By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief
The 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (held at its new dates May 5-8 at Chicago's McCormick Place) has teamed up with Franchise Times to host a series of education sessions designed to provide insight into current industry issues affecting restaurant franchisees and franchisors.
Top industry leaders and experts will gather to discuss trends, strategies and best practices addressing everything from how to franchise your restaurant and pros and cons of being a restaurant franchisee, to how to grow your restaurant business and how the modern day franchise model is changing.
“Together with Franchise Times, we’ve assembled top experts and thought leaders to address concerns impacting restaurant franchising today,” said Jack Crawford, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2012 and President and CEO of Ground Round Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC. “Our hope is that by offering this series of sessions, we can provide attendees with the tools and insight they need to succeed and thrive in the foodservice industry.”
Franchise education session highlights include:
So You Want To Franchise Your Restaurant
Saturday, May 5, 10:00 – 11:30am
Your restaurant is the talk of the neighborhood and it’s making so much money that you’ve built another one—and it’s also doing well. Time to franchise it. Attorney Tom MacIntosh, with over 43 years experience in franchise and distribution, international expansion, business planning, intellectual property, and Ryan Palmer, Shareholder, Monroe Moxness Berg PA, will provide the road map you need.
The Pros and Cons of Being a Restaurant Franchisee #1
Saturday, May 5, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Julie Bennett-Lefkow, author of Franchise Times’ Guide to Selecting, Buying & Owning a Franchise, Eric Stites, Founder & CEO, The Franchise Business Review, and Richard Rosen, Shareholder, The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm will explain how to pick a successful concept.
Tax Write-Offs for the Restaurant Franchise Owner
Saturday, May 5, 2:00 – 3:30pm
Tax is always something operators care about, but the topic can be complex. Brad Saltz, Director, Restaurant Services, SS&G, will help make the issues clearer through this “Tax 101” session, providing the key tax information you need to know.
Who Makes the Best Franchisee? A Focus on Opportunities for Women and Minorities
Sunday, May 6, 10:00 – 11:30am
Joyce Mazero, Partner, Haynes and Boone will moderate a panel that includes Cheryl Bachelder, President, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen & CEO, AFC Enterprises, Inc.; Ellen Hui, President, RMS Inc.; and Joleen Goronkin, President, People and Performance Strategies. Franchising provides you the opportunity to focus your energies, experience and resources on building a business with a high quality, well-recognized brand, a sustainable system of operations and a network of other energized franchisees. Women and minority businesspeople are significant players in the small business sector whose talent and experience are highly sought after by the best in class franchisors. This is especially the case in non-traditional venues like airports, military bases and universities. Come interact with a diverse group of experts who want to help you make this happen by focusing on the qualifications, legal, due diligence and finance issues and the special venue opportunities you need to know about.
Grow Your Restaurant Business! Angels, Licensing, Franchising, Joint Ventures and Manager Ownership Structures
Sunday, May 6, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Are you looking to grow your business? Dennis Monroe, Chair and Jim Wahl, Partner, Monroe Moxness Berg PA will provide a fresh look at all the key new ways to take your business there.
Veterans in Franchising: Opportunities for Both Franchisors and Franchisees
Sunday, May 6, 2:00 – 3:30pm
Beth Solomon, VP, Strategic Initiatives & Industry Relations, International Franchise Association will lead a panel to help you discover what opportunities and financial incentives are available to veterans. Panel members include Jim Amos (USMC, Ret.), Chairman and CEO, Tasti D-lite, Past-IFA Chairman; Mary Kennedy Thompson (USMC, Ret.), President, Mr. Rooter, Chair-IFA VetFran Committee and former foodservice franchisee, Bill Spae, Chief Development Officer, CiCi Enterprises, LP; and Art Myers, Incoming President, International Community Executives.
Franchise Operator Presidents’ Panel
Monday, May 7, 10:00 – 11:30am
Mary Jo Larson, VP/Publisher, Franchise Times will moderate a panel of premier franchise CEOs including Jimmy John Liautaud, CEO and Founder, Jimmy John’s and Craig Culver, CEO, Culver Franchising System. This is a must-attend session for anyone interested in franchising.
So You’re Thinking About Franchising Your Restaurant: Here’s How It Works and What It Entails
Monday, May 7, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Mark Siebert, CEO, iFranchise Group, will lead a panel on what you need to know to franchise your concepts. Joining Mark are franchise experts Dmitry Sharpino, President, Sharpino’s International USA, Pat Walls, COO and General Counsel, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop; and Gaylen Knack, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty.
The Pros and Cons of Being A Restaurant Franchisee #2
Monday, May 7, 2:00 – 3:30pm
If you missed their first session on Saturday, Julie Bennett-Lefkow, author of Franchise Times’ Guide to Selecting, Buying & Owning a Franchise, Eric Stites, Founder & CEO, The Franchise Business Review; and Richard Rosen, Shareholder, The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm will again explain how to pick a successful concept.
Financing for Restaurants and Franchises: How To Access Capital For Growth
Tuesday, May 8, 10:00 – 11:30am
If you need money, you need to attend this presentation. John Hamburger, President, Franchise Times, John Fox, President, Taylor-Fox & Company, Inc.; and Allan Hickok, Senior Advisor, The Boston Consulting Group will discuss all aspects of foodservice industry money and finance in today’s market.
Multiple Units, Multiple Concepts: How the Modern Day Franchise Owners’ Model is Changing
Tuesday, May 8, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Jonathan Maze, Reporter/Editor, Franchise Times, will moderate a panel of multi-unit franchisors to provide you with the latest insights into the dynamic world of multiple unit and concept ownership.
NRA Show 2012 attendees will have access to more than 70 informative education sessions developed to provide real world expertise that can immediately make a real business difference. In addition to the franchise-specific education sessions, the Show will offer sessions focused on food and healthy living, jobs and careers, profitability and entrepreneurship, and sustainability and social responsibility.
For more information, and to register for up to 50 percent savings for NRA Show and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB), go to www.restaurant.org/show or www.winespiritsbeer.org. You can also find the NRA Show and IWSB on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.
So You Want To Franchise Your Restaurant
Saturday, May 5, 10:00 – 11:30am
Your restaurant is the talk of the neighborhood and it’s making so much money that you’ve built another one—and it’s also doing well. Time to franchise it. Attorney Tom MacIntosh, with over 43 years experience in franchise and distribution, international expansion, business planning, intellectual property, and Ryan Palmer, Shareholder, Monroe Moxness Berg PA, will provide the road map you need.
The Pros and Cons of Being a Restaurant Franchisee #1
Saturday, May 5, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Julie Bennett-Lefkow, author of Franchise Times’ Guide to Selecting, Buying & Owning a Franchise, Eric Stites, Founder & CEO, The Franchise Business Review, and Richard Rosen, Shareholder, The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm will explain how to pick a successful concept.
Tax Write-Offs for the Restaurant Franchise Owner
Saturday, May 5, 2:00 – 3:30pm
Tax is always something operators care about, but the topic can be complex. Brad Saltz, Director, Restaurant Services, SS&G, will help make the issues clearer through this “Tax 101” session, providing the key tax information you need to know.
Who Makes the Best Franchisee? A Focus on Opportunities for Women and Minorities
Sunday, May 6, 10:00 – 11:30am
Joyce Mazero, Partner, Haynes and Boone will moderate a panel that includes Cheryl Bachelder, President, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen & CEO, AFC Enterprises, Inc.; Ellen Hui, President, RMS Inc.; and Joleen Goronkin, President, People and Performance Strategies. Franchising provides you the opportunity to focus your energies, experience and resources on building a business with a high quality, well-recognized brand, a sustainable system of operations and a network of other energized franchisees. Women and minority businesspeople are significant players in the small business sector whose talent and experience are highly sought after by the best in class franchisors. This is especially the case in non-traditional venues like airports, military bases and universities. Come interact with a diverse group of experts who want to help you make this happen by focusing on the qualifications, legal, due diligence and finance issues and the special venue opportunities you need to know about.
Grow Your Restaurant Business! Angels, Licensing, Franchising, Joint Ventures and Manager Ownership Structures
Sunday, May 6, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Are you looking to grow your business? Dennis Monroe, Chair and Jim Wahl, Partner, Monroe Moxness Berg PA will provide a fresh look at all the key new ways to take your business there.
Veterans in Franchising: Opportunities for Both Franchisors and Franchisees
Sunday, May 6, 2:00 – 3:30pm
Beth Solomon, VP, Strategic Initiatives & Industry Relations, International Franchise Association will lead a panel to help you discover what opportunities and financial incentives are available to veterans. Panel members include Jim Amos (USMC, Ret.), Chairman and CEO, Tasti D-lite, Past-IFA Chairman; Mary Kennedy Thompson (USMC, Ret.), President, Mr. Rooter, Chair-IFA VetFran Committee and former foodservice franchisee, Bill Spae, Chief Development Officer, CiCi Enterprises, LP; and Art Myers, Incoming President, International Community Executives.
Franchise Operator Presidents’ Panel
Monday, May 7, 10:00 – 11:30am
Mary Jo Larson, VP/Publisher, Franchise Times will moderate a panel of premier franchise CEOs including Jimmy John Liautaud, CEO and Founder, Jimmy John’s and Craig Culver, CEO, Culver Franchising System. This is a must-attend session for anyone interested in franchising.
So You’re Thinking About Franchising Your Restaurant: Here’s How It Works and What It Entails
Monday, May 7, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Mark Siebert, CEO, iFranchise Group, will lead a panel on what you need to know to franchise your concepts. Joining Mark are franchise experts Dmitry Sharpino, President, Sharpino’s International USA, Pat Walls, COO and General Counsel, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop; and Gaylen Knack, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty.
The Pros and Cons of Being A Restaurant Franchisee #2
Monday, May 7, 2:00 – 3:30pm
If you missed their first session on Saturday, Julie Bennett-Lefkow, author of Franchise Times’ Guide to Selecting, Buying & Owning a Franchise, Eric Stites, Founder & CEO, The Franchise Business Review; and Richard Rosen, Shareholder, The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm will again explain how to pick a successful concept.
Financing for Restaurants and Franchises: How To Access Capital For Growth
Tuesday, May 8, 10:00 – 11:30am
If you need money, you need to attend this presentation. John Hamburger, President, Franchise Times, John Fox, President, Taylor-Fox & Company, Inc.; and Allan Hickok, Senior Advisor, The Boston Consulting Group will discuss all aspects of foodservice industry money and finance in today’s market.
Multiple Units, Multiple Concepts: How the Modern Day Franchise Owners’ Model is Changing
Tuesday, May 8, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Jonathan Maze, Reporter/Editor, Franchise Times, will moderate a panel of multi-unit franchisors to provide you with the latest insights into the dynamic world of multiple unit and concept ownership.
NRA Show 2012 attendees will have access to more than 70 informative education sessions developed to provide real world expertise that can immediately make a real business difference. In addition to the franchise-specific education sessions, the Show will offer sessions focused on food and healthy living, jobs and careers, profitability and entrepreneurship, and sustainability and social responsibility.
For more information, and to register for up to 50 percent savings for NRA Show and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB), go to www.restaurant.org/show or www.winespiritsbeer.org. You can also find the NRA Show and IWSB on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.
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