Meet the IFPG Team
Don Daszkowski
Founding MemberDon has been in the franchise and small business industry for over 10 years. He founded Business Mart, Inc. in 2006 and it became one of the fastest growing small business and franchise search engines and was later acquired by...
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Mary Ann Peres
Founding MemberMary Ann has spent over a decade focused on the franchise brokerage industry. She has placed hundreds of clients into franchise systems and brings a wealth of business experience to the table. After enjoying initial and lasting success as a...
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Kim Graham
Membership DirectorKim has nearly a decade of small business experience in a multitude of industries including non-profit, legal, finance, business development, and customer service. Prior to joining IFPG, Kim was a Franchise Consultant matching individuals with the right franchise opportunities. Prior...
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Christine Piecyk
Operations ManagerChristine has over 15 years experience and demonstrated success in varied business analysis and customer support positions. She has worked with companies such as PwC, New York Blood Center, and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Christine possesses strong project management skills,...
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Gary Looft
Digital Marketing ManagerGary has years of experience in areas of marketing, design, video and technology. He has worked on advertising and marketing campaigns for companies such as HBO, CNN, Avaya, the Library of Congress and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
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Kelly Falkena-Tominus
Marketing & Operations AssistantKelly has 10+ years of demonstrated success in varied business roles including real estate, management, sales and marketing. Her ability to inspire and influence people by making a real connection with them is one of her greatest strengths. Kelly works...
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Rachel Castellano
Membership Relations CoordinatorRachel comes to IFPG with experience in the customer service and hospitality industry. She has a passion for providing excellent service. and understands the value of building relationships. Rachel uses her many talents to ensure our members are satisfied with...
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Dan Claps
Co-Founder of Career Transition LeadsDaniel is the Co-Founder of Career Transition Leads, an IFPG Company that connects potential franchisees with IFPG Franchise Consultants. Daniel spent over 3 years as a Business Broker with Murphy Business & Financial, and has been a Member of IFPG...
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Mike Handy
Franchise Consultant TrainerMike is a serial entrepreneur, consultant and corporate trainer. He started OrderUp.com in 1991 and worked with local entrepreneurs to launch 84 restaurant delivery services in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Guam, Japan, China and New Zealand. In 2009, Mike...
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Brent Foster
Franchise Consultant RecruitmentBrent is a multi-unit franchisee and Certified Franchise Consultant with IFPG. Prior to joining the franchise industry Brent spent eight years in advertising sales in both newspapers and magazines and then transitioned into medical sales. After 5 years in the...
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Gene Sower
Head of IFPG DigitalGene is an expert in internet marketing and web development, he has become an expert helping Franchise Consultants and other franchise industry professionals with all their online digital needs, Gene’s background was in producing various forms of broadcast video communications...
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Contributing Members
The IFPG currently has over 700 Members. Our Contributing Members below have committed to use their extensive experience in the franchise industry to help develop the IFPG through ongoing training and the development of best practices.
David Omholt
Mr. Omholt is the Chief Executive Officer of The Entrepreneur Authority (TEA) and Veteran Franchise Centers (VFC). He graduated from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management and is currently on Purdue’s CLA Dean’s Advisory Council. He also heads up the...
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Bill King
Bill spent most of his 25+ year professional career as a corporate senior sales and marketing executive in the consumer products and apparel industry and served as the President and C.E.O. of the nation’s second largest tailored clothing company. His...
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Kim Perrotta
With nearly three decades in franchising, as both Franchisee and Franchisor, Kim has been involved with both start up and major franchisors throughout his career. His extensive experience includes franchise sales and development, franchise support, operations, marketing, financial management, real...
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Tom Spadea
Tom Spadea is the founding partner of a boutique franchise and business law firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has been lead counsel for more than a dozen new franchise launches and has assisted franchisors and franchisees in private equity transactions,...
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Chip Baranowski
Chip Baranowski, has more than 20 years of franchise and business development experience. He has help put over 150 people into a franchise and really understands what it takes to be a successful business owner. Chip’s business career started at...
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Steve Schick
Steve Schick is a 20 year veteran of the franchise industry. He was one of the most successful Regional Developers with The Entrepreneur’s Source franchise overseeing, training and coaching as many as 20 offices. For the last several years he...
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Mark Elson
Mark Elson is a seasoned corporate trainer whose single focus for over six years was to train Franchise Consultants on how to be better at what they do. Mark brings a wealth of information and personal experience to the table....
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Bill Luce
Bill is the Executive Vice President and Brand Leader for Transworld Business Advisors. He has been with United Franchise Group for over 20 years and brings a wealth of franchising knowledge and experience to the team. He has been a...
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Marcos Moura
Marcos Moura started advertising on LinkedIn back in 2012 with just a $1000 budget. Fast forward to today and Marcos has awarded over 40 franchises through LinkedIn marketing. Marcos is the founder of DBAHuman.com, a 9 year franchise industry veteran,...
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Michael Haith
With 24 years of experience as a franchisee, franchisor, franchise investor and supplier, Michael has a unique perspective on what it takes to achieve success for entire franchise systems. In 1989, Haith became a franchisee of a new restaurant system....
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Michael Peterson
Michael Peterson is the President of Franchise Beacon and a seasoned franchise professional with over 10 years in the franchise world. Michael was formally the Senior Director of Franchise Development, Vice President of Operations & Director of Training and Senior...
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Bobby Chung
Bobby Chung is an immigration attorney focusing on the E-2 Investor Visa and EB-5 Investment Green Card. Mr. Chung has extensive experience representing foreign entrepreneurs in investor visa matters involving newly established entities and acquiring qualifying existing businesses....
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Jim Hogg
Jim brings more than 25 years of experience of diverse franchising background to his role as a franchise consultant. From executive-level experience with franchisors to working with start-up companies to owning his own franchise, he has helped hundreds of people...
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Karol Mercurio
Karol has been in the franchise industry for over 30 years and has owned and operated her own business for the past 12 years advising and coaching people in the world of franchising. Karol started her career in the franchise...
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Ritchie Labate
Ritchie’s professional business advisement background has evolved through a uniquely unconventional but advantageous path. A self-proclaimed “education junkie”, he has three college degrees: Business Administration with a minor in Data Processing, Respiratory Therapy, and Health/Psychology. This broad knowledge base in...
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Andy Klie
Andy holds an MBA in Finance from University of North Carolina Charlotte and a BS in Business Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has over 15 years experience in franchising including operations, real estate, financing, Area Development and franchise...
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Brian Willison
Brian has over 25 years of experience in the franchise industry. In the 1980’s, he was a real estate developer who worked with franchise organizations in many industries to assist them in securing and building locations. He learned how the...
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