MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) will bring to the Philippines American franchising expert Jeff Sturgis, who guided several business concepts in the United States in their overseas expansion, to help train Filipinos on how they can expand their franchise operations in foreign markets.
PFA has tapped Sturgis, founder and president of Franchise System Advisors, USA, to serve as one of the international speakers for the two-day Franchise Asia Philippines (FAP) 2012 International Conference on July 25 to 26 at the SMX Convention Center.
Speaking in the “Going International” track of the Breakout Sessions on Day 2 of the International Conference, Sturgis, who has helped franchisors evaluate, develop and implement successful franchise development strategies that are unique to specific clients, will give detailed step-by-step pointers on how Filipino franchisors can expand their business internationally.
Aside from his speaking engagement at the Conference, Sturgis will also conduct Module III of the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) Program on July 23 and 24 at the AIM Conference Center Makati.
The CFE Program, an integral component of FAP2012, is a mini-MBA in Franchise Management overseen by the US-based International Franchise Association (IFA) Educational Foundation through its subsidiary, the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives (ICFE). In its continuing commitment to professionalize the Philippine franchising sector, PFA became the first institution outside the US accredited by ICFE to offer courses in order to earn points leading to the widely-recognized CFE designation. To date, there are 48 CFE graduates from the Philippines through the PFA.
Sturgis has over 14 years of experience in franchise sales and development. Prior to founding FSA, he served for nearly four years as the vice president of Franchise Development for Fantastic Sams Hair Salons, a 1,300-unit chain of full service hair salons, and over four years as regional vice president of FOCUS Brands, overseeing the franchise sales activities of Carvel and Cinnabon.
His clients include start-up, emerging concepts and mature brands in segments such as Casual Dining, QSR, Fast Casual, Senior Care, Fitness, Home Services and Retail. While each project is unique to the client, most of Sturgis’ work involves improving and creating successful systems and processes to facilitate franchise growth.
Other international experts PFA has invited to speak at the International Conference are John Pain, managing director and vice president for Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa of Wendy’s Global Restaurants, and Arnaud Frade, TNS Asia-Pacific regional director for Retail & Shopper/Digital Strategy.
Apart from the International Conference and the CFE Program, FAP2012’s 4-in-1 franchising event – billed s the largest convergence of key franchise players from the Philippines, the Asia-Pacific region and across the world – also includes the International Franchise Expo on July 27 to 29, and the Franchise Seminars, to be held concurrent with the Expo.
For inquiries, call PFA secretariat at (02) 6870365 to 67; 09178320731; or e-mail pfa@pfa.org.ph; or visit www.franchiseasiaphl2012.com.ph and register on-line for special admission rates; or call the exhibit management team Global Link MP Events at (02) 750-8588 or e-mail franchise@globallinkmp.com for the expo.