Leading Experts in Experts in the Leisure & Lodging Council and Automotive Council

Phil Akin is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hellman, where he has worked since 2005. Hellman is a full service marketing and advertising agency with a client base covering 127 of the current Fortune 500 companies, including Best Buy, Advance Auto Parts, 3M, LS Power, GE, Ecolab, John Deere,...

Peter Alexander is the President of Totally Fun Company, where he manages, designs and builds themed attractions for the Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, Six Flags and other theme parks in Europe and Asia. Previously, Mr. Alexander was a Vice President and Creative Director of the Universal Studio...

Terry Alger is an independent consultant at Terry Alger Consultants, providing services to the casual restaurants retail coffee, and the dollar retail industry since September 2003. Mr. Alger has been in upper level management with a major dollar retail company and keeps abreast on the current trends;...

Dirk Aschmoneit is currently a Director of Marketing, Food & Retail at Jenny Craig - a division of Nestle Nutrition, where he has worked since 2004. He manages a $500 million group of food and non-food products. His duties include product development, assortment, merchandising for 500+ stores in the...

Ed Baim is the Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Baim Enterprises, a 11 unit McDonald's franchise headquartered in Cherry Hill, NJ. Mr. Baim has been with the McDonald's system for more than 35 years. His stores are located in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and the Western Philadelphia suburbs. He was...

Lisa Baird is a Managing Partner at Brand Value Advisors in New York, a brand and marketing consultancy firm specializing in advising Private Equity, M&A, Hedge Funds and VC on marketing issues in due diligence, monetizing new revenue streams, research and marketing operational issues. Her areas of...

Albert Baldocchi is a Board Member of Chipotle Mexican Grill, a publicly-traded national 750-unit fast casual restaurant concept where he has worked since June 1996. Mr. Baldocchi was integral in McDonald's investment in Chipotle, having introduced the companies and advised Chipotle on the transaction....

James Bass is currently an independent consultant focusing on the non-prime auto finance industry. Until early 2007, he was a Consultant at InterActive Financial Marketing Group, an auto lending firm. He is also the former Chairman of the National Automotive Finance Association, the only trade association...

Steve Bawdon was until recently a Franchisee at Sweet Traditions, a crispy cream franchisee in Missouri and Illinios, approx. 25 stores in the St. Louis and Chicago area. Mr. Bawden is experienced in consumer-centric research to determine eating habits and trends. He has also served as the Director...

Jake Belemjian is currently the President and Owner of Diablo Motorsports Inc., a recreational vehicle dealership. He has been in this role since 2000; previously he was a passive owner of the business since 1993. Diablo Motorsports owns two dealerships 10 miles south of Fresno, California. One dealership...

Steve Belmonte is CEO, President, & Partner of The Lexington Collection, Vantage Hospitality's mid to upscale hotel brand. Additionally, Mr. Belmonte is Chairman and Founder of Hospitality Solutions LLC, a full service nationwide consulting company responsible for negotiations of approx 100 hotel franchise...

Douglas Benham is the CEO at DNB Advisors, a strategy, sales and operations consultant. He also serves on the Board at O’Charley’s and holds advisory roles with Sunshine Restaurant Group (the largest IHOP franchisee), Stevi-B’s pizza, and Lanier Parking Systems (the largest parking company in the southeast)....

Pamela Bethune is a Principal at Cottleston Enterprises, an auditing and consulting firm performing audits for companies such as TUV SUD America, where she has worked since September 2008. Previously, Ms. Bethune was the Director of Quality at Fauecia, a Tier-One supplier of exahust systems. Prior to...

Tom Bischoff is CEO of Commemorative Legacy, LLC which provides new, unique and exclusive products and services direct to consumers and to funeral industry providers that commemorate the legacy of a living or deceased individual. Mr. Bischoff has more than 30 years experience from casket sales and manufacturer...

Johnny Bishop is the Founder and Owner of Johnny Bishop RV, a recreational vehicle dealership located in Columbus. Johnny Bishop Inc. was established in 1974 and is one of the largest RV dealerships in the state of Mississippi with over $15 Million in annual sales. He is a member of the MS RV Dealers...

Ben Bost is the President of Independence Rentals, Inc., dba Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership, where he has worked since December 2002. Independence Rentals was the first Aaron's franchisee in North Carolina and operates three Aaron's Sales and Lease franchise stores in western North Carolina. With...

Steve Boutwell is currently a District Manager at Pomp's Tire Service in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he has worked since 1988. Pomp’s is a tire retailer and auto service provider in about 67 service centers, and is one of the three largest independent commercial tire dealers in the US. Mr. Boutwell...

Michael Cain is the President of MFC Consulting, since April 2002. Mr. Cain has over 25 years of varied automotive industry experience developing marketing, sales and financial strategies. In addition, he has assisted dealers in strengthening the dealership network, new construction and remodeling projects,...

Donald Calhoon was EVP of Marketing for Wendy's until 2004, overseeing total marketing direction for Wendy's restaurants worldwide. He was a member of the company's Executive Management Team, which directs business plans to ensure company profitability and growth. In the 90's, Calhoon led the successful...

Tom Callahan is currently the Chief Executive Officer with PKF Consulting, a national and global hotel consultancy, in charge of the firm's consulting practice in the Western United States and its San Francisco office, where he has served since 2000. Mr. Callahan is a recognized authority on the hospitality...