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Over the past year, DDIFO has enjoyed tremendous growth. With the inclusion of the Midwest Dunkin’ Donuts Franchise Association (MWDDFA) and the Independent Association of Franchise Owners (IAFO), an association of Dunkin’ franchise owners from the Mid-Atlantic market, DDIFO now represents over 2400 shops in the U.S. According to DDIFO President Jim Coen, this will be one of the themes celebrated at the upcoming National Members Meeting on September 21, 2010 in the Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
But it’s also more than that. “We are designing the meeting around the concept that DDIFO is ‘United Now…More Than Ever’ because we all know that with greater numbers and greater unity comes greater strength for the organization,” said Coen.
“The DDIFO National Members Meeting is the showcase event for our association,” said Kevin McCarthy, DDIFO Chairman. “With the robust growth of DDIFO we can now say we are closer to national representation. We are expecting good turnout from members throughout the Dunkin’ Brands development triangle of New England to Illinois to Florida. The meeting will provide members with interesting and relevant information plus the opportunity to network and share stories from the front lines.”
Mohegan Sun is situated on 240 acres along the banks of the Thames River in the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut. Coen says DDIFO chose this site for the National Members Meeting because the venue offers wonderful amenities at a reasonable price. Plus it is within driving distance for members located along the east coast. Mohegan Sun is 225 miles from Philadelphia, 125 miles from Midtown Manhattan and 105 miles from Boston.
The event will be punctuated by a top-notch list of speakers featuring:
- Board of Directors Q & A Kevin McCarthy, Chairman; Asheesh Seth, Vice Chairman; Pat Kaufmann, Clerk; Joe Kimball, Treasurer; Dan Connelly, Director; Tom Colitsas, Director and Carl Lisa, General Counsel.
- Scott Carter, principal of Supply Chain Associates, Norcross, Georgia. Carter has over 20 years of management, finance, operations and consulting experience. He has worked in executive positions in industry and consulting and has successfully built two global business strategy and operations consulting firms, UPS Consulting and Supply Chain Associates, LLC (SCA). He is a member of the board of directors for two quick service restaurant co-operatives representing over 13,000 North American store locations. Carter served as interim CEO for the National DCP and now serves as a strategic advisor.
- Eric Karp, Esq. Karp is a partner at the Boston law firm Witmer, Karp, Warner & Ryan LLP. He serves as counsel to numerous franchisee associations in such chains as McDonald’s, Choice Hotels, Dunkin Donuts, Popeye’s Chicken, Cartridge World, TCBY Yogurt, Portable On Demand Storage, Fitness Together, Resort Maps, and Massage Envy. In that capacity, he provides a broad range of advice and guidance to the leadership of the associations on matters including the franchise disclosure documents, franchise agreements and issues that affect the relationship between the franchisee community and the franchisor as well as vendors and suppliers to the system. He has represented franchisees throughout the country in a myriad of franchise issues including sales, purchases, relocations, remodels, transfers, defaults and terminations and lease issues.
- Perry Ludy, Carolina Restaurant Partners LLC, a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise operator in Myrtle Beach and Florence, South Carolina. Aside from operating a network of Dunkin’ stores, Ludy is the author of several business books including Profit Building: Cutting Costs without Cutting People, an award-winning management book that is translated into several languages and sold worldwide. Ludy is also a contributing writer to DDIFO’s Independent Joe magazine. His column, “Profit Building” includes many of the topics included in his books. Ludy
- Dennis Gramm, FNC Restaurants, a two store franchisee in Northwest Suburban Chicago. He has been part of the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins businesses for 14 years. He began his Dunkin’ Donuts career in May 1996 as a General Manager of Operations in Boston. He experienced quickly the strength of the Dunkin’ Donuts Brand and the importance of franchisee involvement in the independent franchise association, committees and Brand advisory councils. Dennis has been a franchisee since June of 2007 and a member of the Mid-West Dunkin’ Donuts Franchisee Association and the DDIFO. Prior to becoming a franchisee he held several leadership roles in ADQSR and Dunkin Brands as a Senior Market Executive, Regional Vice President and Vice President of Operations Baskin Robbins USA. In addition to his Dunkin Brands resume Dennis has held executive leadership positions at KFC, Pepsico and Market Day Corporation.
- Business and Tax Implications Panel: Jeff Hiatt, Performance Business Solutions – Cost Segregation and Energy Management; Jim Ventriglia, James P. Ventriglia, CPA; Phil Mann, MS Consultants;
- Open Discussion Q & A with Jim Allen: and other Franchisee Leaders.
Sponsor support has been significant, booth space has been sold out. Sponsors for the DDIFO National Members Meeting include:
Access to Money; Adrian Gaspar, CPA; Bederson & Company CPAs; Belshaw Adamatic Bakery Group; Comcast Business Services; Direct Capital Franchise Group; DTT Surveillance; Glacial Energy; Hi-Tech Sound; HME; HS Brands; IKMS Group; iTech Digital; Jarrett Services; Joyal Capital Management; Jim Ventriglia, CPA; Lisa & Sousa Attorneys at Law; Merchant First Funding; New England Acquisitions; New England Repair Service; Paris, Ackerman & Schmierer, LLP; Paris-Kirwan Insurance; Payless Shoe Source; PepsiCo; Performance Business Solutions; Purdy Products; RF Technologies, Royston LLC; Secure Energy Solutions; Rubiano & Company CPA; Skal East; Sprint; Starkweather & Shepley Insurance; SureShot Dispensing Systems; The Franchise Pros; and Viewpoint Sign & Awning.
