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Franchising is tough. Good thing there are so many professionals who have been fighting the good franchise fight to figure out the best practices for franchisors and ‘zees in every industry.Whether buying a franchise, franchising your business, growing your franchise or looking for general information on franchising, tapping into the franchise world’s thriving community is vital to your journey. So, with the help of <a href="https://www.seosamba.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SeoSamba</a> we’ve curated a list of the most influential people in franchising.No, these are not rankings, simply our collection of 100 influencers you should know, and frankly, who you should be connected to (good thing we’ve provided their LinkedIn links).Throughout February, we will release the entire list so you can get busy getting connected.<figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614056864_catherine monson.jpg"></figure><h4>Catherine Monson</h4><ul><li>Type: Franchisor</li><li>Company: FASTSIGNS International</li><li>Website: <a href="https://www.fsfastsigns.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.fsfastsigns.com/</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-monson/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-monson/</a></li><li>LinkedIn Bio:</li></ul><blockquote>Catherine Monson was named CEO and President of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. in 2008. She brought a strong background in management and business leadership, as well more than 25 years of franchising and digital printing experience.&nbsp;Known for her motivational and accountability-led management style, Catherine believes in consistent communication and a two-way relationship with franchisees. It is with great passion that she leads the more than 660 franchised FASTSIGNS® worldwide, as well as to the 100+ employees that comprise the FASTSIGNS International corporate team.&nbsp;Since joining FASTSIGNS, Catherine has been on a mission to advance the brand from that of just a sign and banner provider to a visual ideas and comprehensive solutions provider for all kinds of businesses and brands. Many got to see her commitment to FASTSIGNS when she appeared on the two-time Emmy Award-nominated reality series, “Undercover Boss”, in May of 2012. The show follows high-level corporate executives as they slip anonymously into the rank-and-file of their own company to examine the inner workings of their organization.&nbsp;A strong advocate for small business enterprise and franchising, Catherine also spends much of her time and energy serving on the Board of Directors for the International Franchise Association (IFA), the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchises worldwide. Through her service with the IFA, Catherine works to help further the IFA’s mission of protecting and promoting franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs.</blockquote><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614056876_jeff crivello.jpg"></figure><h4>Jeff Crivello</h4><ul><li>Type: Franchisor</li><li>Company: Famous Dave's</li><li>Website: <a href="https://www.famousdaves.com/FranchiseOpportunities?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.famousdaves.com/FranchiseOpportunities</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-crivello-22b22ba9?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-crivello-22b22ba9</a></li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614056889_ricky richardson.jpg"></figure><h4>Ricky Richardson</h4><ul><li>Type: Franchisor</li><li>Company: Eggs Up Grill</li><li>Website: <a href="https://eggsupgrillfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://eggsupgrillfranchise.com/</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricky-richardson-971b0012/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricky-richardson-971b0012/</a></li><li>LinkedIn Bio:</li></ul><blockquote>Highly effective and broadly experienced restaurant CEO. Strong record of delivering high impact financial (revenue, EBITDA) results thru building/ leading teams of great people.</blockquote><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614056932_tariq farid.jpg"></figure><h4>Tariq Farid</h4><ul><li>Type: Franchisor</li><li>Company: Edible Arrangements</li><li>Website: <a href="https://ediblefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://ediblefranchise.com/</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tariqfarid?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tariqfarid</a></li><li>LinkedIn Bio:</li></ul><blockquote>I love business and the challenge of building &amp; growing businesses, franchise is my specialty and franchisees are my inspiration, where else can you see ”bootstrapped” startup happening everyday making a difference on Main Street and in communities.</blockquote><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614056946_robert branca.jpg"></figure><h4>Robert Branca</h4><ul><li>Type: Franchisee</li><li>Company: Dunkin'Website: <a href="https://www.dunkinfranchising.com/franchisee/en.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.dunkinfranchising.com/franchisee/en.html</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-branca-7008869/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-branca-7008869/</a></li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614117877_nicki.jpg"></figure><h4>Nicolas Dégéraud</h4><ul><li>Type: Franchisor</li><li>Company: Domino’s Pizza</li><li>Website: <a href="https://biz.dominos.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://biz.dominos.com/franchise/</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-d%C3%A9g%C3%A9raud-b165611/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-d%C3%A9g%C3%A9raud-b165611/</a></li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614056973_stuart hershman.jpg"></figure><h4>Stuart Hershman</h4><ul><li>Type: Supplier</li><li>Company: DLA Piper</li><li>Website: <a href="https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-hershman-56882711?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-hershman-56882711</a></li><li>LinkedIn Bio:</li></ul><blockquote>I have roughly 30 years of experience in anything and everything having to do with the legal aspects of franchising and distribution.&nbsp;My goal is to provide clients with the absolutely most responsive, reliable, practical, efficient, trustworthy, and cost-effective legal services at all times and to develop client relationships that will last indefinitely. Most of my attorney-client relationships, many with the premier brands in the world, have continued for 10-20 years (or longer!) and counting, a testament to the trust established with them.&nbsp;Specialties: Pretty much every legal aspect of franchising and distribution.</blockquote><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614056983_aaron chaitovsky.jpg"></figure><h4>Aaron Chaitovsky</h4><ul><li>Type: Supplier</li><li>Company: Citrin Cooperman</li><li>Website: <a href="https://www.citrincooperman.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.citrincooperman.com/</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-chaitovsky-cpa-cfe-1b96301/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-chaitovsky-cpa-cfe-1b96301/</a></li><li>LinkedIn Bio:</li></ul><blockquote>Aaron Chaitovsky specializes in profitability consulting and analysis for a variety of industries and disciplines.&nbsp;Aaron came to the firm as an audit partner in 1995, and has more than 25 years of experience in accounting and auditing. He focuses his practice on a number of key niches, including manufacturing, franchising, real estate, restaurants and professional service firms.&nbsp;In the manufacturing arena, he works with companies to help clients understand and analyze cost systems for operations and potential acquisitions. His due diligence work including helping package businesses for sale to obtain the best value for the company.&nbsp;His work with franchisors includes preparation of audited financial statements , international tax structuring, expansion consulting, due diligence and acquisition services, the structuring of royalty audit programs, and succession planning.He also helps prospective franchisees analyze and understand franchise opportunities and the respective franchise.&nbsp;Aaron especially enjoys offering financial and profitability consulting to his clients – during good times and bad – to help them improve their bottom line and goals to gain a better quality of life. He seeks with each client to gain a deep understanding of how their business is unique and assists in crafting tailored programs to help them boost profitability, plan for the future, and better enjoy what they love best about their business.&nbsp;Specialties: Aaron Chaitovsky, CPA, is a partner and chair of the franchise services division at Citrin Cooperman &amp; Company, LLP, an accounting and consulting firm with 75 partners in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of experience in the franchise industry, Chaitovsky, a frequent speaker and lecturer on various franchise related tropic, serves as a trusted advisor to both active and potential franchisors and multi unit franchisees.</blockquote><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614056994_amy cheng.jpg"></figure><h4>Amy Cheng</h4><ul><li>Type: Supplier</li><li>Company: Cheng Cohen LLC</li><li>Website: <a href="https://www.chengcohen.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.chengcohen.com/</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-cheng-771b663/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-cheng-771b663/</a></li><li>LinkedIn Bio:</li></ul><blockquote>Amy concentrates her practice in domestic and international commercial transactions, general corporate, and franchise, licensing and distribution law. She represents franchisors on the structuring and operation of their franchise programs through all phases of development. She also represents non-U.S. based franchisors expanding into the U.S. market. Amy has extensive experience in structuring and drafting agreements for complex franchise, licensing and distribution relationships and in regulatory compliance. Her experience includes advising clients in connection with complex issues arising from the ownership of multiple brands, non-traditional opportunities, system restructuring and brand acquisition. Amy also has extensive experience in representing private equity firms in connection with their acquisitions of franchise companies.&nbsp;Amy represents clients of all sizes, from start-ups to mature companies with multi-national operations. Representative clients include leaders in the restaurant, retail and home services industries. With her broad range of experience, Amy essentially acts as general counsel to her clients, collaboratively maturing their businesses from infancy to prominence within their various industries.&nbsp;Amy’s commercial transactional practice includes counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial relationships, structuring, and drafting contracts for business transactions; while her general corporate practice includes corporate formation, strategic business alliances and joint ventures. Amy’s unique combination of corporate and franchise experience provides franchisors with comprehensive legal services to expand their franchise systems. Her experience includes representing franchisors in a myriad of industries to acquire and sell franchise companies of all sizes.&nbsp;Before forming Cheng Cohen LLC, Amy was a partner with DLA Piper US LLP and its predecessor firms.</blockquote><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1614057035_seth larsen.jpg"></figure><h4>Seth Larsen</h4><ul><li>Type: Franchisor</li><li>Company: Cheba Hut</li><li>Website: <a href="https://franchise.chebahut.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://franchise.chebahut.com/</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-larsen-a922877/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-influencers-40-31-2715055" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-larsen-a922877/</a></li></ul>

Top Franchise Influencers 40-31 | 1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise

After reviewing more than 100 nominations, 1851 Franchise and SeoSamba have broken down our list of franchise influencers you should know.

Top Franchise Influencers: 40–31

top-franchise-influencers-40-31

Children's Lighthouse

Why Children’s Lighthouse Is a Great Opportunity for Swim School Franchisees

why-childrens-lighthouse-is-a-great-opportunity-for-swim-school-franchisees

Children’s Lighthouse Closes the Third Quarter with Record Franchise Signings and New School Opening

childrenslighthouse-q3-2025-growth

Pet Wants

How Pet Wants Is Redefining the Customer Experience in the Pet Industry

pet-wants-redefining-customer-experience

Jollibee

How Much Can You Really Make With a Jollibee Franchise? Inside the Numbers of Item 19

how-much-can-you-really-make-with-a-jollibee-franchise-inside-the-numbers-of-item-19

United Water Restoration Group

United Water Restoration Group Opens New Locations and Expands Digital Tools in Q3

united-water-restoration-group-franchise-q3-2025

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Top Franchise Influencers: 40–31

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