Accredited Suppliers

William (Bill) Edwards, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS), has five decades of international business expertise, guiding 40+ companies across 12 sectors in global expansion, leveraging his extensive experience living in seven countries and working on projects in over 50 nations. Bill has been a country master franchisee, a senior franchise executive and an advisor to senior franchisor executives. A global market expert, he publishes the GlobalVue™ country ranking and Geowizard newsletter. Bill’s company has earned two U.S. Presidential Awards for Export Excellence.

Keith Gerson, CFE, is a leading franchise expert with 50 years of experience helping brands sell franchises, drive revenues, and improve operational performance and franchisee engagement. As President & CEO of Gerson Advisory Services (GAS), he provides strategic guidance to franchisors worldwide. Known as a “super-connector,” Keith maintains strong relationships with top franchise CEOs, facilitating solutions for his clients. His thought leadership through webinars and the FranConnect Franchise Sales Index Report has established him as one of franchising’s leading voices.

For 18 years, Jimmy Weeks & the ISL team has helped franchise brands and agencies grow by turning complex marketing data into actionable insights. As fractional analytics coaches and a software company, we leverage software solutions to help brands optimize campaigns, improve lead management, and drive smarter decisions.

Whether taming the FranTechStack or enhancing agency performance, we empower brands with the data they need to scale efficiently.

John Francis grew up in franchising through his family’s business, The Barbers, a 1,000+ unit public company that franchised Cost Cutters, City Looks and We Care Hair. With 30+ years of experience as a franchisee, franchisor, investor and Board Member for brands like Sport Clips, Office Pride, and DivaDance, John now shares his expertise as a ZorForum Moderator, Consultant, and Speaker. His deep hands-on experience across franchise operations, mergers, and growth strategies helps organizations optimize their systems and accelerate success.

Stewart Germann, New Zealand’s leading franchising lawyer with 40+ years’ experience, has guided numerous international franchisors into NZ markets. As founder of SGL and the only NZ lawyer with CFE qualification, he’s led successful expansions for Australian and global brands. His firm has won multiple international awards and holds memberships in FANZ, FCA, IFA, and BFA. Author of NZ’s original franchise Code of Practice, recognized by FCA for “Outstanding Contribution to Franchising,” and current President of NZ Society of Notaries. Also serves as Managing Director of The Franchise Coach.