Speaker Biographies

Amber Payne
Rytech Restoration
Grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and graduated from University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing. She has been a part of the Rytech team for 5 years and is excited to witness the growth of the company, adding over 30 franchises/markets since she came on board. She provides the Rytech franchises a marketing plan, “MYCORE,” which sets them up for success in their local markets.
She previously was employed at MINT Magazine (a division of Valassis Directmail Corporation) for 12 years as a top sales and marketing executive in St. Augustine, Florida. She was honored with over 50 sales awards over her 12 Years at MINT, the top one being the National Sales Person Of the Year (two years in a row). An unbelievable achievement as there are over 700 reps in the US.
She is the VP of Marketing for Rytech Restoration, which specializes in water damage, mold remediation and fire/smoke damage. They service 70 franchise/markets in the US and growing. Rytech is a preferred vendor for mulitple insurance carriers across the country. She is passionate about their Mission Statement, “EARNING YOUR TRUST ONE CLAIM AT A TIME”. Ryetch CEO Bubba Ryan is determined to always do the right thing and has built the company on this foundation. Something no one knows about Amber is that she worked full time through college and competed in the Miss America Scholarship Organization for 4 years in order to pay for college and graduate debt free. Amber believes that you can accomplish anything in life with a GIVER's GAIN mentality.--- Mrs. Amber Payne

Patricia McGraw
The Entrepreneur's Source
As a Career Ownership Coach, I help people realize their dreams of self-sufficiency in a safe environment. Through the process of education, awareness, and discovery, I help my clients clarify their personal income, lifestyle, wealth and equity goals and evaluate their options. With a relationship of trust and in a safe space, I coach my clients to understand what motivates them and to evaluation what is really important to them. I facilitate transformation in my clients by asking questions and thus helping them gain clarity. Further, as a coach, I help my clients stay on track while thinking outside their comfort zone so they can reach for new goals and horizons.

Steven Cooper
ERSOP.com
Steven Cooper has 25 years of benefits consulting and pension administration experience. He was the first to evangelize the essential exit strategy that popularized the ERSOP(TM) Plan. Beginning in 1999, he successfully marketed the concept to franchisors and business brokers. In 2001 he coined the term "ERSOP (Entrepreneur Rollover Stock Ownership Plan)".

Connor Dunaway
20North Marketing
Connor Dunaway is the President and Co-Founder of 20North. As President, Connor leads business development and operational direction at 20North. Prior to starting 20North, he served as a leader for one of Atlanta's premier digital marketing technology companies. Connor hails from Charlotte, NC and enjoys golf, tennis, watersports and turkey hunting.

Chris Conner
Franchise Marketing Systems
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.

Avinash Nichkawde
AN Global Consulting, Founder & CEO
Avinash Nichkawde is an Entrepreneur, Chartered Accountant. International Business Consultant. He started his tax practice in Sydney Australia in 1993 and grew to 7000 clients in 4 years, he later went into International Education Business and at peak managed over 200 employees besides consulting to numerous small to medium companies over the years. He brings vast practical global experience to clients. Born & raised in India, Avinash is a Australian citizen having lived there for over 20 years and now residing permanently in USA, with travels to over 30 countries. He is known for providing out of the box practical solutions for his clients which are very cost effective. Avinash is Advisor to Second Street Capital and iMedGo,Inc, California.

Moses Nae
TaxLeaf
I have been an online advertising rep for numerous brands and franchises. We utilize custom programs to advertise online and regionally to each brand or franchise location. Since I opened my own franchise as a franchisor, I have enjoyed teaching my peers about my knowledge in advertising.

David Busker
Franchise Vision
David Busker is the founder of FranchiseVision and a member of FranChoice, the premier national network of franchise consultants. David has a background in all aspects of business ownership, financing and management, and is a multi-unit franchisee with deep business experience as a CEO, CFO, CPA and franchise owner.
David is passionate about helping others make the right decisions about starting a franchise. Together with each candidate, he helps them set their criteria, matches them to a franchise that fits their personal goals, then educates and supports them through due diligence and business launch.

Rick Robinson
Franchise Genesis
As a 37 year franchising executive, I have extensive experience in every area of franchising. Having been a Franchisor 5 times, launched start-ups, successful turnarounds and built and owned a very large Multi-Unit Master Franchise. My sales teams have sold over 800 franchises.
As a member of the International Franchise Association for m any years, I was elected and proudly served on their Board of Directors, as well as numerous committees and a guest speaker at many of the IFA's annual conventions.
Honors & Awards:
Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), awarded by the International Franchise Association
Board of Directors of International Franchise Association
Franchisor of the Year, Arizona Franchise Association 1998
President of Arizona Franchise Association 1999

Jodi Rowell
Tenet Financial Group