BREAKOUT SESSION / WEDNESDAY / MARCH 29, 2017 / 9:30 AM
Franchise Development Marketing 101
Franchisors could learn a lot from how universities choose students. Since they have such good reputations, they attract the smartest applicants, which allows them to choose from the best of the best. Smart franchisors should apply the same type of techniques. This panel will show you how to develop marketing campaigns that will inspire the best candidates to want to join your brand. The experts will also discuss commonly missed franchise development opportunities and how to create corporate collateral that helps fuel chain growth.
PANELISTS
Travis Edmondson | VP Franchise Sales & Development | Marco’s Pizza
Travis Edmondson is currently Vice President of Franchise Sales and Development for Marco’s Pizza. He is a former multi-unit franchisee and has worked as an executive at both regional and international brands focusing on formulating and executing strategies to increase growth in underdeveloped areas. Travis is a restaurant executive with a broad base of experience that offers a unique approach in maximizing growth and revenue.
Josh Kern | CMO | T-Bird Restaurant Group
Josh Kern is the Chief Marketing Officer of T-Bird Restaurant Group. Based in La Jolla, California, T-Bird Restaurant Group is the exclusive California franchisee of Outback Steakhouse. Currently, T-Bird owns and operates over 60 Outback Steakhouse locations in California. Previously, Josh was the CMO for Smashburger, a 377 unit with annual revenues of $300 million and based in Denver. In 2012, he was approached to help Consumer Capital Partners launch two new restaurant concepts: Tom’s Urban and Live Basil Pizza. Previously, Josh served as CMO at American Blue Ribbon Holdings and was VP of Marketing at Quiznos.
Richard Simtob | President/Partner | Zoup!
Richard Simtob, President/Partner of Zoup! Fresh Soup Company has taken on the challenges of a myriad of roles over his career, including but not limited to: Founder of Talking Book World Corporation, COO/Owner of Wireless Toyz, Co-Founder of FranchisesforSale.com and a commercial real estate investor. He has been an active member of the Jewish Entrepreneurs Network and the Entrepreneurs Network of Michigan and is Past-President of Yad Ezra, a non-profit food bank. Richard’s companies have been recognized annually in Entrepreneur’s list of top 500 franchises. His consistent and steady progress is a model for anyone looking to envision and embrace progress on personal and professional levels alike.
MODERATOR
Keith Gerson | President and Chief Customer Advocate | FranConnect
Keith Gerson brings 40+ years of executive level expertise as a passionate and driven Franchisor and Franchisee with a proven track-record in building rapid-growth, and highly profitable franchise organizations. Over the last five years, Keith has served as President and Chief Customer Advocate for FranConnect where he been able to work closely with many Executive Boards and Leadership Teams that are part of FranConnect’s portfolio of 600+ brands and 110,00 locations. His focus is on helping franchisors to get to their desired future state in sales, operations, communications and engagement. Recognized in franchising circles for his extensive leadership experience, and ability to drive execution, Keith has had the rare opportunity to have created several leading franchise systems from their very conception through launch and sustained growth taking these systems from micro-emerging status to that of successful enterprise level brands.
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