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BREAKOUT SESSION / WEDNESDAY / AUGUST 11, 2021 / 2:30 PM
How to Know When It’s Time for Your Franchise to Grow Up
Loyal customers love everything about their favorite brands from the food and atmosphere to the logo and tone of marketing materials, but how does that change as they enter different phases of their lives? And will they outgrow you if you don’t grow with them?
Branding and marketing experts will help you decide if your business is ready to move on to the next stage whether that means implementing a total rebrand, enhancing your social media presence or adding a bit of creativity to the menu.
PANELISTS
Steven Chan | Founder & CEO | Tin Drum Asian Kitchen
A 20-year veteran of the restaurant industry, Steven Chan brings the mind-spinning energy of Asian sidewalk eating to Atlanta with Tin Drum Asian Kitchen. His urban upbringing in Hong Kong inspired the pan-Asian restaurant concept that now has over 10 locations throughout the Atlanta area. As the company’s founder and CEO, Chan spearheads the vision for Tin Drum and serves as the chief designer of the brand. Steven champions the legend of the Tin Drummer, the tale of a young man who became an unsung hero of the community by the simple act of serving people and showing hard work alone can make a difference.
Ellen Hartman | CEO | Hartman Public Relations – Crisis Management & Public Relations Expert
Ellen Weaver Hartman is CEO of Hartman Public Relations, based in Atlanta. Ellen has 30 + years of experience working for such well-known brands as Coca-Cola, Kraft, Popeyes, Avon Products, Arby’s, and the National Restaurant Association. She specializes in consumer and B to B communications and is a crisis expert with experience in legal and labor issues, workplace violence, food-borne illnesses, environmental disasters, product recalls and financial issues. Prior to forming her own company, Ellen was president of the Atlanta office of Weber Shandwick one the largest communication companies in the world and chief communications officer at AFC Enterprises.
Jackie Lobdell | VP of Franchise Development | Slim Chickens
Jackie Lobdell is the Vice President of Franchise Development at Slim Chickens. She has been with the brand since 2018 and was promoted to her current position in 2020. Since then, she has sold over 350 deals. Jackie also was named as a top Influential Women in Franchising 2020 for her accomplishments within the industry.
David McDougall | CEO | Your Pie Franchising, LLC
David McDougall is the Chief Executive Officer of Your Pie Franchising, LLC leading all aspects of the business at both the national and store levels, with an emphasis on revenue growth and profitability. David previously was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Back Yard Burgers, Inc. After joining the company in 2013, he led the successful turnaround of the brand through improved financial performance, franchise relations and return to the brands roots, “great tasting food”. This in turn led to finding a new owner and sale of the company. David’s background includes more than 35 years of food and franchise leadership specializing in operations, development, growth and international business.
MODERATOR
Bogdan Constantin | Founder & CEO | Voxie Inc.
Bogdan Constantin is the founder & CEO of Voxie – the conversational AI text marketing leader that helps companies build 2-way relationships with their customers at scale. Voxie is proud to help customers from Buff City Soap to Massage Heights talk with their customers in an authentic and meaningful way across their entire lifecycle. He previously founded Menguin – the world’s first online suit and tuxedo rental company. He scaled the business by over 10,000% by texting with his customers and within 2.5 years of launch sold to the founder of Men’s Wearhouse. He resides in Atlanta with his family.
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