Matt Alden

Managing Partner

Since 1995, Matt Alden has worked with several hundred franchisors to improve franchise recruitment economics and grow healthy systems. He brings a unique skill set and experience to Kiekenapp & Associates, combining a solid working knowledge of franchising, a strong business leadership/operations background, and an applied knowledge of online marketing and lead generation.

Prior to joining K&A, Matt was President of Franchise Solutions, Inc., where he pioneered franchise opportunity marketing online in the mid-90’s and in 2001 launched FranchiseBuyer, a franchise sales referral network. Over the past 8 years, he took Franchise Solutions through two acquisitions, managing the sell-side process and being retained by each successive parent company to continue growing the company.

Matt is a member of the IFA’s Supplier Forum Advisory Board and is a frequent speaker at franchise industry events. He has been published in Franchising World magazine, interviewed on Bloomberg Television about how prospective franchisees utilize the Internet to research franchise opportunities, and featured in several talk radio interviews as a franchise industry expert.

Matt enjoys spending time on the water fishing and cruising with family and friends, plays golf as time permits, and still plays drums with delusions of getting his band back together… sometime. He lives with his wife and two boys on the New Hampshire seacoast.

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.

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.

Tadd Olson

Managing Partner

Tadd began his business career in college by starting a service-based business in his hometown of Missoula, Montana. After selling that business Tadd moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and started and managed a commodity trading fund before finding his place in the franchising industry. In 2003 Tadd purchased Inspect-It 1st Franchising Corporation, a national franchisor of home inspection companies. In July 2007, Tadd sold Inspect-It 1st to MerryMeeting Inc., an international conglomerate of franchise companies. During his tenure at Inspect-It 1st he managed over 65 franchise locations throughout the United States.

Most recently Tadd founded Arizona Tanning Enterprises LLC., which bought the franchise development rights to LA Sunset Tan Productions throughout the state of Arizona. Tadd’s experience in both starting businesses from the ground up and acquiring a mature franchise company has provided him with great insight into what it takes to be a successful business owner.

Tadd has a business degree with an emphasis in finance and economics. He also holds an Arizona Real Estate license. When he’s not working, Tadd spends his time with his wife Jasmine and their two daughters, Ava and Taylor.

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.

Tom King

Tom brings over 30 years of franchise experience with him to Kiekenapp & Associates, including experience as a franchise owner with several automotive aftermarket franchise companies. Tom has spent his entire career involved in all aspects of business. For the past 33 years he has launched initial start-ups and owned various types of franchises in companies that include Ziebart, Speedy Auto Glass, Custom Image Glass Coatings and Rhino Linings. He also started and operated the first retail outlet for Rusty Jones, a distribution center and retail operation owned by Beatrice Foods that nationally distributed automobile aftermarket products. Tom continued to set sales records for the company and was granted and successfully operated a distributorship for the entire state of Michigan.

Tom lives in Flushing, Michigan with Janet, his wife of 37 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. In his spare time Tom enjoys golfing and boating.