Global Franchise Group, LLC is a strategic brand management company with a mission of championing franchise brands and the people who build them. The company owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes five primary quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise concepts: Great American Cookies®, Hot Dog on a Stick®, Marble Slab Creamery®, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery®, Pretzelmaker® and Round Table Pizza®. The brands are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group, LLC. Global Franchise Group, LLC is a portfolio company of Global Franchise Group, LLC is an affiliate of Lion Capital LLP and Serruya Private Equity, Inc.

Food & Beverage

Global Franchise Group

Jenn Johnston is the Chief Brand Officer & President of Franchise Operations at [Global Franchise Group](/org/global-franchise-group). Jenn has over 15 years of experience in the franchising industry, and has been with [Global Franchise Group](/org/global-franchise-group) for over 5 years. Prior to their current role, Jenn was the Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at NexCen Franchise Management Inc, where they were responsible for strategic brand-building and integration of the following acquisition brands: MaggieMoo's, Marble Slab Creamery , Pretzel Time, Pretzelmaker, Great American Cookies, The Athlete's Foot (TAF), Shoebox New York. Jenn has also held the position of Senior Director of Marketing & Company Operations at MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery, where they were responsible for the turn-around of two MaggieMoo's corporate stores, moving sales from negative double digits to positive within the first 60 days. Jenn also created a turnkey franchise Grand Opening program, which resulted in record Grand Opening Day sales. This program was then rolled out to the franchise system and resulted in further records. Jenn has been recognized for their work in building the MaggieMoo's marketing department from the lowest rated in Franchise Satisfaction Survey to highest rated in six months, holding the highest satisfaction rating ongoing. Jenn also developed a financial business model tool and action plan showcasing the incremental profitable revenues around key business-building initiatives. This tool was then trained and rolled out with franchise operations team.

Jenn Johnston has a MBA from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business in Entrepreneurship & Finance and a Bachelor of Arts from [Boston College](/org/boston-college) in English & Communications.

Jenn Johnston works with Jon Gordon - VP Creative Services, Pam Maxwell - VP, Franchise Operations for GAC, PM, MSC and HDOS, and Jim English - VP, Human Resources. Jenn Johnston reports to Paul Damico, CEO.

Jenn Johnston

Lisa Merrell is the Vice President of Franchising for RTP at [Global Franchise Group](/org/global-franchise-group). Lisa is responsible for overall franchisee satisfaction, franchisee validation, franchisee profitability improvement, SSS growth, and net store growth. Lisa lead the team of Franchise Business Consultants to support the franchise system with operational testing and tracking, providing consolidated and timely feedback on new product tests, marketing programs and operational improvements roll-outs. Lisa evaluates and enforces compliance and consistency with the [Round Table Pizza](/org/round-table-pizza-inc) brand standards that includes quality safe food, approved products and suppliers, procedural compliance, menu compliance and brand protection. Additionally, Lisa creates, analyzes and deploys business case/ROI analysis around remodels/conversations to ensure the system updates to improve customer experience and brand value equation.

Prior to their current role, Lisa served as the Vice President of Brand Integration for [Global Franchise Group](/org/global-franchise-group). In this role, they were responsible for developing and executing the brand strategy for all GFG brands. Additionally, they created synergies across the portfolio of brands and developed new growth platforms.

Before joining GFG, Lisa served as the Vice President, Hot Dog on a Stick for [Global Franchise Group](/org/global-franchise-group). In this role, they were responsible for leading the Hot Dog on a Stick brand including franchise sales, operations, marketing, and product development.

Lisa Merrell holds a BA in Psychology from UCSC and an Associate of Arts in Social Science from Mission College.

They are on a team with Jon Gordon - VP Creative Services, Annica Conrad - CMO, and Raphael Tomlin - Chief Supply Chain Officer. Their manager is Paul Damico, CEO.

Lisa Merrell

Lisa Cheatham is the Vice President of E-Commerce at [Global Franchise Group](/org/global-franchise-group). Lisa has been with the company since 2011 and was elevated to their current role in 2019.

Under Cheatham's leadership, the company has seen a 300% increase in monthly sales since launching a direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel in response to market trends and consumer behavior. The channel has been successful in part due to Cheatham's partnerships with web development and advertising agencies to develop a new website design and UX that is integrated with payment platforms and fulfillment software.

In addition to their work with the e-commerce channel, Cheatham has also conceptualized and launched new products that have been consistently ranked as Top 3 sellers. Lisa has also developed and implemented a successful B2B corporate gifting sales program and generated additional revenue streams by creating an online merchandising program for two brands, partnering with Hot Topic for Hot Dog on a Stick branded shirts, and licensing three GAC products sold on Gopuff and in [H-E-B](/org/h-e-b) grocery stores.

Lisa Cheatham earned a Master of Business Administration - MBA with a focus in marketing from [Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University](/org/florida-agricultural-and-mechanical-university). Lisa also holds a Bachelor of Science - BS in business administration from the same school. In addition, Lisa has a certification in Six Sigma Green Belt.

Lisa Cheatham works with Jason Dowd - VP Culinary Innovation, Jenn Johnston - Chief Brand Officer & President of Franchise Operations, and Jon Gordon - VP Creative Services. Their manager is Paul Damico, CEO.

Lisa Cheatham

With more than 35 years in food and hospitality, Damico's career includes top leadership roles in premium organizations including Host Marriott, Food Brand, LLC, Creative Host Services, and the [Focus Brands](/org/focus-brands-inc) portfolio of restaurants. Most recently, he served as CEO of emerging concept Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill and successfully developed a franchise model preparing the brand for national growth. Prior to Naf Naf, he was President of [Focus Brands](/org/focus-brands-inc) and was responsible for the oversight of McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, Schlotzsky's Deli, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Carvel Ice Cream and Cinnabon. Paul is known as a dynamic and personable leader with a deep history of collaborating with franchisees and has a unique perspective regarding franchising and best practices. Paul has a passion for food and dining having graduated from Johnson & Wales with degrees Culinary Arts and Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Paul Damico

Kathleen Shaffer

Gordon, Vice President of Creative Services for GFG, is an award-winning Executive Creative Director with 20 years of agency and in-house experience. Most recently he served as Senior Vice President, Executive Creative Director at [FOCUS](/org/focusoutreach) Brands where he led the in-house agency team supporting Moe's Southwest Grill, Schlotzsky's, McAlister's Deli, Carvel, Cinnabon and [Jamba](/org/jamba). During his tenure with [FOCUS](/org/focusoutreach), he launched The Content Kitchen studio consisting of photography, videography, editing and content creation to support all brand's production needs from concept through execution. Prior to that, he was a Senior Art Director at J Walter Thompson in Atlanta and an Art Director at Solomon Says.

Jon Gordon

Chris Cheek

Pam Maxwell

Raphael Tomlin

Jim English

Patterson comes to GFG from FOCUS Brands where he served as Senior Vice President of Accounting. For the last eleven years, he was responsible for leading financials for Cinnabon, Carvel, Schlotzsky's, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli, Auntie Anne's and Jamba Juice. 

Sam Patterson

Jason Dowd, a strategic hospitality leader and creative culinary innovator with a unique background in concept development, product innovation and brand strategy. Before coming to GFG he was Head of Global Food & Beverage/Director of Culinary Innovation for InterContinental Hotel Group where he established IHG's first test kitchen and Food & Beverage training center and evolved its branded restaurant and bar concepts across 5,400 plus properties worldwide. He also previously served as Vice President of Innovation & Corporate Executive Chef for FOCUS Brands (Moe's Southwest Grill), Director of Innovation & Corporate Executive Chef for Consumer Capital Partners (Smashburger, Live Basil Pizza), and Corporate Research & Development Managing Chef for Darden Restaurants, Inc. where he developed menu concepts for [Olive Garden](/org/olive-garden).

Jason Dowd

Conrad, who joined GFG in 2018, has proven to be an effective leader and strategic brand visionary. She spearheaded the new identity and experience for Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery and the concept's co-brand locations. Conrad also directed the GFG COVID-19 task force leading brand and franchisee response and action. Before being promoted to CMO, she was Executive Vice President, Brand Marketing for all GFG brands.

Global Franchise Group

Org chart

Teams

Leadership Team

CEO and Executive Team

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