0031 Austin C. Smith, Savory Fund
Tech and Mortar
Talk highlights:
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0030 David Beitz and George Daigh, Planned Grocery
Tech and Mortar
Talk highlights:
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0029 Anonymous Restaurant Professional
Tech and Mortar
insites.sitezeus.com/podcast
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0028 Jim Mizes, Blaze Pizza & SiteZeus
Tech and Mortar
3 main takeaways:
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0027 Fred LeFranc, Results Thru Strategy
Tech and Mortar
3 main points: Things that Fred learned from his mentors, like Rich Melman from Lettuce Entertain You, and how it molded him into the business consultant he is today How technology advancements disrupted the industry - both in front-of-house and in the kitchen How restaurants can improve the experience for their customers Speaker Bio: Fred LeFranc originally began his career in the restaurant industry in Chicago at Lettuce Entertainment Expertise. He then worked with El Torito when the brand had only 18 restaurants, which lead to opening a restaurant in Laguna Beach and growing it to 250...
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0026 Dee Ann Turner, Chick-fil-A
Tech and Mortar
insites.sitezeus.com/podcast
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0025 Ghost Kitchens featuring Brett Wilson, DoorDash
Tech and Mortar
insites.sitezeus.com/podcast
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0024 Jim Mizes, Blaze Pizza & SiteZeus
Tech and Mortar
insites.sitezeus.com/podcast
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0023 Mariel Ebrahimi, DisruptCRE
Tech and Mortar
3 main takeaways Types of innovation commercial real estate is experiencing What emerging trends Mariel is excited to see What to expect at a DisruptCRE conference Speaker Bio Mariel Ebrahimi co-founded DisruptCRE in 2014 with the goal of connecting industry professionals with emerging technologies and trends. Recently, Mariel has spoken for groups within CoreNet New England, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, NGKF, and at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. In 2015, she was selected as a finalist for the SmartCEO "Skyline Awards" for innovation in commercial real estate and in 2018,...
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0022 Garrick Brown, Cushman and Wakefield
Tech and Mortar
3 Main Takeaways: How untraditional education and experience can be the most valuable When and how brick and mortar retail met their pitfall How to have the most beneficial relationship between a franchisor and franchisees Speaker Bio: Garrick Brown started his career by working in various retail stores while going to school for a creative writing degree. He then pursued freelance writing where he created a connection with a broker and began writing real estate reports. Today, Garrick is one of the leading Retail Real Estate Analysts in the US and serves as the Vice President of Retail...
info_outline3 Takeaways:
- The importance of understanding how policy and procedures that are put in place from the office are executable in the field. How Chris spent time working in the store long after being an executive.
- Is the customer always right?
- Don't react to what is happening from a technology standpoint TODAY, but where you see it tomorrow. Lessons he learned and what he might have done differently.
Speaker Bio:
Chris Dull understands what it takes to build successful brands. After graduating from Baylor, Chris took a position with Marble Slab Creamery, Inc. and rose through the management ranks. In 2007, as Executive Vice President, he led the brand through a go-public sale to NexCen Brands for $21 million. Chris went on to become President of NexCen Franchise Management.
In 2010, NexCen was acquired by Global Franchise Group, and Chris set his sights on maximizing the potential of the company’s most promising concepts in the QSR space.
Today, Global Franchise Group has a portfolio of six brands – Great American Cookies®, Marble Slab Creamery/MaggieMoo’s®, Pretzelmaker®, Hot Dog on a Stick®, and Round Table Pizza®.
Chris is credited with vertically integrating the company’s manufacturing business. Plus adding a corporate store vertical to the GFG business with the 2014 acquisition of Hot Dog on a Stick® (which he led out of bankruptcy). As well as the acquisition of Round Table Pizza® in 2017.
Most recently, Chris championed the successful sale of Global Franchise Group from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners to Lion Capital LLP and Serruya Private Equity.
Chris’ has led the organization to $1 billion in system-wide sales and more than 1,500 stores worldwide. He understands all aspects of franchising and is an expert in maximizing value.
Chris is an avid family man, triathlon, and true leader!