Jim McKenna

President

McKenna Associates, Corp.

52 Crestview Road, Milton, MA  02186

(617) 333-4967

jmckenna@mckennaassociatescorp.com

Jim McKenna is the founder and President of McKenna Associates, Corp., a business consulting and domestic and international franchise advisory firm.  Jim consults with companies on the appropriateness of franchising, both domestic and international, as a business strategy to achieve their goals and in the design and development of their franchise systems.  He assists established franchisors, multi-unit companies and multi-branded companies in strategic and tactical planning, headquarters and field support systems, manuals and training programs, marketing and expansion strategies, franchisee relations, purchasing co-ops, advisory councils, crisis management, expert witness, litigation support, and the strategic restructuring of franchise systems.  He has over 25 years of experience as either a senior executive with major franchise companies or consultant in the retail, restaurant, hospitality, petroleum, and service industries. 

Currently, Jim is working with several clients in the restaurant industry while also acting as Chief Development Officer for Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine, a seven unit Manhattan fast casual concept.

Last year Jim taught the Franchise course at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at UNH, as a visiting Adjunct Professor of Business.

Recently he completed a thirty month contract as Executive Vice President of Honey Dew Associates, Inc., the franchisor of Honey Dew Donuts shops.  At Honey Dew he created a professional management approach for this thirty one year old, privately held company including a new strategic plan, corporate reorganization, new brand image and shop design, franchisee advisory council, franchisee purchasing co-op, revamped marketing and advertising strategy, new product program, new equipment introductions, sales compliance program, public relations campaigns, market development plan, franchisee recruitment and screening system, and a customer satisfaction program. 

Jim served as a senior executive with Allied Domecq QSR for over 15 years.  There he is credited with helping to develop the growth strategy that expanded the chain from a regional donut franchise to an international multi-concept brand.  He excelled at leading new initiatives in operations, site selection techniques, market development, product introductions, menu changes, franchisee screening tools, franchisee recruitment techniques, conflict resolution, and franchisee/franchisor relations.  A consistently creative sales and profit builder.

Upon leaving ADQSR, Jim began McKenna Associates, Corp. a franchise consulting firm that provided advice, guidance and training to franchisors.  He also founded and operated its subsidiary, The Franchise Real Estate Institute, which provided training and consulting in market planning, site selection and encroachment issues.   This division was sold to a group of professors and GIS data providers in 2002.

Jim has been published in several industry periodicals and is often quoted in the major business press including extended radio and television interviews.  He is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at industry events and universities around the country.  He is a contributing editor for the #1 all time best selling book on franchising - Franchising for Dummies.  As a member of the Advisory Board of the William Rosenberg International Franchise Center, a specialized center at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore business school that advances franchising through relevant research and innovative teaching, Jim stays in tune with the best current academic work on franchising.  Jim has created and is an instructor of Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) accredited classes for the International Franchise Association Education Foundation.

• International Franchise Association Supplier Forum
• New England Franchise Business Network
• American Bar Association; Franchise Forum
• International Council of Shopping Center Developers
• Whittemore School of Business, Rosenberg Center, Board of Advisors
• Cornell University, Restaurant Strategy for Profitability
• Harvard Business School, Strategy; Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage