WHO WE ARE
Josh Lorence, President, Managing Partner, Washington, DC
Having worked as a corporate consultant and trainer for one of the fastest growing and most profitable quick-service restaurant franchisors in the country, Josh has real-world experience that has proven invaluable to many owners and managers. In his capacity as a corporate consultant, Josh liaised between corporate management and 25 franchise stores, communicating concerns and finding mutually-beneficial solutions. He assessed P&L’s, increased comps, lowered cost of goods, conducted corporate compliance audits, created local marketing plans, and coordinated with national distributors. He also spearheaded new store and grand opening events, handled customer complaints, and developed local contacts to increase catering volume. As a corporate franchise trainer, Josh was responsible for training all new owners and general managers in the corporate certification program.
Working in stores to improve efficiencies while maintaining corporate goals has given Josh a very practical perspective that franchisees welcome. They see Josh as someone who really understands the business from their perspective and who can, at the same time, apply corporate best practices into the local operation without disrupting the unit. Corporate management sees his strong understanding of how things work on the ground and his contribution to fulfilling overall goals.
More recently, Josh assisted in developing store operations at a specialty market and café. He developed storewide standardized systems and procedures, trained staff in all aspects of operations, overhauled the market layout, and reconfigured the POS system, among other achievements. Josh also worked closely with marketers to cross promote between the market and the café, creating and executing weekly events such as wine tastings, music nights, cooking classes, and chef demonstrations.
Josh has a proven track record of helping quick-service restaurants succeed. His experience as a corporate consultant, trainer, and in-store manager makes him uniquely well-suited to help your unit reach its ultimate potential.
Michael Cannon, Managing Partner, Miami, FL
Michael has led a distinguished career in the marketing, management and consulting fields. He was instrumental in the international expansion of a leading Fortune 500 conglomerate, the development of advertising sales for a major worldwide pay television group, and a firm he founded to reorganize companies, pursue M&A opportunities, and marketing and communications programs.
Mr. Cannon established the Miami office in 1998 at the request of clients who were searching for ways to increase their productivity, improve financial and operational results, find and develop equity partnerships, and acquire/divest themselves of assets.
Specializing in Business Valuations, Cost Segregation Studies and Management Consulting, Michael has developed a solid track record and best practice methodologies that help companies acquire and divest assets, reduce depreciation costs and plan the next steps for operations.
A native of Indiana, Mr. Cannon holds a B.A. degree from Purdue University, an M.A. from the University of Iowa, and an M.B.A. in International Management from Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management. He holds the certification of Accredited Valuation Analyst (AVA) in business valuations from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA). He has two grown daughters, is trilingual in English, Spanish and French, and his leisure interests include fishing, boat restoration and photography.