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December 7th, 2023

Mentor Master Class Session 4: Interviewing the Greatest Minds in Franchising with David Barr

Recorded Webinar
December 7th, 2023 true false

Dive into the world of franchising with David Barr, the man who's carved a successful path in this ever-dynamic business model. David Barr, past Chairman of IFA, and in many respects all things franchising as a franchisor, franchisee, and supplier, has played an instrumental role in numerous brand successes, earning him the moniker, "The Oracle of Franchising". Don't miss the opportunity to hear David's insights from his journey as a franchisor, master franchisee, prolific board member, and supplier. 

In this recorded session our moderator, Keith Gerson, interviews David Barr as he takes you on a journey through one of the most remarkable careers in franchising. David began his career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and subsequently found his way into franchising with Pizza Hut, Inc. His career further ascended when he successfully led the Great American Cookie Company from CFO and eventually the CEO, making it a well-recognized franchise with 367 mall-based cookie stores nationwide. As a man who can't resist a good challenge, David then strategically facilitated the sale of Samuels Jewelers, Inc. to Gitanjali Gems, and Rita Restaurants Corp. Both endeavors further solidified his reputation as an astute businessman and franchising guru.

David's has also been a powerful voice for the industry at large, where he has met with political heavyweights, appeared on major news outlets, and advocates for the impact of pivotal policies. His insights and experiences are not only sought after by industry insiders but have also caught the attention of prominent media houses like the New York Times and International Business Times.

 Viewers will gain knowledge on:

  • Key insights or strategies that separate successful franchisors from those who struggle to expand their franchise systems
  • The trends and changes foreseen in the future of franchising that franchisors should be prepared for
  • The role technology plays in modern franchising, and how franchisors can leverage it to improve operations and customer experience
  • How David predicts the longevity of a franchise system

 

About the Presenters

Barr David
David Barr, Past Chairman of IFA, Franchisor, Franchisee, and Supplier

David began his career with Price Waterhouse (1986-1991) and then joined Pizza Hut within its finance department (1991-1994) before joining Great American Cookies as its CFO and then becoming its CEO.

David Barr currently sits on the board of directors of a variety of public and private entities, both domestic and international, with focus on consumer facing companies. Utilizing his own private equity, Barr is a franchisee of 6 restaurants of Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and 3 units of Spice & Tea Exchange. Barr has also invested in various commercial real estate projects in Georgia and Alabama as well as certain other small private equity ventures.

In recent years, Barr has been a frequent speaker on Capitol Hill and has met with congressional leaders and White House staff to discuss the impact of laws impacting small businesses and franchising. In addition, Barr has been interviewed on CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, and Bloomberg, and his experiences have been written about by New York Times and International Business Times. David has also written OpEd pieces for Wall Street Journal.

Keith Gerson Square Headshot EDIT-1
Keith Gerson, CFE, President of Franchise Ops, FranConnect

Keith Gerson brings 40+ years of executive level expertise as a passionate and driven Franchisor and Franchisee with a proven track-record in building rapid-growth, and highly profitable franchise organizations. Over the last eight years, Keith has served as President and Chief Customer Advocate for FranConnect where he has been able to work closely with many Executive Boards and Leadership Teams that are part of FranConnect’s portfolio of 1500+ brands and 325,00 locations. His focus is on helping franchisors to get to their desired future state in sales, operations, communications, and engagement. Recognized in franchising circles for his extensive leadership experience, and ability to drive execution, Keith is a highly-rated keynote speaker and has had the rare opportunity to have created several leading franchise systems from their very conception through launch and sustained growth taking these systems from micro-emerging status to that of successful enterprise level brands.