Franchise Update Magazine Issue IV, 2013 | Page 40

Grow Market Lead

By Kerry Pipes

Fast Times at

Franchise High
15th Leadership & Development
C

Conference earns an “A-plus”

lass was in session at this year’s
annual Franchise Leadership &
Development Conference, held
at Atlanta’s InterContinental
Buckhead Hotel October 9–11. This
year’s theme was “Fast Times at Franchise
High” and the goal, as always, was an indepth examination of franchise development and growth. This year’s “students,”
some of the brightest in franchising, had
a chance to learn from some of the best
“teachers” in the business. Courses were
rigorous, education was key, and by all
accounts everyone graduated with honors
to return to their brands and build better recruitment strategies and processes.
The numbers were impressive this
year as 235 franchisor executives joined
130 suppliers and sponsors. Timely and
topical sessions and panels were scheduled

2013
CONFERENCE
NUMBERS

374

ATTENDEES

235

FRANCHISOR EXECUTIVES

130

SPONSOR ATTENDEES

9

OTHERS (FRANCHISEES/
ATTORNEYS)

around world-class keynote speakers and
an Exhibit Hall that made for great networking and strategizing opportunities.
Tom Wood, CEO and president of
Floor Coverings International, served
as the event’s first-ever conference chair.
Satmetrix was the Platinum Sponsor
and Bill.com was the Gold Sponsor for
the event.
First period

Class was called into session on Wednesday morning, the start of a full curriculum for attendees. Franchise CEOs and
presidents gathered for an all-day CEO
Summit. A promise of confidentiality encouraged openness among the executives,
and discussions were lively and frank. The
“curriculum” focused on building a strong
corporate culture and implementing it, and
Tom Wood, John Rotche, Shelly Sun,
Don Fox, John Longstreet

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