Speaker Biographies
Irving Chung
FranChoice
Irving Chung is senior franchise consultant driven to help people take control of their lives and create freedom for themselves through business ownership. My goal is to help others discover More Passion, More Money, More Freedom and Control by becoming their own Boss. As a Professional Franchise Consultant, I help the people I work with understanding franchising, and determine if it might be a good fit for them. If it is, then I take them through a proven, and methodical process to develop a custom model, tailored to them based on their background, skill sets, financial and lifestyle goals, that we then use to match them up with the best franchise business that's a perfect fit for them!
Dave Woggon
Tenet Financial Group
Dave Woggon has been in the franchise industry since 1986 in both funding and franchise exploration roles. As the VP of Development for Tenet Financial Group, he oversees the consulting team and identifies strategic growth opportunities for the company.
Sara Waskow
FranNet
For over 20 years my career has been focused on helping small companies grow their brand and profits. My interaction with small business owners from both a corporate and an individual startup perspective sparked my interest in franchising. I joined FranNet of Dallas/Fort Worth in Aug 2012, and purchased the business from the former owner in Jan 2015. I walk my clients through a process to help them assess 3 things:
- Is business ownership right for them?
- Is franchise ownership right for them?
- Which franchise best matches their goals, skills, and financial capabilities?
Tipton Shonkwiler
Accurate Franchising Inc
Tipton Shonkwiler is the Brand President for Accurate Franchising and also the President UFG Consulting Division. Tipton has been with United Franchise Group for more than 20 years. He has been working in the franchise industry for the past 30 years and has served in various capacities including franchise development, sales and marketing, international master license sales, international brand development, along with having the direct responsibility for the day to day operations for several UFG brands throughout his career. Tipton is a Certified Franchise Executive within the International Franchise Association and holds a Franchise MBA from Nova Southeastern University.
John Bieri
The Entrepreneur's Source
Former Manufacturing VP of Sales who turned to supporting others in their journey of self discovery and growth. As a Coach I help my clients find their path to career success through education, self reflection and the power of changing mindset from dependence to self-sufficiency. Let's align your personal goals to your Income, Lifestyle and Wealth needs.
Dwayne DuBose
The Entrepreneur's Source
Career Ownership Coach
Former Global Oil and Gas Executive who now expowers clients go through a journet of self discovery. We focus on the helping people navigate a new mindset of career ownership through goal setting, education, awareness, aligning skills and finding their desired balance of income, Lifestyle, Wealth and Equity. Many time clients will learn of possibilities beyond what they ever imagined or dreamed possible.
Craig Anderson
The Entrepreneur's Source
Former gloval Oil & Gas manufacturing and service executive who turned to supporting others discover their path to career success through education, self-reflection, and the power of changing your mindset from dependent to self-sufficiency. Let's align your personal goals to your Income, Lifestyle and Wealth needs.
Christina D. McAmis, Esq.
Shelton Law & Associates
Ms. McAmis is a Franchise and Trusts Attorney with Shelton Law & Associates. Christina has also clerked for the prestigious and Honorable Consuelo Callahan of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Christina shouldered responsibility and embraced challenges as an elite level gymnast at a very young age. She tackled being a business owner before her eighteenth birthday and thrived in the face of a devastating diagnosis. Christina is a metastatic cancer warrior who has overcome adversity to practice law. Before and throughout law school Christina studied Alternative Dispute Resolution including earning a degree in ADR. She is a recipient of the Witkin Award for Mediation. During law school she was also awarded a Soroptomist scholarship; recognized for her legal research and editing skills in the legal Text Book, Understanding Torts 9th edition, and graduated with the elusive “Great Distinction” honors. Christina enjoys “geeking out” in her free time by reading Fantasy and Science Fiction as well as by participating in mock trials and authoring articles for comic book events. She has defended the Winter Soldier and written about Captain America’s military benefits. Now Christina’s writing can be viewed on the BeTheBoss expert legal writers page and in the Franchise Connect Magazine on a fairly regularly basis.
Today Christina enjoys helping others achieve their dreams and overcome adversity. She speaks regularly at Franchise Business Expos and other events to help educate and inspire others.
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.
Steve Beagelman
SMB Franchise Advisors - President/CEO
Steve Beagelman is a franchise industry veteran, with over 35 years of experience holding various positions from entrepreneur to senior level executive, giving him a unique insight and perspective in growing, operating, and building brands. In 2009, Steve established SMB Franchise Advisors, a franchise consulting company specializing in advising franchise start-ups and existing franchise concepts of ways to drive business growth. Now almost 15 years later, the company has helped over 450 brands launch into franchising. Steve specializes in private equity transactions and in helping SMB clients expand their brands. He also invests in franchise brands across several different industries.
Outside of SMB, Steve regularly writes for Forbes as an expert in the franchise industry and has been quoted numerous times in the Wall Street Journal, Franchising World and Franchise Times and recently contributed to a book, “Franchising Strategies.” Steve sits on several boards in the franchise industry and is a frequent guest speaker at colleges and franchise conferences.
Steve’s career began in a family packaging business back in 1986. By the time he was 21 years old, he spearheaded his own franchise operation as the co-founder of Black Tie Express, a start-up multi-restaurant delivery service. The company grew to a successful 30-unit operation, and Steve completed the title sale to Takeout Taxi, the market leader. He has also held top-level positions at popular franchise brands Hollywood Tans, Saladworks, Rita’s Water Ice, and Restaurant Systems International.
In 2006, Steve received his Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) from the International Franchise Association (IFA). He is a graduate of Pace University, holding a Bachelor’s degree in business, with a concentration in business management.
Jack Gregoire
VelocitySBA
Jack Gregoire is based out of Philadelphia, PA and currently serves as a Vice President, Business Development Officer of National SBA Franchise Sales with VelocitySBA. Jack uses his unique blend of credit acumen, pricing negotiating and elite communicating skills to source leads and drive SBA loan volume in the National Franchise market.