The Fransmart Team
We bring decades of experience to provide you with the tools you’ll need to succeed.
FOUNDER & CEO
Dan Rowe
Dan Rowe specializes in finding the next big thing and for over 20 years has identified and grown brands like Five Guys Burgers & Fries, QDOBA Mexican Grill and The Halal Guys from small unit businesses to the powerhouse chains they are today. Under Dan Rowe’s direction, Fransmart’s current and past franchise development portfolio brands have opened more than 5,000 restaurants worldwide, and facilitated franchise investments that have cumulatively generated over 1-billion in revenues to date. Dan is Co-Managing Partner at The Kitchen Fund and FranInvest, which have invested in Sweetgreen, Cava, by Chloe, Inday, eegee’s, to name just a few, and is an active board member of YPO and the National Restaurant Association.
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
Al Rowe
As Vice President of Sales for Fransmart based in our Newport Beach, CA office, Al Rowe matches qualified franchise candidates with innovative franchise opportunities. Al also manages and mentors a team of franchise development directors, and partners closely with our portfolio brands on their expansion goals. Mr. Rowe specializes in international franchise development, and has spearheaded the growth of multiple US-based chains in high-growth international markets. Al has been with Fransmart since 2003.
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
Bernice Hamm
As the Financial Controller, Bernice is responsible for the corporate finance, tax and risk management, and the day-to-day financial operations. She joined the Fransmart team in October 2016 and has more than 20 years of experience in accounting, financial analysis, corporate compliance, HR and operations.
Prior to joining Fransmart, Bernice held senior finance positions working within corporate, legal and non-profit sectors. While in past positions she specialized in the supervision of both the accounting and operational staff. Her responsibilities also included overseeing internal controls, setting financial targets, developing financial strategies as well as monitoring expenditures.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Jolly Khabrani
Jolly has been with Fransmart as a Director of Development for 9 years, based in our Newport Beach office. Jolly is passionate about the restaurant industry, and is always on the lookout for emerging trends and brands. Fransmart’s headquarters in Orange County, CA is a hotbed for new brand development, and Jolly has been instrumental in the growth of several local brands, including Cauldron Ice Cream, Zpizza, and Pokeatery. Jolly has background experience in management and customer service, and she also served as an account executive in the pharmaceutical industry.
FRANSMART DEVELOPER
John Moates
John Moates has worked with fast-casual restaurants for over 15 years as a founder, multi-unit restaurant owner, and emerging brand advisor. Since 2014, he’s had the opportunity to work with several great Fransmart brands and teams across the country. John is passionate about matching the right teams with great business opportunities and companies that have dynamic cultures. His long-term goal is to build family and generational wealth for his franchisors and franchisees.
DIRECTOR OF ADMIN SYSTEMS
Rebekah Hester
As Portfolio Director, Rebekah works closely with our brands to manage a successful and productive relationship between each brand and Fransmart. She serves as our primary point of contact for brands, having years of experience managing large brands and has been vital in their growth. Rebekah is also an experienced administrator and has a strong background in IT and office management.
STRATEGIC ADVISOR
David McClaskey
For over 45 years, David McClaskey has helped thousands of leaders take their businesses from ordinary to extraordinary operations. Operating at extraordinary levels enables businesses to make more money with less hassle by using proven operation excellence practices from leading businesses. David helps leaders as an executive coach, trainer, consultant, conference presenter, and Baldrige expert. He has worked with the executives of just about every type of company. His specialty is helping companies make their operations excellence.
Since 2000, David has served as President of McClaskey Excellence Institute (formerly Pal’s Business Excellence Institute). He is one of the few individuals to assist seven companies in winning eight Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards, including the only two restaurants that have ever won, and organizations such as The Ritz-Carlton, twice. He also assisted Florida Power and Light to be the first non-Japanese company to win the Deming Prize.
Since 2000, David has served as President of McClaskey Excellence Institute (formerly Pal’s Business Excellence Institute). He is one of the few individuals to assist seven companies in winning eight Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards, including the only two restaurants that have ever won, and organizations such as The Ritz-Carlton, twice. He also assisted Florida Power and Light to be the first non-Japanese company to win the Deming Prize.
BOARD MEMBER
Joe Essa
Joseph “Joe” C. Essa serves as President & CEO of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, helping to execute a vision and prepare the group for the years to come. A leading restaurant and hospitality professional, Essa brings extensive experience in directing and building global restaurant and related consumer product brands, including most recently, as President, CEO & Board Member of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide. Prior to that, he served as vice president of operations at TOSCORP, a Manhattan-based, fine-dining Italian restaurant group. Essa’s culinary experience also includes opening and operating two of his own restaurants: Assaggio in West Hartford, CT and Café Pasta in Greensboro, NC.
For the past decade, Essa has served on the Board of Directors for the National Restaurant Association with roles as Treasurer and Vice Chair. In 2019, he was named its Chair. A Certified Public Accountant, Essa graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance.
For the past decade, Essa has served on the Board of Directors for the National Restaurant Association with roles as Treasurer and Vice Chair. In 2019, he was named its Chair. A Certified Public Accountant, Essa graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance.
BOARD MEMBER
John Oswald
John Oswald is the President and CEO of the Capital Trust Group, an international merchant/investment bank with offices in London, Washington, D.C., Dubai and Beirut. He is responsible for the U.S. operations of the Group and its worldwide investment banking operations. Mr. Oswald has also managed an extensive portfolio of real estate, comprised of office/retail space, primarily in suburban areas, in the U.S, Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Oswald is also the Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of Agrisecura Partners, a company formed to invest in ethical solutions for food security, and is the Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of SecuraCapital, an advisory firm that advises clients in strategic capital rising.
Mr. Oswald has served as a director of numerous public and private corporations and holds directorships in companies in the Group’s investment portfolio. He has also served as an Executive Chairman and/or CEO of several companies in the Group’s portfolio. He has invested and served in advisory positions in numerous restaurant concepts during his career.
Mr. Oswald has served as a director of numerous public and private corporations and holds directorships in companies in the Group’s investment portfolio. He has also served as an Executive Chairman and/or CEO of several companies in the Group’s portfolio. He has invested and served in advisory positions in numerous restaurant concepts during his career.