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iFranchise Group Difference -- Our People
Over the years, close observation has shown that when a company attempts to franchise for the first time, it is often the people involved that will either make or break that company's success. The most successful franchisors are those that bring in the best staff to address this diversity of issues. But new franchisors face a dilemma. They know they need to hire substantial expertise, but good people do not come cheap. Moreover, most franchisors do not have a need for new full-time bodies. That is where the iFranchise Group comes in.
Founded on the principle that great people make great companies, the iFranchise Group brings decades of diverse experience to every engagement. Every aspect of every engagement is personally headed by a professional with at least a decade of relevant experience -- not farmed out to a rookie who will be learning at your expense (and perhaps at your peril). Virtually all of our senior people have either worked for significant franchise companies and/or sold franchises -- real-world experience -- so they know what it's like in the trenches.
The following biographies reflect the experience of our Senior Consultants and our alliance partners -- each of whom brings at least a decade or more of relevant experience to your project. Information on staff consultants is available upon request.
Biographies by Area of Expertise
Strategic and Business Planning
- Mark Siebert -- Franchise Feasibility, Conversion of Dealers to Franchises, Business Planning, Strategic Planning, and International Development
- David Hood, Ph.D. -- Strategic Planning for Aggressive Growth Franchisors, Conversion of Dealers, Franchise Feasibility, and International Development
- Scott Jewett -- Franchise Marketing, Franchise Sales, Franchise Feasibility, and Rapid Growth Strategies.
- Leonard Swartz, CFE -- Strategic Planning, International Development
- Jeff Abbott -- Strategic Planning, Franchise Feasibility, Research, and Financial Analysis
- Chris Moorhouse -- Strategic Planning, Market Research, and Financial Analysis
- Cynthia Clarkin -- Strategic Planning, Analysis of Dealer Networks and Franchisee Support Programs
- Tommy Clark, CFE-- Strategic Planning, Conversion of Dealers, Other Channels of Distribution to Franchises.
- Mike Baum-- Strategic Planning, Capital Formation, Branding.
- Paul Frey-- Strategic Planning, Retail Operations and Management
- Charles Weeks-- Strategic Planning, Retail Operations and Management
Executive Recruiting and Training
Marketing and Design
Operations Documentation, Franchisee Training, and Quality Control
Technology Solutions for Franchisors
- Steve Burke, J.D. - Web design and development, technical research, planning, administration, and implementation.
- Jeff Dumont - Internets, Extranets, Intranets, internet and computer-based marketing tools, streaming videos, and a variety of web-based business applications
Franchise Feasibility Assessment and Operations Analysis
- Laurie Ludes -- Franchise Feasibility Assessment and Operations Analysis
- Ann Anderson -- Franchise Feasibility Assessment and Operations Analysis
- John Siebert, CFE -- Franchise Feasibility Assessment and Operations Analysis
Franchise Attorneys
Independent and expert legal representation is vital to you in the design and implementation of your franchise program. With this in mind, the iFranchise Group will assist you in the process of choosing franchise counsel, which should be one of the first steps you will take once we initiate this engagement.
The iFranchise Group has formed strategic relationships with the nation's premier franchise law firms. The franchise attorneys that we recommend have devoted their careers to franchising, and will have at least 15 to 20 years of experience in franchising and franchise law.
The iFranchise Group coordinates all activities of its members with outside counsel to provide you with a seamless approach to the development of your franchise program, but does not participate in legal fees collected by outside counsel, allowing us to be objective in our recommendations of counsel. |
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A Quick Look
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Mark C. Siebert
During his career, Mr. Siebert has worked with hundreds of franchisors, from start-up operations to over 30 Fortune 1000 companies. A franchise consultant since 1985,...
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David E. Hood, Ph.D.
Specializing in aggressive growth strategies, Mr. Hood is the former President of Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels, where he oversaw its growth from a handful of units to 640...
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Scott Jewett
Over the course of two decades in franchising, Mr. Jewett has been a franchisee, a franchise consultant, and the CEO of two franchise companies.
As the head of iFranchise Group's Irvine, California office, Mr. Jewett specializes in implementing rapid ..
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Leonard Swartz
With 40+ years franchise experience, Mr. Swartz has been president of six companies, including Adecco Personnel, Chicken Delight and divisions of ITT and Snelling & Snelling, and has held senior posts with Dunkin’ Donuts, Adia Services, and PIP Printing.
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George Rummel
As a Senior Executive with McDonald's for more than 20 years, Mr. Rummel has extensive experience in the areas of franchise law, franchisee relations, and crisis management...
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Jeff Abbott
A former executive with McDonald's, Taco Bell, and with two start-up franchisors, Mr. Abbott was a Consultant with Arthur Andersen before joining the iFranchise Group...
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Tommy Clark, CFE
Mr. Clark has over 25 years of experience in franchising, including senior franchise management positions with two large franchise companies. In addition to holding senior franchise positions, Mr. Clark has extensive operations management experience in bo..
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Terry Wisdo
With over 20 years experience in franchising, Wisdo has held management positions with Nutri/Systems, Aloette Cosmetics, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, and Saladworks. Her franchise sales generated $20 million in fees and annual revenues in excess of $200 millio..
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Daniel G. Levy
Mr. Levy has worked with more than 150 companies in preparing their operations for franchising. This consulting included the preparation of franchise operations manuals and the creation of franchisee training curricula...
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Joe Bargas
In over 15 years in franchising, Bargas has worked for a number of fast growing companies. Most recently, he helped Famous Famiglia grow from a dozen units to over 200 in three years . . .
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Chris Moorhouse
Chris Moorhouse has been involved in the franchise industry since 1983. She has personally consulted with a wide range of franchise organizations in the U.S. and abroad...
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Marilyn Giragosian
Ms. Giragosian knows what it takes to grow a franchise company from the ground up, having helped ShapXpress grow from a start-up to a 250+ unit franchisor in just over two years . . .
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Cynthia Clarkin
Cynthia Clarkin has extensive experience as both a franchise executive and franchisee and provides a wealth of knowledge for iFranchise Group clients seeking to improve dealer network performance, manage franchisee expectations, provide effective support ..
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Lia Brakel
Lia Brakel has extensive experience in franchise marketing, franchise sales, communications, copywriting, and international business. Fluent in Spanish, her background in franchising spans 15 years, in the U.S. and abroad . . .
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Jerry C. Wilkerson
The former President of the International Franchise Association, Mr. Wilkerson has worked with hundreds of the nation's most prominent franchisors in over two decades in franchising...
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Bob Moorhouse
Bob Moorhouse pioneered the use of video in the franchise sales process, developing some of the first franchise sales videotapes in 1980. Over the course of nearly 25 years in franchising . . .
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Laurie Ludes
With more than a decade of experience in franchising and sales, Ms. Ludes has analyzed thousands of businesses to determine whether they are franchisable...
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Ann Anderson
In a career that spans more than 20 years, Ms. Anderson has developed extensive expertise in franchising, sales, business management and analysis, and training...
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John Siebert, CFE
A former franchise broker with extensive experience in the Securities Industry, Siebert held NASD Series 7, Series 63, Series 55, and Series 4 licenses . . .
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Jim Green
Jim Green has written franchise operations manuals for companies in the restaurant, retail, and service industries. His operational experience comes from over ten years of work with companies ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies...
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Barry Vinyard
With over 22 years experience in retail planning and design, Mr. Vinyard...
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