Febuary 14-15, 2026: Cleveland - IX Center -  Concourse / Hall F

Chris Conner has spent the last twenty years working in the franchise development field working primarily with startup and emerging franchise systems. Mr. Conner's work covers a variety of franchise categories including strategic planning, franchise operations, franchise training system development, franchise marketing and franchise sales. In 2009, Mr. Conner founded Franchise Marketing Systems based out of Atlanta, Georgia which today has grown to a team of 34 team members located in markets across the United States and Canada. Franchise Marketing Systems has developed over 700 franchise brands and supported clients in selling over 8,000 franchise units in North and South America, Asia, the Middle East, Canada and Southeast Asia. Franchise Marketing Systems has worked with a variety of well known brands and significant franchise systems including Baxter Healthcare, Anytime Fitness, Costco, Ford Motor Company, Delta Airlines, UPS Stores, European Wax Center, Junk King and others.

Mr. Conner’s vision was to develop a model that allowed for efficient, effective and performance based franchise development work to be completed for new and emerging franchisors. The combination of providing consulting and franchise development support along with the franchise sales and marketing model for new brands created more opportunities to more brands to scale and grow through franchising. Chris Conner holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Miami of Ohio and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University in Chicago. He is married to an amazing wife, Dr. Alaina Conner and has two great kids, Ashton and Jameson.

From corporate America to entrepreneurship, nonprofit leadership, and business coaching, Patrice’s career has been defined by bold transitions and a passion for helping others navigate their own paths to success.

Patrice began her career in corporate sales with BellSouth Mobility, but early on, she realized her desire to build something of her own. She transitioned into real estate, where she helped open a Keller Williams brokerage and built a high-performing team, selling over 200 homes per year. Through this experience, she gained firsthand insight into running a small business and the transformative power of coaching.

Career Ownership Coach

Derrick Skogsberg is the Founder and CEO of Tenet Financial Group. With over 20 years of experience in 401(k) ROBS and small business funding, he identified a gap in franchise funding for comprehensive financial consulting in the early 2000s. This led him to create long-term plans for clients, eventually founding Tenet Financial Group in 2008. Today, the company is a premier Third Party Administrator in the 401(k) sector and a leading provider of small business funding solutions, including SBA loans and equipment leasing. Derrick, who funded Tenet with a ROBS transaction, holds a business degree from South Dakota State University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Living in Fort Worth with his wife Jody and their two children, Derrick remains connected to his roots by operating his family farm in South Dakota. He is also a passionate supporter of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Widely accepted as one of the top franchise consultants in the United States, Britton helps you figure out how to do what most people only dream about. ​Britt has spent more than 25 years as a franchisee, entrepreneur, franchise executive, and franchise consultant working for and owning franchises such as Kiddie Academy® Childcare Learning Centers, Molly Maid®, Sylvan Learning(SM) Centers, and SYNERGY® HomeCare.

​Britt has captured her franchise expertise as author of a top-selling book on entrepreneurship titled, The Franchisee Workbook. Britton will teach you the tools and techniques to help you find your ideal match far beyond your expectations.