Speaker Biographies
Scott McCarthy
Franchise Marketing System
Scott has extensive experience in the Canadian franchise landscape working with some of the most well-established brands in Canada and the United States. Scott began his career at Tim Hortons as a multi-unit franchise owner/operator. After ten years with Tim Hortons, Scott expanded his horizons and joined Kelsey’s as a Franchisee owner/operator.
Scott made a deliberate move to apply his talent and knowledge to corporate operations, joining companies such as Sunoco, McDonald’s, Medicine Shoppe/Rexall Inc., Luxottica Retail and Pearle Vision Canada. From 2014 to 2017, Scott held the position of Vice President of Operations at Mary Brown’s Famous Chicken & Taters.
My Ling Vu
6ix Pay
With nearly a decade of experience working alongside hundreds of restaurant owners and franchises, My Ling has extensive insights into what it takes to be successful in the franchising industry. She is a trusted advisor for businesses keen to optimize and elevate their operations.
Karen Sulentich
TD Bank Financial Group
Karen has progressed through various roles in a 25 year career with TD Bank and has been Regional Manager of Franchise Banking covering Western Canada for the last 5 years. Karen is a franchise specialist and is accountable for growing TD's franchise portfolio while ensuring that our franchise customers are provided with lengendary service.
Atif Aziz
Dominion Law
Atif Aziz is a distinguished business lawyer, boasting years of comprehensive legal expertise across multiple jurisdictions. His unparalleled proficiency in Business Law is further highlighted by his track record of successfully guiding numerous businesses through the entire franchising process, from inception to operational maturity.
Terry Thrower
TD
With 20 years of banking experience, Terry has extensive experience in Personal, Small Business, and Commercial Banking.
As National Manager, TD Franchise Banking, Terry acts as the franchise industry expert and is responsible for growing the Bank’s franchise banking portfolio in Canada while ensuring that franchise customers are provided with legendary customer service.
Terry manages high profile franchisor relationships and provides ongoing support to ensure that franchisees are provided with the credit and cash management products that best meet their needs.
Bryn Swayze & Eleni Prontzos
Synchronized Benefits
We are a financial planning team with over 10 years of industry experience. We strive to educate and empower our clients to make financial informed decisions. Our goal is to teach our clients how to protect their business, retain employees, and minimize taxes.
Shawn Saraga
The Franchise Academy
Shawn Saraga is the founder of the Franchise Academy, a mini-private equity firm that has holdings in various franchise brands. He also serves as Chief Development Officer of Tahini’s Restaurants and has held this position since October, 2023. Shawn has been in the franchise industry since 2005. He has opened over 950 franchised businesses, and finalized over 700 leases in his career.
He has worked with brands like Burger King, barBURRITO Restaurants, Freshii, Foodtastic as well as many other non-food related brands. Shawn is also a registered real estate broker and conducts real estate transactions on behalf of the brands he works with and there franchisees. Some of his other business interests include a partnership in MEET College for Psychotherapists, Board seats on several AI start-ups. Shawn has also been a Board member of Leadership Sinai since 2005.