Chicago WFN in 2002. Professional organization memberships include the National Association for Female Executives, Young Entrepreneur’s Organization, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association and Vistage. She has authored articles that have been featured in Franchising World, Transmission Digest and Franchise Update. For the past two years, she has been a catechist teacher at St. Francis of Assisi in Orland Park, Ill. Prior to joining Moran Industries, her career path was extremely diverse. Upon graduation from high school, Moran intended to pursue a career in the arts as a sculptor. Later she served as a legislative aide for a congressional representative from Illinois.
Godfred P. Otuteye, CFE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Money Mailer, LLC
Godfred Otuteye has led Money Mailer, one of the leading direct mail advertising franchise companies in the United States, since 1999. Between 1992 and 1999, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining Money Mailer, he served as chief operating officer of Datadesk International, Inc., a manufacturer of computer keyboards and other input devices. Prior to that, he was senior vice president and chief financial officer of Micro D, Inc. (now Ingram Micro) a wholesale distributor of microcomputer products for six years. Otuteye has also served as chief financial officer of a project construction company; vice president, and senior loan and credit officer with Union Bank, Los Angeles; and prior to that, he held various positions in commercial lending with Union Bank.
Rick Robinson
Chief Executive Officer, President and Partner
Jani-King Southwest
Rick Robinson is responsible for more than 200 franchisees in Arizona under the Jani-King brand that provides commercial cleaning services. Prior to acquiring the master franchise from Jani-King International, Robinson was a vice president of the company’s California territory and ran the San Francisco office. During his career, he has sold and overseen the sale of more than 800 franchises. Robinson has been active within IFA, serving as a member of the board of directors, on the Franchise Relations Committee and chair of the Franchisee Forum. He is a member of the Arizona Franchisor Association and serves on Jani-King International’s advertising committee.
Steven Rogers
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Franchise Co., Inc.
Steve Rogers’ introduction to franchising began at a young age. He was a pioneer of the College Pro Painters franchise system, operating a franchise in the Toronto area before graduating from the University of Western Ontario in 1978. In 1980, he became a vice president of College Pro, moved to Vancouver and expanded the company across western Canada. Leaving College Pro in 1982, Rogers operated the general contracting firm, Certa Pro Contractors. He returned to College Pro in 1986 and was promoted to president in 1989. From 1989 to 1992, he expanded the franchise network with a focus on U.S. expansion. Rogers also initiated development of CertaPro Painters, a full-time professional painting franchise. He reorganized the company i n 1992 and renamed it The Franchise Company. TFC focused on the growth of existing business lines and the acquisition of property – focused franchise systems. Companies currently under the TFC umbrella include California Closets, CertaPro Painters, College Pro Painters, Paul Davis Restoration, Pillar To Post Home Inspection , Handyman Connection and Floor Coverings International. The number of franchisees currently in the system exceeds 1,800 units. TFC is the franchising arm of FirstService Corp., a publicly-traded company. Rogers serves on the board of directors of FirstService.
Vice Chairman-elect, Franchisor Forum
Michael J. Roman, CFE
Fuels Franchise Strategy Manager
ExxonMobil Corp.
During a 30-year career with ExxonMobil, Michael J. Roman, CFE, has held numerous franchise management positions spanning business and strategy development, operations and financial planning, and leading ExxonMobil’s franchise legislative affairs activities. Roman is largely credited with successfully planning and executing the alignment of the Exxon and Mobil fuels franchises subsequent to the Exxon and Mobil merger and he has developed industry-leading franchisee support alliances with major financial and insurance providers. Roman is a member of the IFA board of directors and is chairman-elect of the IFA Educational Foundation, commencing this leadership role in 2007. He also serves on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. He is past co-chair of the strategic advisory board of the International Institute for Franchise Education of the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and has served as an instructor for IIFE programs and franchise business seminars.
Steve Romaniello, CFE
President and Chief Executive Officer
FOCUS Brands, Inc. (Carvel, Cinnabon)
Steve Romaniello, CFE, leads Focus Brands, Inc., the franchisor and operator of nearly 1,400 ice cream stores, bakeries and cafes in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 31 foreign countries under the brand names Carvel, Cinnabon and is the franchisor of Seattle’s Best Coffee. Focus Brands manufactures and distributes ice cream cakes and frozen novelties under the Carvel brand to more than 8,400 outlets in 35 states. Prior to accepting the post at Focus, Romaniello was president and chief operating officer of U.S. Franchise Systems. Joining at the company’s inception as a senior vice president, Romaniello helped grow USFS from one brand with 27 hotels in nine states to three brands and more than 500 hotels open in 47 states and five countries. Before joining USFS, he was Holiday Inn Worldwide’s youngest vice president, responsible for franchise services, support and training for the 1,700 hotels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean operating under the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands, as well as franchise sales in the region. From 1988 to 1991, he held various positions with Days Inn of America. Romaniello is a member of the board of directors of Fast Signs, IFA and the association’s IFA’s Diversity Institute.
Heather L. Rose (new copy since TH edited)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sona MedSpa International
Heather L. Rose led a team to acquire Sona International and joined the company post-acquisition as chief operating officer in 2004. Rose was promoted to president and CEO in 2005. Sona MedSpa is an industry leader in laser and light-based skin rejuvenation, hair removal, wellness and optimal aging services. Prior to Sona, Rose held executive leadership positions in franchised businesses over the past 13 years. Most recently, she was vice president of learning and people services for Mail Boxes Etc. Based in San Diego, the MBE Network comprises nearly 4,500 locations worldwide, with master licensing agreements in more than 80 countries. She led the corporate human resources department and the domestic and international training departments. Rose has extensive experience in franchise operations systems development and implementation, corporate university development, organizational development, human resources management and employment law. In 2001, Rose played a key role on the executive team during the sale of MBE to United Parcel Service by facilitating and managing the company’s strategic operating plan. Rose received the designation of Senior Professional of Human Resources from the Human Resources Certification Institute. Rose was recently named in the Top 100 Healthcare Leaders in Tennessee. Professional affiliations and board positions include the Women’s Franchise and Distribution Forum, The Women’s Franchise Committee, the National Association of Female Executives and Union Rescue Missions and Homeless Shelters.
Ann M. Rosenberg, CFE
President
D’Vine Wine
Ann M. Rosenberg, CFE, co-founded Let’s Make Wine/RoseVine Winery in 2003 with business partner Thomas A. DeRossett Jr. The shops allow customers to create, bottle and label their own wines on the premises as well as purchase wine by the bottle. In June 2006, RoseVine Enterprises, their parent company, entered a joint venture with D’Vine Wine, Inc., a franchisor of similar units in Texas, to go forward as D’Vine Wine Franchise Systems USA, LLC. DVWFS USA now has nine franchisees, two company-owned shops and two licensees in four states. Rosenberg and DeRossett also own the 1810 Country Inn and Winery, which includes a vineyard and event pavilion, in Thomson, Ga. Rosenberg is president, director and trustee of the William Rosenberg Family Foundation, Inc., which has assets of more than $20 million. She serves as a director of the William Rosenberg International Center of Franchising at the University of New Hampshire; as trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and on the FloridaBoard of the Commonwealth Institute, a women’s think tank in Miami. Rosenberg is also a trustee of the IFA’s Education Foundation and serves on its Diversity Institute board.
Michael H. Seid, CFE
Managing Director
Michael H. Seid & Associates (MSA)
Michael Seid is founder and managing director of Michael H. Seid & Associates (MSA), a management-consulting firm specializing in franchising, licensing and distribution issues. He has more than 23 years experience as a senior operations, financial executive or consultant for companies within the franchise, retail, restaurant and service industries. Seid has also been a franchisee. At MSA, he focuses on franchise system development, management and expansion issues as well as litigation support. He is a former chairman of IFA’s Supplier Forum, a trustee of the IFA Educational Foundation and a member of several IFA committees and task forces. He co-authored the book Franchising for Dummies, now updated and in its second edition and published by IDG Books, with Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas.
Nikki Sells, CFE
Vice President, Franchising
Express Personnel Services
Nikki Sells, CFE, oversees the sale of franchises in the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia as vice president of franchising for Oklahoma City,-based staffing firm Express Personnel Services. Prior to joining the Express headquarters team, she was a franchisee in the Springfield, Mo., Express Personnel franchise with her husband, Robert. As a franchisee, Sells was a founding member of the IFA Franchisee Advisory Council and served as chairwoman in 1997. She also served on the association’s board of directors from 1997 to 2004 and as chairwoman of the Women’s Franchise Committee. She served on the IFA board of directors from 1997 to 2004. Sells and her husband, Robert, were named IFA Franchisees of the Year in 2001, and Express Franchisees of the Year in 1995, 1997 and 2001. In 2002, the couple received the company’s highest honor, the Gordon Blair Heritage Award. Sells taught in the public schools of Oklahoma and Arkansas for eight years and was a weekend weather anchor for the local NBC affiliate in Fort Smith, Ark. before joining Express. She is a past board member of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association. Sells joined the headquarters management team in January 2004. In 2005, she received the Bonny LeVine Award from IFA for mentoring and promoting women in franchising and is currently chairwoman of the IFA Marketing and Public Relations Committee.
Larry I. Tate
Senior Vice President of Franchise Sales
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill
Larry I. Tate brought franchising, as a growth strategy, to the Raleigh, N.C.-based Golden Corral restaurant chain in 1990, which has grown its franchise system to 350 units. The company benefited from the experience Tate gained in the 1960s when he helped initiate a franchising strategy at Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors that transformed the small California ice cream company into a national brand, growing from 60 stores to almost 1,000 in four years. The lawyer-turned-business executive gained a unique insight on franchise relationships by owning and operating four franchised Shakey’s Pizza restaurants in the Los Angeles area for six years in the 1980s after serving as executive vice president of Shakey’s for four years. That insight, plus legal training, has made him an authoritative advocate for franchising. In 1999, representing the IFA, Tate testified against additional and unneeded government regulations at a U.S. House of Representatives committee hearing. Tate is chairman of the IFA’s Franchise Relations Committee, which is focused on production of franchising “best practices” handbooks. He has previously served on the IFA board of directors. He joined Investors Management Corp., the parent of Golden Corral, in 1984 and held a series of senior posts with Golden Corral in business development, financing and real estate. When Golden Corral launched a national expansion program led by an aggressive franchising campaign aimed at new markets, Tate was placed in charge. The result has been franchise awards for the development of new restaurants representing an investment by franchisees of more than $1.6 billion in land, buildings and equipment. An additional 700 markets are earmarked for future sale and development by franchisees. Tate is a member of the California Bar, the American Bar Association and the International Bar Association. He was a member of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, president of the Burbank Board of Education and a member of the Burbank City Council. He is a Distinguished Past President of the North Raleigh Kiwanis Club and past chairman of the Raleigh Artsplosure Festival.
Samuel H. Wright
Senior Vice Pres., Government Relations
FedState Strategic Consulting, Inc.
Samuel H. Wright serves as senior vice president of government relations for FedState Strategic Consulting, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a former part of Cendant and the franchisor of Caldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA and Sotheby’s. FedState represents all of the former Cendant companies’ government relations activities. Wright opened the Cendant Corp. Washington, D.C. office in 1998 and has led the growing department since that time. He joined company in 1997 following the acquisition of PHH Corp., a predecessor of Cendant. Wright served in various positions in PHH, including general counsel. Wright currently serves as chair of the Legislative Action Group of IFA and is a member of the government affairs committee of the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the Travel Business Roundtable. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Maryland Bar Association. Wright received a bachelor’s degree from Union College and a juris doctor’s degree from the School of Law of the University of Maryland.
George Zografos
Chief Executive Officer
Z Donut Co. (Dunkin’ Donuts)
George Zografos’ career with Dunkin’ Donuts spans 27 years, 17 as a franchisee and 10 with corporate. He currently has multiple shops on Cape Cod, upstate New York and is also the owner of Cape Cod Harley-Davidson, a local Harley-Davidson dealership. Zografos is a member of the Executive Advisory Committee of Dunkin’ Donuts, a 14-year member of the Boston Advertising Committee and has served as chair and vice chair of its Marketing Leadership Council. Other memberships include the Dunkin’ Donuts National Leadership Council. Zografos has served as a board member of Dunkin’ Donuts North East Distribution Center and chaired its Coffee Commodity Board. He continues to serve on the IFA board of directors, the Educational Foundation and was the IFA Franchisee Forum chair in 2003 and 2004. Additionally, Zografos is the trustee chair of Cape Cod Community College and serves on the board of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.