Jim Bender

Jim has been in the franchise industry for 31 years and has served in many capacities including franchisee, franchisor, founder, consultant and coach to franchise candidates. Early in his career, Jim operated 26 stores in a franchised auto service business. Later, he became President, COO and major shareholder of a 600-unit franchise company in the auto service category. Mr. Bender also founded a new franchise concept in the retail category and has owned and operated a medium sized, non-franchised company. More recently, Jim worked with several franchise companies to overhaul their operating systems, rebuild their franchise development departments and work closely with franchise candidates as they research investing in various franchise concepts. He has been a presenter and panel participant at many International Franchise Association seminars and has chaired the Association’s Education Committee. On a personal note, Jim enjoys restoring antique automobiles and is an avid sailor.

Dennis Fuller

Dennis has been associated with the franchise industry since 1978 representing franchise organizations in venues such as the automotive after market, employment services, the restaurant industry and business services sectors. His responsibilities have varied from franchise development, operations and training including creating new franchising vehicles that addressed non-traditional development. He has assisted organizations on both domestic and international levels. Clients range from established to emerging franchise organizations. He has assisted franchisors in repositioning their organizations to address the changing business environments and develop new programs to attain their goals.

Dennis has also been involved in creating and developing international franchise programs with GTR International, Blimpie International, Tutor Time, GumBusters NA, Obee’s Franchise Systems and Sunshine Pack and Ship. He is involved with numerous franchise, trade and business organizations including the International Franchise Association.

Chuck Hilscher

With 19 years of franchising experience combined with 15 years of property management and real estate experience, Chuck’s franchising skills and strong commercial real estate experience have led him to have a keen understanding of franchise ownership. He is the managing Partner of Selections, LLC a Michigan franchise consulting firm. He brings professional franchising experience to Franchise Outsource that includes Director of Real Estate and Director of Franchise Development where he has led the Real Estate and Franchise sales departments with several national and international franchise organizations. He served most recently as the Development Director for the Learning Care Group, where he developed new day care locations and assisted franchisees in all aspects of the business startup process. Prior to joining the Learning Care Group, Chuck was Director of Real Estate for the Coffee Beanery, Ltd. and Director of Franchise Development for Little Professor Book Centers, Inc.

Steve Olson

With 25 years of franchise, finance and entrepreneurial experience, Steve brings key skills to Kiekenapp & Associates. During his tenure as Director of Franchise Development at Service Brands International (franchisor of Mr. Handyman, Molly Maid, 1-800-DryClean, and Certified Restoration Dry-Cleaning), Steve successfully helped launch the 1-800-DryClean and Mr. Handyman brands. As Regional Director of a national home furnishings franchise, Steve was responsible for all operations of master licensees, and received the International Franchise Association’s prestigious “Franny Award” when they named him Marketing Executive of the Year. Additionally, his work at TransAmerica Commercial Finance expanded his understanding and experience in business operations. Steve also spent over eight years developing and servicing residential and commercial clients for his own franchise. Steve’s business ownership experience is a major asset to prospective franchise buyers who are considering entering the franchise arena for the first time.

Steve is married with two children and resides in Ann Arbor, MI. He enjoys fly-fishing and is also an avid golfer.

Diane Wright

Ms. Wright has 22 years of franchising experience, including 10 years as a franchisee, master licensee, and divisional manager with Interiors by Decorating Den, an international interior decorating franchise. Her business consistently ranked in the top 10% of the 1,000+ franchises in the system. Over the years Ms. Wright has assisted dozens of emerging franchisors in the development and launch of their franchise systems, and has also worked with numerous established franchisors in franchise development, marketing and sales. In 1994 Ms. Wright joined the executive staff at Advanced Franchising Worldwide, a franchise consulting and development firm, where she served as Executive Vice President of Franchise Development. Since 2001 she has been President of Innovative Franchise Services, a franchise consulting and development firm in Tucson, Arizona. She is a past president of the International Franchisee Advisory Council for Decorating Den Systems, Inc., and past president of the Arizona Licensor/Franchisor Association. In her spare time Ms. Wright enjoys playing golf, spending time with her daughter, and being outdoors in the great Arizona sunshine.

Peter V. Baldine

Peter held the position of Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer at Moran Industries, Inc., an automotive aftermarket franchisor from 1999 through 2007. Peter has many years of experience in the automotive aftermarket, service industry and franchising. Moran Industries continues to be one of Peter’s major clients through Accelerated Development.

From 1993 to 1999 Peter served as Regional Vice President of Safelite Autoglass. While at Safelite, Peter was responsible for 120 company owned centers producing over $100 million in annual sales.

From 1989 to 1993, Peter was Vice President/General Manager of VVP America in Memphis, TN where he oversaw the Binswanger Glass Division, which specialized in auto glass and residential and commercial construction markets.

From 1980 to 1989, Peter held a variety of positions with Jiffy Lube International through their rapid growth years including Vice President of the Western Region. This region consisted of 550 franchised centers and $180 million in retail sales.