MSA Worldwide Blog

Leading Healthstore Board Member Joins Board of International Franchise Association

“On behalf of the board of directors, management and the whole team at The HealthStore Foundation® I would like to take this occasion to congratulate Michael Seid on his election to the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association (IFA). As one of the most active and effective members of our own Board of Directors, and as our Chief Concept Officer, Michael and his firm, MSA Worldwide, have rolled up their sleeves to develop our franchise system for nearly seven years. And besides all the help he has been to our mission, Michael has also founded and chaired the Social Sector Franchising Task Force of the IFA. No one person in the world is more skilled or better equipped than Michael to bring together the commercial franchise community with the thousands of individuals and organizations now poised to extend the benefits of franchising to millions throughout the world who can now only hope to one day enjoy the health, education, nutrition, safety and prosperity that we in the rich world have enjoyed for so many years. On behalf of us all at HealthStore, I wish Michael the very best as he leads the way ahead and pledge any help we can be to his efforts.”

- Scott D. Hillstrom, Chairman, The HealthStore Foundation®

Michael Seid Addresses Graduate Students at Harvard Business School

Michael Seid, Managing Director of MSA Worldwide addressed three classes of graduate students taking the Business at the Base of the Pyramid course at Harvard Business School on September 28, 2011.  Together with Scott Hillstrom, Chairman of the HealthStore Foundation and Greg Starbird, Chief Operating Officer of CFWShops Michael discussed the recent Harvard Case Study “CFW Clinics in Kenya:  To Profit or Not for Profit authored by Professor V. Kasturi Rangan and Graduate Assistant Katherine Lee.  The case study examined the CFWShops franchise system in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Led by Professors Michael Chu, Shawn Cole and Kash Rangan the three classes of approximately 175 graduate students examined the question of CFWShops Social Sector Franchise changing from a not-for-profit structure to a for-profit franchisor.  During the classes the students discussed the changes they recommended to improve the economic performance of the franchise system and the risks and benefits to CFWShops and its franchisees as a for-profit franchise system.  Some of the conclusions presented by the students included recommendations concerning locating new clinics operated by franchisees in urban areas instead of the current peri-urban areas, adding additional methods for the delivery of medical care on an out of clinic basis, changes to CFWShops supply chain and separating fees charged to patients for medical examinations from the current bundling of medical services and prescribed medication.  The case study is available to download at http://hbr.org/product/cfw-clinics-in-kenya-to-profit-or-not-for-profit/an/512006-PDF-ENG?N=4294958507&Ntt=V.+Kasturi+Rangan.

Michael will be speaking in November at the First Global Conference on Social Franchising in Mombasa, Kenya and the 8th Annual US-Africa Business Summit; Franchise Africa Workshop in Washington, DC in October.

Four Questions to Ask a Franchise Consultant

You probably realize that you need more than just legal agreements and disclosures documents to be a successful franchisor. You might also be thinking that working with a franchise consultant, like MSA, could be beneficial. However, not all franchise consultants are created equal. Some will offer you the legal documents without discussing their longer-term consequences. Others will try and sell you on their knowledge, but not offer the strategic and tactical support services that will help you pull everything together.

Before you engage with a franchise consultant, here are four qualifying questions that we suggest you ask:

1. Does your service offer a franchise feasibility study based on industry benchmarks?
2. Do you have the experience to help me package my franchise offering based on what’s current?
3. Do you have the resources to help me with developing my franchisee training and program package?
4. Do you have the expertise to help me with franchisee recruitment and sales?

MSA franchise consultants offer both the strategic guidance and the tactical services, so clients’ franchising endeavors are more successful right out of the shoot and are more sustainable longer term.

Ask a Franchise Consultant If You Have What It Takes

Simply drumming up the necessary capital to obtain your FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document) and sales material isn’t enough to seriously begin a franchise. You need to:

• Develop the right packaging and implementation of your system
• Determine whether customers like your product or service well enough to purchase it across town or in another city, and
• Verify that business (financially and operationally) can be duplicated

As you can see, there are quite a few considerations to think about. And based on our experience as franchise consultants, the earlier you think about them the better.

When MSA franchise consultants work with clients, we help them understand what it really takes to become a franchisor (both personally and financially).  Here we share with you the helpful advice we share with our clients:

Criteria Needed for Franchising

An existing business: Do you have at least one year of solid financial and operational performance?

Consumer demand for your product or service: Is there demand for your product or service? Can you distinguish yourself from your competition?  Do you have ownership of trademarks and service marks?

Management and commitment: Are you emotionally and financially committed to new endeavor?  Do you have the resources to be adaptable to local market conditions and evolve your products and services over time?

Systemization: Can you deliver a “look” and marketable brand to franchisees? Are you able to tell franchisees how much it will cost to develop a location? As franchise consultants, we really want to stress the importance of this.

Skill transfer: Can you train others to do what you do or are the skills required so specialized that finding prospects could be difficult?

Economics of the business: Can franchisees be profitable after your fees and royalties?

If you’re able to say “yes” to the above criteria, then contact one of our franchise consultants to starting planning.

Michael Seid, Managing Director of MSA Worldwide, elected to the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association.

West Hartford, CT, 23 September 2011.  The International Franchise Association announced today that Michael Seid, Managing Director of MSA Worldwide was elected to the Board of Directors of the IFA during the associations board meeting held on 15 September in Washington DC.  Michael will assume his board responsibilities on February 14th, 2012 at the conclusion of the IFA’s 52nd Annual Convention in Orlando.

As chairman of the IFA’s Supplier Forum Michael previously served on the IFA’s board of directors and executive committee in 1997 and 1998.  He was elected to serve on the IFA board of directors in 2002, serving for six years, and was the first supplier member ever directly elected to its board in the IFA’s history.  His election this week was as a franchisor member of the board in his position as Chief Concept Officer and a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of CFWshops, a Social Sector franchisor in sub-Saharan Africa.

Michael also serves on the board and executive committee of the HealthStore Foundation and One Family Health, which demonstrates his commitment to the use of business format franchising as a method to improving the human condition and have a world changing impact on poverty, diseases and economic development.  Michael is a frequent presenter at domestic and international conferences on the use of franchising technology in the social sector and has spoken at the Doha Economic Conference in Qatar on the use of franchising to create a middle class in the Middle East focused on dealing with the underlying economic causes of the Arab Spring.  He currently serves as chairman of the IFA’s Social Sector Franchising Task Force,
Michael is also founder and Managing Director of MSA Worldwide, a domestic and international franchise consulting firm and as a member of Goldman Sachs’ Chambers Street Executive Network, serves as an advisor to GS’s Special Situations Group and serves on the board of public corporations.

Michael is a past chair of IFA’s VetFran Committee, currently serves on the IFA Finance and Budget Committee, VetFran Advisory Board and the President’s Council among several other IFA committees.   He is a frequent speaker at programs for the IFA, IFA Educational Foundation, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, universities, law schools, retail and professional organizations, and has published numerous articles and is the author of Franchising for Dummies, 2nd Edition published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.  His co-author for Franchising for Dummies, 1st Edition, was the late Dave Thomas, Founder of Wendy’s International.  Michael is a very non-practicing CPA licensed in New York State and has earned the designation of Certified Franchise Executive (CFE).

“Our new board members are a great addition to our Board with each having decades of experience in the franchising industry and the association,” said IFA Chairman Jack Earle, a multi-unit McDonald’s franchisee.  “Their leadership will be critical as we address the challenges before us, including advocating for pro-growth policies that will help franchise businesses expand and create jobs.”

In addition to Michael, the IFA board elected:

• Liam Brown, Marriott Corporation;
• Rocco Fiorentino, Swiss Farm Stores;
• Margaret McEntire, Candy Bouquet;
• Catherine Monson, FASTSIGNS;
• Harry D. Loyle, CFE, chairman of ComForcare of Dayton, Ohio and managing director of Cybeck Capital Partners;
• Doug Allison—vice president of Industry Relations & Communications, PepsiCo Foodservice
• Carlton L. Curtis—vice president of Industry Affairs, Foodservice and Hospitality, Coca-Cola North America
• Aziz Hashim—president & CEO, National Restaurant Development Holdings

###

About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising through government relations, media relations and educational programs. Through its awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output generated by franchising. IFA members include franchise companies in over 100 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

MSA Worldwide Announces the Franchising For Dummies Seminar Series

West Hartford, CT – 25 August 2011 – MSA Worldwide announces the first Franchising For Dummies™ Seminar Series to be held in the fall of 2011.

MSA Worldwide has partnered with the most prominent names in franchise law to present the first Franchising For Dummies seminar series to be held throughout the United States and Canada this fall. 

Based on the highly successful book Franchising For Dummies, the seminar series will provide prospective franchisors information they need to decide whether franchising is the right expansion strategy for their company.  Business owners will gain an understanding of the franchise regulatory scheme in their country, the requirements for the proper design and development of a successful franchise system, the anticipated investment required and the steps necessary to complete the franchise development process.

While compliance with franchise laws is necessary for the development of a franchise system, it is not sufficient for new franchisors simply to meet the regulatory requirements of preparing and registering a disclosure document and franchise agreements.  “In this economic climate, it is essential that a franchise program is structured as both marketable and sustainable.  A successful program will also achieve the goal of replicating the brand experience in each location,” says Michael Seid, author of Franchising For Dummies® and Managing Director, MSA Worldwide. 

“In addition to working with experienced franchise business advisors, selecting lawyers who understand both the business of franchising and how to integrate the company’s franchising strategy into the necessary legal documents is the one of most crucial decisions franchisors must make,” says Kay Ainsley, Managing Director of MSA Worldwide. “We are privileged to work with some of the most experienced lawyers of leading franchise law firms on this series.”

Atlanta, October 25 – Rupert Barkoff, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton (www.kilpatrickstockton.info)

Boston, October 14  – Arthur Pressman and Andrew Loewinger, Nixon Peabody (www.nixonpeabody.com)

Chicago, November 11 – Stuart Hershman, DLA Piper (www.dlapiper.com)

Columbus, November 15 – Herb Hedden and Judy Marsh, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease (www.vorys.com)

Dallas, October 12 – Ann Hurwitz and Will Woods, Baker Botts (www.bakerbotts.com)

Denver, November 17- Kim McCullough, Ballard Spahr (www.ballardspahr.com)

Los Angeles, November 2 – Jon Solish, Bryan Cave (www.bryancave.com)

Miami, September 27 – Michael Joblove, Genovese Joblove & Battista (www.gjb-law.com)

Minneapolis, November 29 – Brian Schnell, Faegre & Benson (www.faegre.com)

New York, December 8 –David Kaufmann and David Oppenheim, Kaufmann Gildin Robbins & Oppenheim (www.kaufmanngildin.com)

Philadelphia, September 20 – Lane Fisher, Fisher Zucker (www.fisherzucker.com)

San Francisco, September 23 – Charles Miller, Bartko, Zankel, Tarrant & Miller (www.bztm.com)

Tampa, October 6 – David Beyer, Quarles & Brady (www.quarles.com)

Toronto, Canada, November 30 – Larry Weinberg, Cassels Brock (http://www.casselsbrock.com/practiceareas/franchise)

Washington, DC, October 25 – Lee Plave and Marisa Faunce, Plave Koch (www.plavekoch.com)

For further information on the Franchising For Dummies seminar in your area and to register, please go to www.msaworldwide.com/events/franchise-seminar/ or contact Kim Ellis, Senior Consultant at kellis@msaworldwide.com.

The Franchising For Dummies seminar will be a full day program.  Lunch will be provided and you will receive a copy of Franchsing For Dummies®. There will be break time scheduled during the program as well as ample time for you to ask your questions.  All of the speakers will also be available after the seminar by telephone to discuss with you issues you may not have wanted to discuss during the program.

Seminar Fee:  $295.00. 

About MSA Worldwide 
MSA Worldwide is widely regarded as the preeminent franchise advisory firm in the world.  Our practice is focused on working with clients that range from companies looking for strategic advice and tactical implementation for new franchise systems to some of the world’s largest and most experienced franchisors, manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and service companies. MSA Worldwide also assists our clients in litigation support as expert witnesses, mergers and acquisitions, operations manuals, training programs and effective franchise sales and global expansion strategies.  Michael Seid is a member of the Goldman Sachs Special Situations Group’s Chambers Street Executive Network. MSA Worldwide’s focus on corporate responsibility is a foundational element of our practice including, our longstanding support of our nation’s military veterans (MSA Worldwide’s Veteran Scholarship) and meeting the medical needs of families in Sub-Saharan Africa (CFW Shops franchise system).
 
About For Dummies®
After nearly 20 years and with more than 200 million copies printed, For Dummies is the world’s bestselling reference series, well known for enriching people’s lives by making knowledge accessible in a fun and easy way.  Loyal customers around the globe agree that For Dummies is “more than a publishing phenomenon … [it is] a sign of the times,” [The New York Times].  The books span every section of the bookstore, covering topics from health to history, music to math, sports to self-help, technology to travel and more. The For Dummies brand presence is further expanded with the addition of eBooks, a corporate custom publishing program, a robust consumer website and a licensed product line that includes consumer electronics, culinary, crafts, video, software, musical instrument packs, home improvement, automotive, game and more.  For more information, visit Dummies.com. For Dummies is a branded imprint of Wiley.

Michael Seid Scheduled to Speak at First Global Conference on Social Franchising in Kenya

Michael Seid, Managing Director, MSA Worldwide has been invited to speak at the First Global Conference on Social Franchising to be held in Mombasa, Kenya on November 9 – 11, 2011.

The conference is sponsored by several major government, university and private foundations focused on the critical need of health care in the global market, including UCSF Global Health Sciences, the World Health Organization, USAID, Marie Stopes International, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The conference will provide a forum to share experience, research, new information and lessons learned about franchising private providers to support the delivery of health services in low and middle income countries.

Michael has been asked to speak on the Management Model of Social Franchising.   How does a Social Franchise Grow to scale?  He will focus his discussion on the critical needs in a social franchise in the areas of marketing, branding, medical detailing, franchisee recruitment and retention, enforcement of brand standards, customer service and system support.

In addition to his role as Managing Director of MSA Worldwide, Michael is Managing Director of CFWShops a social franchisor in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the HealthStore Foundation.  CFWShops, through its over 80 locations has served the medical needs of over 3,000,000 patients in Kenya and Rwanda. Michael also serves as the chairman of the International Franchise Association’s Social Sector Franchising Task Force.

If it walks like duck and quacks like a duck…

I was on a flight the other day and one of my fellow travelers owned a successful lawn care business.  Being a consummate entrepreneur, once I politely asked what he did for a living, he spent the next hour describing for me the exciting world of lawn care.

Somewhere in between his telling me that you should never use your trucks to plow snow in the winter and the likely cause of my grass not growing under my willow tree I was able to tell him that I was a franchise consultant.  He had read my book Franchising for Dummies and now decided to spend the next hour and a half getting as much free franchise consulting advice as possible.

Marvin was an accountant by trade but had gone into partnership with one of his clients in the lawn care business.  New to lawn care he created what he described as a unique marketing campaign three years ago that was so successful that other lawn care providers in his area contacted him for advice.

Rather than give his advice away for free he decided instead to sub-contract his extra work to them and split his gross profits.  Over time his business continued to expand but he began to receive complaints from his customers over some of the practices his sub-contractors used and the services they delivered.

Working with a local writer he created an operations manual for his business that contained forms and procedures and standards he expected his subcontractors to follow.  At first, some of his sub-contractors resisted his approach but over time he was able to convince them that his methods were the best.

Prior to developing the manual all of his sub-contractors showed up for work in what ever work clothing they chose to wear and drove trucks that had each of their individual company names on them.  They also used different equipment and used different chemicals based on their own preference.  In the manual he now required them to wear a uniform with his company’s name on it and re-sign their trucks with his brand if they continued to work with him as sub-contractrors.

He also required them to use the same chemicals and sources for plants and arranged to have them buy them from him at a discount based on his ability to order and store larger quantities.

To pay for all of these extra services of supplying a source of uniforms, chemicals and replacement equipment, he began to charge a monthly fee, on top of the revenue split of $200.00.

Marvin’s lawyer had recommended that as his next step in growing his company he should consider developing a franchise system and that is when he purchased my book.  He wanted to tell me though that his method of growth was far better than franchising. 

He had decided instead to license his brand and his system to independent lawn care provider in towns around his area and not charge them a franchise fee.  Instead he charged them a single set up fee of $2,500 and a monthly license fee of $500 for his buying services and advice.   He did this as he said so that he did not have to go through all of the hassles and expense of creating a Franchise Disclosure Document and investing in all of the costs necessary to build the infrastructure needed to support a franchise system.  His lawyer told him it was a good alternative to developing a proper franchise system.

As gingerly as I could, I explained to him that he was already a franchisor and his only problem was that he had not done it legally.  He resisted my explanation and definition of franchising at first but finally came to realize that I was right and he had a problem.

I walked Marvin through the issues of offering rescission to his licensees and how I would recommend he and his lawyer approach the process and the regulators.

Surprisingly, in the age of the Internet and with a library of articles on franchising available for free and books like mine sold in most bookstores inadvertent franchising is not that uncommon.  Franchising is after all something most lawyers never deal with and understanding the differences under the law between franchising and licensing can be confusing.  This becomes even more complicated when people think that the only definition of franchising they need to meet is the one defined by the Federal Trade Commission and don’t realize that several states have their own unique approach to what makes someone a franchisor. 

Undoing an inadvertent franchise can be complicated and most times, depending on how happy the “licensees” are and the state they are in, expensive to fix.  But if approached correctly most of the regulators will understand that mistakes happen and are just happy to have someone tell them in advance of them finding out themselves.  While there may be fees to pay and sometimes the costs can be steep, getting back on track is the right thing to do.

Not certain if Marvin will be change his approach.  I gave him the names of a few franchise lawyers we work with but have not heard from any of them that he has called them yet.

It is not sufficient to simply ask most general practitioners of the law about franchising.  Its not a subject covered in depth in most law schools and is really a craft that is learned by lawyers and consultants who specialize in the field.  Talking to a professional in franchising, either a qualified franchise consultant or a lawyer that is a member of the ABA Forum on Franchising or the International Franchise Association is critical.  Hopefully Marvin will reach out to one of the lawyers I gave him.

Michael

International Economic Summit Recap

The Doha Forum was focused on a discussion of global viewpoints into the causes for the Arab Spring – the unrest in the region.  It also provided an international perspective into the United States’ as a leader in creating solutions to the Arab Spring and opportunities once it is over.  The conference discussed the World Cup games that will be hosted in Qatar in 2022 and the speakers and attendees came from all over the world and spoke on a broad range of economic and social topics.  The conference was a mix of panel discussions and break out sessions. 

The speakers and invited attendees discussed the causes of the Arab Spring a tone set by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Heir Apparent of Qatar in his opening address.  The lack of democracy, high levels of unemployment, a highly educated population and a lack of a middle class were frequently mentioned as the root causes for the unrest in the region.  Almost as a reflex reaction, many of the speakers placed blame for the Arab Spring on the Palestinian/Israeli dispute.  This though was not a sentiment expressed during private conversations and Israel was even mentioned by some as a long-term partner in developing economic and other opportunities in the region. 

One of the speakers was Jessie Jackson and we had the opportunity to get to know the Reverend Jackson and his son Jonathan on a personal level.  We were able to carve out some time with the Reverend over breakfast and lunch to talk about the issues of the Arab Spring.  We also visited with each other during a trip to the museum and the Reverend expressed considerable interest in MSA’s work in sub-Saharan Africa with the CFW medical clinics.  We have some follow up discussions set and surprisingly, even though I come from a significantly more conservative point of view, the Reverend invited me to attend the Rainbow Push conference later this year.

There was little discussion by most of the speakers during the two and a half days about the role of the United States taking a leadership position in seeking solutions to the unrest.  Privately they spoke to the decline in how the United States is viewed since the current administration has taken office. There is clearly a very different view in what we think of ourselves and what others think of us.  It is troubling to hear but it was an important viewpoint to listen to.

Jessie Jackson’s talk was different.  He spoke in a slow, quiet and deliberately paced manner.  He discussed the similarities between the Arab Spring and the Civil Rights movement in the United States.  It was an extraordinary speech.  He focused on how he viewed the greatness of the United States without dismissing our then and current flaws.  I was very proud of being an American listening to how Reverend Jackson discussed his view of our country and our role globally. 

John Solish and I conducted two sessions on the use of franchising as a potential method to create a middle class in the Middle East.  In many countries in the region, given the indigenous wealth, labor to operate local businesses is imported from China, Pakistan and other countries.  Franchising is common in the Gulf but ownership is focused mainly in franchisees that had significant net worth when they entered into the relationship with the brand.  But in other countries, including but not limited to Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Iran and Syria where the major unrest is taking place as well as other countries in the region where the demographics and financial capabilities of the citizens are dramatically different, the general consensus was that franchising as a method of creating wealth, jobs and branded opportunities sufficient to sustain a middle class had significant potential. Follow up discussions with various government officials in several of the neighboring countries began in Qatar and will continue.

As an American, I was surprised how few speakers, when talking about international players that have influence in the Middle East, mentioned the United States in their public addresses.  The EU and China were primarily viewed as the outsiders that have the most credibility within the Arab world to partner in seeking solutions today to what ever will follow the Arab Spring. Privately, the reasons given why our influence is on the decline was enlightening, and none mentioned the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan as why this decline has taken place.

The Doha Forum is an important annual event as it is an open dialogue of issues and solutions presented by government, business and academic leaders.  The conference though is challenging for first time attendees as the agenda is fluid up until the event and even the speakers change almost until the day the conference opens.  For example, a week before the meeting Mikhail Gorbachev, Jim Brown and David Frost were on the published list of speakers but not the Reverend Jackson.  There was only one franchising session scheduled two weeks before we left for Doha and then a second session was added to focus on using franchising as a solution to regional unrest.   The level and quality of the public and private dialogue was extraordinarily open and honest.  For example, even though it was often mentioned that there was some inexplicable link between the Arab Spring and Israel publicly, publicly and privately Israel was also mentioned as a long-term player in creating opportunities and solutions in the Middle East.  It was stimulating to participate as a speaker, well worth attending to be in the audience and any perceived flaws in organization was more than overcome by the generous hospitality of the Government of Qatar, the conference organizers and facility operator.

~Michael

Michael Seid Invited to Speak at “Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Future” Conference in Doha, Qatar

West Hartford, Connecticut – April 14, 2011- MSA Worldwide, recognized as the leading strategic and tactical advisor for emerging and established franchisors, announced today that Michael Seid, Managing Director, has been invited by the Foreign Ministry of the State of Qatar and the UCLA Center for Middle East Development to speak at the Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Future conference to be held in Doha, Qatar on May 9th and 10th 2011.

Together with Jonathan Solish, Partner, Bryan Cave, Santa Monica, CA, Michael will discuss “The Role of Franchising in the Regional Economy and Local Businesses”.  Following their discussion, Michael and Jonathan will hold a wide ranging franchising workshop for the conference attendees on the design and development of franchise systems, the acquisition of franchise rights for the Middle East and the business, financial and legal requirements necessary to make the Middle East a preferred target for international franchise expansion. 

“This is a particularly important time for considering the power of franchising to create jobs, financial opportunities and stability in the Middle East”.  said Michael Seid, Managing Director of MSA Worldwide.  The Middle East is a region of tremendous wealth, high education and yet staggering unemployment.  The current uprising in much of the region makes it important that Middle East government’s consider franchising as an economic development tool to address the economic and entrepreneurial needs of their citizens. said Seid

The conference, held in conjunction with the 11th annual Doha Forum, is expected to bring together 700 participants from 100 countries.  The Doha Conference has grown into an internationally recognized forum for dignitaries, investors and experts from academia, economics, healthcare, politics and business to discuss pressing global policy issues and to conduct private business. 
 
The focus of this year’s conference is to examine and contrast the differing economic strategies resulting from the globalized confusion resulting from the economic crisis with special attention to the economic root causes of the current regional uprisings. The program will include discussions on energy and green technology, the impact of sports on regional business, and the role of franchising in the regional economy.
 
“One of the greatest exports of the United States has been the legal structure and business tactics of franchising that has created jobs in the emerging markets of the world”.  said Jonathan Solish, Partner, Bryan Cave.  “Our goal is to provide the conference attendees with practical examples of how franchising can be employed within the region to create the climate necessary for long term economic development and opportunity.”  said Solish

Conference History

Since the conference began in 2001, previous keynote speakers and attendees have included President William Jefferson Clinton; UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; Former NATO Commander Wesley Clark; Former French President Jacques Chirac; and, Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League.   Attendees at the 10th Annual conference, held last year in June, included Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan; President Tarja Halonen of Finland; Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai of Hungary; Former President of Lebanon Amin Gemayel; Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands and President of the Club of Madrid Wim Kok; and, Former U.S. Senator Mel Martinez.

Scheduled speakers at this year’s conference include:

• Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani – Emir of the State of Qatar
• Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani – Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Valery Giscard d’Estaing – Former President of the French Republic
• Mikhail Gorbachev – Former President of the Soviet Union
• Adolf Ogi – Former President of Switzerland
• Sir David Frost
• Jim Brown – NFL Hall of Fame Running Back
• Josh Elbaum – Managing Director, Media Investment Group
• Joanna Hayes – Olympic Gold Medalist in Track & Field
• Colin Kahl – U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East
• Michael Nacht – Former Undersecretary of Defense for Global Affairs
• Vali Nasr – Professor of International Politics, Tufts University
• Michael Seid, Managing Director, MSA Worldwide
• Bassem Shabb – Member of Parliament, Lebanon
• Jonathan Solish, Partner, Bryan Cave
• Kok Song – Managing director of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation
• Steven L. Spiegel — Director, Center for Middle East Development and Professor of Political Science, UCLA
• Hung Tran – Deputy Managing Director of the Institute of International Finance
• Kiki Vandeweghe – NBA Star and Team Executive
• Andres Velasco – Former Finance Minister of Chile, Professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
• Maysoom Zoubi – Secretary General, Minister of Water and Irrigation in Jordan

For information about MSA Worldwide, please contact Kimberly Ellis, Senior Consultant, MSA Worldwide at kellis@msaworldwide.com or (952) 892-5202.