Michael S. Lassiter
President, CEO and Founder
Franchising Concepts
Mike Lassiter serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Franchising Concepts, a franchise success company. In addition to this role, he provides full-time focus in as President of Rising Roll Gourmet, a fast casual restaurant concept. In this capacity, he focuses on supporting a number of franchisor companies with emphasis on franchise marketing and sales, strategic planning, consulting and supporting founders, franchisee communication, new concept evaluation, system enhancements, franchise qualification and closings, as well as site selection management.
Mike’s franchising experience is extensive. He has launched seven new franchise companies and/or franchise related companies and has successful multi-unit management experience spanning almost 28 years. Mike has also been a franchisee, franchisor and area developer. This experience on all sides of the franchise model gives him a perspective that few can claim.
Prior to founding Franchising Concepts, Mike was President of Quality Concepts, Inc, an independent Area Developer for Schlotzsky’s, Inc, a restaurant franchisor. Contracted to Schlotzsky’s, Quality Concepts conducted franchise sales and support, store training and development, as well as market analyses and site selection. Mike was ultimately responsible for developing his territory to 85 units; making Quality Concepts the second largest Area Developer for Schlotzsky’s worldwide. During this time, Mike’s territory grew from less than $1M to approximately $40M in annual revenue, and he was awarded one of the top Area Developers for three sequential years.
Mike was also a Schlotzsky’s franchisee, purchasing one unit and building another; one in need of turnaround management and one new concept deli. These units subsequently were named "Best Deli" in north Atlanta by Creative Loafing Magazine, “Favorite place for a sandwich,” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and designated "Top Deli in North Atlanta," for two years by Inside Northside Magazine.
Mike served as Regional Manager for Fox Photo Labs in a five state territory, where he was responsible for overall P&L, customer service, field support, site selection, inventory control, recruitment and quality assurance.
Mike also has extensive experience in commercial real estate and is a partner in real estate investment firms. On numerous occasions he has been a guest lecturer at Kennesaw State University. He completed a BBA in Management from Sam Houston State University and MBA studies at Mercer University. He is an active member of the 1% Club.
David Smith
Chief Operating Officer
David focuses on specific responsibilities of Rising Roll Franchising Company, including daily operations of its franchise locations and company restaurant, marketing and promotion strategy, supply chain management and vendor relations, financial management and benchmarking, and new product development and implementation.
David comes to the Franchising Concepts team with sixteen years of broad-based experience in franchise, retail, service and consulting environments. He has extensive franchise management experience, both as a franchisor and a franchisee. Most recently he led a specialty-food retail organization to its highest revenue levels ever, all while driving added value initiatives that improved operations, financial control and profits.
Operationally, David has created margin-analysis models to aid profitability, designed and implemented point of sale systems, and reengineered and executed franchisor-franchisee communication plans that improved franchisee input and created lasting partnerships throughout the franchise system.
David obtained a Bachelors degree in finance from Georgia Southern University, and went on to graduate from and serve as an instructor for the LeaderShape Institute in Champaign, Illinois.
William J. Tribble
Insurance Partner
McEver & Tribble, Inc.
Jack is an owner in McEver & Tribble, an independent insurance agency that he and his partner formed in 1996. The agency represents numerous insurance companies and services business insurance for many different industries and business segments.
Prior to the forming of McEver & Tribble, Jack worked with the Atlanta office of Sedgwick an international insurance broker. Jack was responsible for producing and servicing the insurance programs of numerous businesses throughout the country, many of whom were in or involved in the restaurant industry.
From 1980 until 1993, Jack was a partner in Duncan Peek, Inc., one of the largest independent agencies in Atlanta. During this time, many of Jack’s customers were in the restaurant industry, and this is where he developed his knowledge in this area. Jack managed the coverage for over 250 restaurants throughout the country. Jack also worked extensively on developing the insurance program for many other customers in industries such as wholesalers, real estate owners and managers, manufacturers, and hotels and motels.
Jack graduated from The University of Georgia, with a BBA degree in Business Administration, specializing in risk management and marketing. After graduating Jack’s 30-year career began in the insurance industry working as an underwriter for Aetna Insurance Company where he developed the technical knowledge of the insurance industry.
Harold Shumacher
Real Estate Partner
The Shumacher Group
Harold Shumacher is president of The Shumacher Group, Inc an Atlanta based commercial real estate company that specializes in site selection for national retail and restaurant chains. Among the company current or former clients are Rising Roll, Justix, Ageless Remedies, Schlotzsky's Deli, Lettuce Entertain You, Hooter's, Golden Corral, Jim & Nick's BBQ, Here to Serve (Strip & Shout), Frontera Grill, Bruster's Ice Cream and The Italian Oven.
Shumacher is a founding member of the Atlanta Hospitality Roundtable and is an active member of the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and a board member of Retail Broker Network, a national broker referral organization. In addition, Shumacher is a frequent guest lecturer at Georgia State University's school of hospitality management.
Cathy M. Coulter
Director of Catering
Rising Roll Gourmet
Cathy serves as Director of Catering for Rising Roll Gourmet, an emerging fast casual brand. She focuses her day to day responsibility on working closely with franchisees to enhance the catering performance of each store through traditional and nontraditional opportunities.
Cathy’s catering experience is extensive. She has worked for a number of organizations driving catering and event sales. From 2001 to 2008, Cathy was Director of Catering for Famous Dave’s Barbeque. Prior to Famous Dave’s, from 1997 to 2000, she was an Event Planner for the Charlotte Trolley. From 1991 to 1995 Cathy was Catering Concierge and later was promoted to Director of Catering for Isleworth Country Club in Winderemere, Florida. From 1989 to 1991 she held the position of Director of Catering for Puff-N-Stuff Catering, which was ranked among the best caterers in Orlando. Cathy is an active member of Brown’s Bridge Community Church.
Susan Segars
President
Q Communications, Inc.
Susan Segars has over 25 years of marketing and major advertising agency experience in consumer and business to business marketing communications for companies such as American Express, Martha White Foods, Sears, Equifax, ExecuTrain, Bank of America, HCA/Columbia, and Ogilvy & Mather Advertising.
Susan’s expertise lies in her ability to distill and communicate creative and distinct brand identities, with a focus on strategic business and marketing goals. Her experience includes national brand and retail marketing communications; direct, Internet and local marketing, franchise and co-op marketing; creative direction, graphic design and copywriting; media strategy and negotiation; and research.
Susan holds a degree in Advertising/Marketing/Communicative Arts from the University of Georgia.
Prior to founding Q Communications in 1999, Susan led marketing for international companies including ExecuTrain, a franchised company with 200+ locations in 25 countries. Susan also led marketing for ILC/Kinko’s, a start-up company with learning centers distributed in Kinko’s franchised and owned locations; and for American Intercontinental University (AIU), with locations in the U.S., U.K., and U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates).
Susan has been recognized for her work with a BPAA Gold Award for network TV advertising, an ADDY award for radio advertising, Adweek’s National Creative Media Award, two EFFIE Awards for measured effectiveness in advertising and the Ogilvy & Mather Advertising Orchestration Award.
