Jon Hodge
Serial Entrepreneur | Real Estate Investor
Jon Hodge is an accomplished entrepreneur and business owner who boasts a diversity in real estate investments.
He has expert knowledge in banking and financing, which he has leveraged to acquire and reposition millions of dollars worth of properties across several markets. His background in accounting has been an invaluable asset to his business. He has a deep understanding of the financial markets and is able to identify opportunities to acquire properties of all conditions. He also has the expertise to reposition these properties to generate higher returns on investment. His ability to navigate the complex world of banking and financing has been critical in his success as a real estate investor.
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Jerry Veres
Vice President of Safety for GroundCloud
Jerry Veres is the Vice President of Safety for GroundCloud with a professional safety background that includes: being a Certified Director of Safety, presenting DOT & OSHA Compliance at Kent State University EHS Master’s Program and serving as a Preceptor to graduating students.
Jerry brings more than 25 years of experience in the development and implementation of driver safety content and programs at companies including Roadway Package System, FedEx Ground and Fleet Response.
Prior to joining GroundCloud, Jerry oversaw the creation and execution of final mile and linehaul safety programs on behalf of Fleet Response for its FedEx Ground and Amazon contractor customers, as well as performing DOT & OSHA audits for various other motor carriers.
Rob Moseley
Founding Partner, Moseley Marcinak Law Group LLP
Rob’s entire practice has been focused on the transportation and logistics industry. He has tried more than 80 cases to jury verdict in federal and state courts and has decades of experience representing trucking companies, brokers, logistics companies and their insurance carriers in disputes involving:
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commercial transportation accidents
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federal and state safety regulations
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freight claims
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insurance coverage disputes
For several insurance companies and regional and national motor carriers, Rob serves as national counsel managing active litigation in 20 to 30 states at any given time. Rob has developed a team of lawyers versed in the world of freight claims. The terms Carmack Amendment, Himalaya Clause, and on-hand notice are nothing new here. Rob has also
obtained acclaim in pursuing cases for his collection of freight charges from shippers, including government agencies.
Transportation contracting is an area where Rob concentrates on reviewing and drafting shipping contracts and tariffs. He has defended brokers in negligent selection cases and is on the forefront of arguments related to federal preemption. Broker liability cases are not unfamiliar territory. Rob has handled some of the most serious and noteworthy broker liability cases in the country.
Andy Baker
President, Pacific Franchise Advisors, LLC
Andy Baker is the President of Pacific Franchise Advisors. He has extensive experience in entrepreneurship, business development, management, operations, sales and marketing in both large corporate environments and small start-up organizations. Andy also serves as Partner and Vice President of Franchise Development TOS Ventures, the management company for a franchisor headquartered in Southwest Florida. Prior to these ventures, Andy was a senior leader in Corporate America, overseeing national sales and recruitment for a healthcare education firm and its various conferences. Andy lives in Medford, Oregon with his two kids and wife of 16 years. When he’s not in the office or starting new ventures, Andy can be found coaching basketball, volunteering with local organizations, golfing, fishing, cycling or sipping a glass of wine with friends at one of the many Southern Oregon wineries.
Mike Minitelli
VP of Business Development, Benetrends
Mike Minitelli is the vice-president of business development at Benetrends Financial. Mike targets and drives the growth of the company’s new business relationships with franchisors, as well as managing the department’s existing clientele. Mike provides communication and relationship support for the franchise brands on their roster. In addition, Minitelli brings more than 15 years of Fortune 500-level sales experience and has a proven track record of driving multimillion dollar growth and market expansion. Prior to joining the Benetrends team, Minitelli served as the national sales and relationship manager for one of the industry’s leading franchise consultancy firms.
Kevin Hein
Co-Chair, Franchise and Licensing Sector Team Office Managing Partner
Kevin Hein serves as co-chair of Akerman’s Franchise and Licensing Sector Team, a highly experienced group handling U.S. and international franchising, licensing, dealership and trademark counseling, registration and litigation matters for franchisors, licensors, subfranchisors, dealers, and other business clients. For more than two decades, Kevin has focused his practice on counseling companies that rely on franchising as part of their distribution models on a wide range of legal issues, including state and federal disclosure requirements, compliance with state relationship laws, franchise sales compliance, restaurant and retail development, franchising in the health and wellness industries, mergers and acquisitions, corporate counseling, bankruptcy and reorganization, and dispute resolution. Kevin's experience in the restaurant industry includes advising clients regarding corporate formation, real estate acquisition and development, leasing issues, corporate financing activities, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, general corporate matters, and franchise relationship issues. In addition, he regularly counsels established and emerging healthcare and wellness clients to ensure their franchise systems and licensing programs are structured to comply with federal and state laws regarding corporate practice of medicine, fee-splitting, Stark and physician self-referral regulations, HIPAA compliance, and other healthcare related compliance issues.
Don Marks
CEO, System Forward America
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​SystemForward America is the franchisor of Pop-A-Lock as well as the ProNetwork brands, including TemperaturePro and PlumbingPro. Through decades of professional franchise experience, SFA provides every franchisee with the blueprint they need to succeed in owning one of our home service franchises. With room to bring your own entrepreneurial personality, every individual has the opportunity to become an integral part of our system. We are partners with you through it all.
Monique Hymel
Sr. Executive of Franchise Development, System Forward America
Monique Hymel has spent the last 12 years as the Sr. Executive of Franchise Development at SystemForward America, LLC. She currently represents, develops, awards, and supports franchisees for Pop-A-Lock, TemperaturePro and PlumbingPro. Before her current role, she began her franchise experience by owning and operating 6 Quiznos locations simultaneously. She then spent 15 years in the casino industry as a pit boss, harnessing her skills in policy, processes and procedures. During this time Monique also owned a successful Stucco business, expanding on her knowledge of Property Management, Tax Credit, Commercial and Student Housing, and more. This allowed her to see both sides of starting a business from scratch as well as the benefits of franchising, which brought her to the position she is in today.