From Owner to Honor: McDonald's and VetFran Host Franchising Seminar

In an altruistic effort to help veterans make the transition from honor to owner, McDonald’s teamed up with VetFran to host an all-day seminar titled Focus on Franchising for Veterans this Friday. The event, held at the fast-food giant and franchising pioneer’s Hamburger University in Oak Brook, Ill., featured a bevy of speakers including industry leaders, board members of the International Franchise Association and veterans-turned-franchisees.

 John Kujawa gives the seminar's opening remarks.  

“Veterans know what it’s like to take a system and implement it,” John Kujawa, Vice President of Global Franchising for McDonald’s, said in the welcoming remarks. He went on to not only express gratitude for the service the seminar attendees have provided, but also explain that the skills they've acquired in the various sectors of the U.S. Armed Forces carry over nicely to the business world. This theme became the thread that weaved the seminar’s speakers together, as Richard Bradshaw, Senior Vice President of the Small Business Administration Lending and TD Bank, pointed out that consistency and uniformity are two qualities easily translated from serving our nation to running a franchise. Bradshaw led the Franchise Finance 101 portion of the seminar, during which he explained what the SBA is, the two main types of loan programs, how to select a lender, loan application and business plan best practices, franchise agreements and “getting to closing faster” best practices. He was preceded by RadioShack franchisee Marc Heurmann, who held a myriad of positions in the Peoria, Ill. 182d Airlift Wing including aircraft armament systems mechanic, air transportation chief and helicopter sling load inspector. He, too, expressed strong feelings that franchising makes for an ideal transition, explaining that veterans are used to following directions, a trait the corporate world is fond of. His advice for those wanting to follow in his footsteps? “Find a passion and pursue it,” he said. “Franchises provide the clay, and you have to mold it yourself.” Michael Seid, a U.S. Army veteran, founder and Managing Director of franchising advisory firm MSA Worldwide and author of “Franchising for Dummies”, provided a plethora of information from the history of franchising to the pros and cons of becoming your own boss as part of the Franchising 101 portion of the afternoon. He was joined by Richard J. Morey, a Partner at DLA Piper, whose expertise in franchise law proved invaluable for those in attendance.

Michael Seid enlightens the crowd on the ins and outs of franchising. 

Earlier in the day, Steve Caldeira, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association, spoke about Operation Enduring Opportunity, a campaign with the initiative to hire, and recruit as franchise owners, 75,000 veterans and their spouses, as well as 5,000 Wounded Warriors by 2014. Since 2011, nearly 65,000 veterans and military spouses have entered franchising, including over 4,300 who have become franchise owners. The campaign is obviously well on its way to meeting its goals, and the “best-in-class education” provided at Hamburger University is sure to only help this number grow. For more information and to see video footage from the seminar, head to VetFran.com.

Attendees take in the information provided at the Focus on Franchising for Veterans event.