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Advisory Board Ensures Multi-Unit Franchising Conference Relevant to Today's Issues

Board Members from All Sectors Determine Topics, Speakers and Workshops

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 4, 2010 - Franchise Update Media Group (FUMG) the leading industry resource for franchise development, today announced the Multi-Unit Franchisee Conference Advisory Board will meet August 5-6 in Atlanta to plan the 2011 conference agenda. The 2010 event attracted multi-unit operators from food, retail, and service businesses that represented $2 billion in annual revenues.

The board determines the topics, speakers, schedules, sessions, workshops, and other conference activities to ensure that the issues relevant to today's multi-unit franchisees are being addressed. Charles Smithgall III, chairman and CEO of SEI/Aaron's Inc., is the 2011 chairman of the 22-member conference advisory board, which includes representatives from all industry sectors.

"I'm humbled and excited to be chairman this year. It's a great honor," Smithgall said. "I've attended this conference for many years and I always get more than I give. As the conference has grown, so has my company."

Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine is the producer of the conference, and together with Dunkin' Brands, is sponsoring the board meeting. Cocktails and dinner are scheduled for Thursday evening at the Piedmont Driving Club, with the Friday board meeting to be held at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead.

"Our board members drive the conference agenda, which is why attendance and sponsorships continue to grow year after year," said Therese Thilgen, president and chief content officer for FUMG. "The Multi-Unit Franchising Conference is where industry leaders gather to network, share insights and strategies on what they need to know to continue growth and expansion in today's market, gather information about concepts they are interested in, and discover new opportunities."

The members of the 2011 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference Advisory Board are: Greg Cutchall, CEO Cutchall Management Co.; Sean Falk, president, WolFTeaM LLC, Nachogang LLC; Rocco Fiorentino, president Swiss Farm Stores and founding partner, Eagle Tax Services; Gary Grace, president, GG Enterprises; William G. Hall, president, William G. Hall & Company; Aziz Hashim, president/CEO, National Restaurant Development, Inc.; Glen Helton, president and COO, Strategic Restaurants Acquisition Corp.; John Hotchkiss, partner, L&M Restaurant Group; Ellen Hui, president and CEO, EBR Investments; Lyndon Johnson, president, Reciprocity Restaurant Group; Ken Leese, president and CEO, Tax Authority Inc.; Tony Lutfi, CEO/president, Marlu Investment Group; John Metz, president, RREMC Restaurants, LLC; Ron Millard, partner, Redstone Capital Partners; Glenn Mueller, RPM Pizza; Stan Novack, president, Novack Consulting LLC; David Ostrowe, president, O & M Restaurant Group; Gary Robins, president, G&C Robins Co.; Cheryl Robinson, owner, Sapphire Ventures Inc.; Grant Simon, president, Simon Clips; Ted Torres, CHA, president/CEO, Caerus Hospitality Partners; and Anil Yadav, president, JIB Management, Inc.

To read the complete bios of the 2011 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference Advisory Board members, please visit http://multiunitfranchisingconference.com/2011_advisory.asp.

The 2010 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference enjoyed a 30 percent increase in attendance over 2009, featuring more than 100 sponsors and a sold-out exhibit hall. The 2011 conference, which will be held April 27-29 in Las Vegas, is shaping up to beat last year's record. Sponsorships are available now. For more information, contact Sharon Wilkinson at sharonw@franchiseupdatemedia.com, or 800-289-4232 ext. 202.

About Franchise Update Media Group

Founded in 1988, Franchise Update Media Group (FUMG) produces online franchise sites, magazines, research, books and conferences in franchising. Targeting franchise audiences online, in print and in person, FUMG delivers a unique combination of education and lead-generation sources that helps franchisors, multi-unit franchisees and suppliers achieve their growth objectives. For more information, please visit www.franchiseupdatemedia.com.