Dunkin' Donuts has announced the results of its most recent Brand Advisory Council (BAC) election that selects franchisees from across the country to provide advice and counsel on topics ranging from marketing strategies and menu innovation to technology and training needs for the company's 7,000 U.S. franchise locations.
The elected members representing five regions serve a two-year term and are selected by their peers to represent the entire franchise community's strategic guidance, feedback, ideas, and requests.
The Brand Advisory Council attends regular meetings with the Dunkin' Brands senior leadership team at the company's corporate headquarters in Canton, Massachusetts.
The 2012-2013 BAC voted franchisee Clayton Turnbull of Roxbury, Massachusetts, to the position of BAC co-chair. Nigel Travis, Dunkin' Brands CEO and Dunkin' Donuts president, serves as the other BAC co-chair.
The following representatives were elected by their fellow franchisees from a slate of candidates from their respective regions:
Northeast
Jim Allen (Lexington, MA)
Michael Batista (Meriden, CT)
Danny Bouzianis (Biddeford, ME)
Rob Branca (Boylston, MA)
Mark Cafua (Methuen, MA)
Neal Faulkner (Upton, MA)
Konstantino Skrivanos (Westborough, MA)
Dinart Serpa (Beverly, MA)
Clayton Turnbull (Roxbury, MA)
George Zografos (South Yarmouth, MA)
Midwest
Ken Blum (Cleveland, OH)
Vipul Patel (Chicago, IL)
Vishal Shah (Chicago, IL)
Siraj Virani (Chicago, IL)
New York
Jim Cain (Norwalk, CT)
Scott Campbell (Great Neck, NY)
Sid Mody (New Brunswick, NJ)
Rod Valencia (Woodhaven, NY)
PBW
Lou Garcia (Mt. Vernon, NY)
Ram Javia (Westminster, MD)
Perry Shah (Yardley, PA)
South Atlantic
Nick Apostoleres (Brandon, FL)
Charles Cutler (Cooper City, FL)
Hank Huth (Stanford, CT)
Parth Patel (Raleigh, NC)
Mike White (Woodstock, GA)
"The Dunkin' Donuts Brand Advisory Council plays a critical role in providing senior management with thoughtful and valuable advice and the franchisee's perspective necessary to drive a healthy business and maintain a strong brand," says Nigel Travis, Dunkin' Brands CEO and Dunkin' Donuts president.
"This is a strong group of dedicated franchisee leaders who, on a volunteer basis, take time away from their businesses to represent their fellow franchisees. Their dedication and commitment is amazing, and they contribute greatly to our success at Dunkin' Donuts."
The Dunkin' Donuts Franchise Advisory Council system has been in place for more than three decades and represents all of the nearly 1,200 Dunkin' Donuts franchisees operating in 36 states. BAC members also serve on subcommittees that include restaurant excellence, marketing, and manufacturing.
"I am honored to have been selected to lead the Dunkin' Donuts Brand Advisory Council during this exciting time in the company's history," says Clayton Turnbull, Dunkin' Donuts BAC co-chair and franchisee, who owns 18 restaurants in Boston. "I look forward to working with my fellow franchisees and senior management to strengthen the brand with a focus on enhancing the guest experience, driving franchisee profitability, and improving unit economics."
