ABOUT USFranchiseRight Staff
Fred Kriss
Fred Kriss is the Founder and chief architect of FranchiseRight -- the proprietary methodology he developed for creating best-of-class franchise systems. In addition, he is the lead investor in start-up franchises developed in partnership with FranchiseRight. With more than 30 years of business and marketing experience, he has developed investment-grade business plans and comprehensive franchise programs in more than 25 market verticals, successfully launched more than 50 start-up companies and served as Chief Operating Officer of several of the start-up franchise companies he developed.
A member of the country’s most active angel investor networks, including the Keiretsu Forum, Fred travels extensively to identify potential franchise concepts as well as like-minded angels who will co-invest in FranchiseRight-managed projects. He also pursues a busy schedule as a keynote speaker and franchise seminar leader and is currently writing the definitive book on the subject, “Franchising Your Business, The New Wealth Strategy.”
Fred formerly served as the Chief Operating Officer of Explorations Franchise Group, Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Gold Coast Venture Capital Associationand The Technology, Enterprise, and Development Center (Florida’s leading business incubator) and a past-president of The Treasure Coast Venture Capital Forum (currently Angel Investors Association of Florida).
Fred holds a patent in the construction industry and is a Florida licensed general contractor. A multiple academic scholarship winner, Fred received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University’s School of Communications.
Gordon A. Hasse, Jr.
Gordon Hasse is FranchiseRight’s Chief Strategist. As such, he is responsible for researching and analyzing the vertical markets in which our clients compete, suggesting optimum positionings for their start-up franchises and guiding their advertising and marketing programs. During more than 30 years of experience at New York City advertising agencies Gordon provided both account management and creative services to a long list of blue chip, Fortune 100 clients including AT&T, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Chase and Kraft.
A published writer, award-winning Creative Director and frequent speaker, Gordon is a Duke University graduate in English literature and a Wharton Marketing MBA.
Kathy Thomas
Education Coaching Director Kathy Thomas is responsible for the recruitment, screening, selection and deployment of the leadership training coaches utilized by FranchiseRight. Kathy brings to FranchiseRight more than 30 years of organizational development experience in education, business, and nonprofit sectors, both here and abroad. Her proven methods of business and personal coaching and training empower our clients to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of their success. As a result, they discover their hidden potential, and develop leadership effectiveness capable of transforming organizations into healthy, growing and dynamic enterprises. Kathy holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership and has worked extensively in the related areas of teambuilding, strategic planning, process improvement and program design. Kathy is also the founder of Legacy Leaders International, a non-profit program to mentor entrepreneurs, which is supported in part by FranchiseRight.
Keith Kanouse, Jr.
Keith serves as the Director of Business Development for FranchiseRight. In this capacity, he is responsible for the development and management of new business accounts for the company. He also works closely with the FranchiseRight Marketing Department to provide entrepreneurs with the latest information on how FranchiseRight can assist them. Keith has nearly a decade of experience in Business Systems Consulting with Fortune 500 organizations and in Business Development within the Technology Staffing organization. His background in both technology and sales ideally suit him to engage potential 21st century clients. Keith holds a Bachelor of Science in Decision and Informational Science from the University of Florida and is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor degree, specializing in franchise law, at Barry University. Keith recently assisted Barry University Law Professor Marvin Rooks in completing the first law school textbook for Franchise Law.
Patrick Donnally
Patrick Donnally, President of a Performance Management consulting firm, serves as Director of the FranchiseRight Certification Program. In that capacity, he is responsible for designing and administering the five-step program that determines whether entrepreneurs and their franchise business prototypes qualify for FranchiseRight Certification and entry into the FranchiseRight Incubator.
Patrick has held the top Quality Management position in three major U.S. corporations and, as a Performance Management consultant and educator, worked directly with and for worldwide leaders including Philip B. Crosby, Dr. Armand V. Feigenbaum and, Dr. H. James Harrington. A frequent speaker at professional conferences and meetings, Patrick is a Senior Member of the American Society for Quality, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Examiner, a Florida Governor’s Sterling Award Examiner, a Six Sigma Master Degree Black Belt and a member of the Faculty of the University of Phoenix.
Patrick holds both Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA from Rollins College where he graduated #1 in his class.