WHERE FRANCHISOR CMOS, BRAND LEADERS AND THEIR TEAMS TURN STRATEGY INTO PROFITABLE UNIT- LEVEL GROWTH
Lots
of changes to this brand new conference...It’s going to be roundtabling, workshopping, and really digging into the problems and the opportunities that we have as franchise owners that are responsible for our franchisees’ profitability.”
Kristen Pechacek President & CEO | MassageLuXe
Franchise marketers face a new reality. Customer acquisition costs are rising, AI is reshaping expectations, and marketing technology is becoming more expensive and complex. At the same time, franchisees are demanding clearer ROI from brand marketing, and corporate strategy doesn’t always translate into unit-level profit.
To address these changes, we created the new Franchise Growth and Marketing Conference (FGMC).
FGMC brings together marketing leaders responsible for driving demand, growth and profitability across franchise systems, from the C-suite to the team supporting brand development, local execution and customer experience across locations.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
JAMIE SIMINOFF
American entrepreneur, founder of the smart home and home security company Ring Inc.
A lifelong inventor and mission-driven entrepreneur, Jamie Siminoff created the world’s first Wi-Fi video doorbell while working in his garage in 2011. That doorbell has since transformed into Ring, the whole-home security powerhouse that was acquired by Amazon in 2018 for over $1b.
Prior to Ring, Jamie founded and sold several successful ventures, including PhoneTag, the world’s first voicemail-to-text company. Today Jamie focuses on a multitude of ventures through Shark Lake Explorations, his family office.
Jamie holds his Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship from Babson College. When he’s not working, Jamie enjoys spending time with his wife, son and two dogs Pancake and Biscuit.
MICHAEL KOCH
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of HubKonnect
Michael Koch is one of the most sought-after minds in Artificial Intelligence and the driving force behind the next evolution of retail technology. He is redefining how global brands deploy hyperlocal marketing through AI-powered precision, speed and scale.
A true pioneer of AI, Michael has built a career turning bold ideas into highperformance platforms that shape the future. His leadership fuses visionary thinking with elite execution, enabling rapid scale across complex enterprise ecosystems.
Michael founded and exited four successful tech companies. His teams have delivered cutting-edge solutions in 79 countries and fueled growth for hundreds of thousands of locations worldwide.
At HubKonnect, Michael is building more than a platform, he’s building the new category of Hyperlocal Intelligence in retail. Recognized as a top leader in AI, he continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in technology, AI ethics and global impact.
CHAIR LETTER
SHANA
KRISAN, CFE
FGMC CHAIR
Chief Marketing Officer
Goldfish Swim School Franchising
Dear Franchise Leaders, Partners and Friends,
I am truly excited to invite you to the new Franchise Growth & Marketing Conference (FGMC).
If you’ve been part of this community before, you’ll feel the shift right away. And if this is your first time, there has never been a more important moment to join us. Because this isn’t just a new name, it’s a reflection of what’s happening in our industry, and what our industry is demanding from all of us.
Growing a franchise brand today is more complex than ever. Customer acquisition costs are rising. Consumers are more informed, more selective and less loyal. AI is reshaping expectations faster than most teams can adapt. And the world around us — economic pressure, competition and other external forces — is influencing behavior in ways we don’t fully control. At the same time, franchisees are asking the question that matters most: “Is this driving real results for my business?”
That’s why marketing is now front and center in this conference. Because marketing is not just about “look and feel,” it’s about growth. It’s how we create awareness and demand, convert it, support franchisees locally, and connect the dollars we spend to measurable performance at the unit level. But marketing isn’t in this alone. Real growth only happens when marketing, operations, technology, leadership, franchisees and partners are aligned and working toward the same outcome. That belief is at the core of FGMC.
At this year’s conference, you’ll gain practical insights across AI, MarTech, data-driven growth, unit-level economics, consumer value and loyalty, and leadership. You’ll hear what’s actually working, connect with peers facing the same challenges, and leave with ideas you can put into action.
This is also a conference built for teams — because alignment doesn’t happen when one person hears one part of the story. It happens when teams leave aligned and ready to execute. I believe strongly in what this conference represents — a more connected, accountable and results-driven approach to growth.
So I’m hoping you will join me in Atlanta June 2-4 to engage, challenge your thinking and connect. Because in today’s environment, growth doesn’t just happen, we build it together.
I look forward to seeing you at FGMC. With appreciation and excitement,
SHOULD YOU ATTEND FGMC26?
The Franchise Growth & Marketing Conference is designed for the executives and teams responsible for turning brand strategy into unit-level revenue, stronger same-store sales and greater franchisee profitability.
If your role touches customer acquisition, brand growth, digital marketing, local marketing performance, technology or the systems that support franchisee success, this conference will give you the insights, strategies and connections to accelerate results across your network.
FRANCHISE MARKETING LEADERS & GROWTH TEAMS
If your job is to turn marketing strategy into unit-level revenue and franchisee profitability, this is your conference.
FGMC brings together the franchisors, marketers and innovators redefining how brands attract customers, convert demand and drive measurable top-line growth across the network.
You’ll leave with new strategies, technologies and ideas to improve local marketing performance and deliver real results for franchisees.
BRAND & GROWTH EXECUTIVES
If you are responsible for growing the brand—whether through marketing, digital strategy, customer experience or revenue leadership—FGMC will expose you to the most innovative thinking in franchise growth today.
Learn how the most successful brands are:
• Driving customer demand at scale
• Empowering franchisees with smarter local marketing
• Leveraging technology to increase conversion
• Building teams focused on measurable growth
Today, it’s all about growth, growth on the revenue line and also the bottom line. Marketing’s ever changing, so now more than ever, I think it’s so important to attend this wonderful conference.”
Clarissa Bradstock CEO Any Lab Test Now
EMERGING FRANCHISORS
For emerging brands, the decisions you make today about marketing, technology and franchisee support will determine your ability to scale.
FGMC brings together emerging franchisors and leaders from mature brands to share the systems, strategies and lessons that drive faster expansion and stronger unit-level economics.
If you are responsible for network growth and franchisee profitability, FGMC will help you see what the next generation of franchise growth leadership looks like.
You’ll gain insights into the strategies, systems and technologies that the most innovative franchisors are using to drive revenue growth across their networks.
WHAT MAKES FGMC DIFFERENT?
BUILT FROM THE UNIT P&L UP
Our content starts with unit-level economics and works back through marketing spend, the MarTech stack and customer execution to show exactly how more demand is created and measured at the location level.
REAL WORLD EXPERTISE, NOT THEORY
It starts with our featured keynote speaker, Jamie Siminoff, entrepreneur and inventor of Ring, the smart doorbell company he famously pitched on Shark Tank before selling to Amazon. Siminoff recently joined Amazon, leading AI product innovation for the Ring and Blink product lines. If you’re interested in a unique inspiring story of innovation, overcoming obstacles, scaling a brand and where AI technology is headed – this is a session you can’t miss.
NO LECTURES, JUST IMPACT
We’re bringing you Four Growth Pathways to power your brand, focused on AI, MarTech and Data-Driven Growth, Mastering Unit-Level Economics, Driving Consumer Value and Loyalty and Leading for Results. Follow a Growth Pathway or choose your own sessions to get what you need today to solve tomorrow’s challenges.
Key Session Topics:
• Modern MarTech Design
• The Growth Suite: Designing Leadership, Talent, and Organizations for Data and AI-Driven Franchise Performance
• Location-Level Economics in Practice
• Value-Driven Loyalty in a Fragmented World
• CEO Summit – exclusive half-day program for CEOs, Presidents and Founders
SUPPLIER INNOVATION FRONT & CENTER
Case studies, benchmarking data and cutting-edge innovation from a curated group of franchisor supplier thought leaders in TED style co presentations with franchisors about real results—building traffic, optimizing marketing spend, leveraging technology and driving profitable new products and services. You’ll learn what’s actually driving profitable growth, not a sales pitch.
GET IT ALL – AT TEAM FRIENDLY RATES
CMOs, VPs, Directors, field marketing, CRM/loyalty and MarTech leaders can learn, connect and grow together – and return home ready to make big things happen. Take advantage of our Buy 2 Get 1 Free registration discount only available through Monday, May 4 so ACT NOW!
CONTENT PATHWAYS
We’re bringing you Four Growth Pathways to power your brand, and help you gain learning and ideas you won’t find at any other conference. Focused on AI, MarTech and Data-Driven Growth, Mastering UnitLevel Economics, Driving Consumer Value and Loyalty, and Leading for Results, these pathways connect you with information, ideas and resources to help drive improved results for your brand. Follow a Growth Pathway or choose your own sessions to get what you need today to solve tomorrow’s challenges.
PATHWAY 1: DRIVING STORE LEVEL RESULTS
This pathway is for leaders who see marketing as the engine that brings in guests, grows tickets and drives profit in every location. It’s all about turning bigbrand strategy into local wins, giving franchisees the data and coaching they need, and building simple playbooks that get used in the field. You’ll see sessions on location-level excellence, hands-on LSM workshops, turning dashboards into action, field coaching in the real world and “location economics labs” where teams roll up their sleeves to diagnose underperformance and rebuild the marketing and CX plan for actual franchise locations.
PATHWAY 2: WINNING TODAY’S VALUE DRIVEN GUEST
This track digs into how today’s value conscious, unevenly recovering (“K shaped”) consumers decide where to visit, what makes them stick and how much they spend—and what that means for your loyalty, offers and guest experience. You’ll explore Today’s Loyalty, moving beyond points to real relationships, plus experience led growth when every dollar is scrutinized and personalization that shows up everywhere: in your apps, in store and through emerging AI shopping agents. Sessions break down real omnichannel journeys for franchise brands and show how to turn loyalty and CX data into sharper offers and smarter location-level operations while still protecting margin.
PATHWAY 3: MARTECH, AI & DATA THAT ACTUALLY DRIVES GROWTH
This track treats MarTech, AI and data as your marketing operating system—not a shiny object tools fair. It’s about real AI embedded marketing, what a modern 2026 franchise MarTech stack should look like, and how first party data and identity become the new backbone of your P&L. Attendees will see GenAI in action for creative, media and analytics; always on automated journeys that franchisees can flip on without breaking anything; and AI “co pilots” that help franchisees and field teams with local media, offers and SOPs—wrapped in governance and measurement that real brands can live with.
PATHWAY 4: LEADING THE MODERN FRANCHISE MARKETING ORG
Built for CEOs, CMOs, COOs and senior leaders, this track is about how to design and lead a modern franchise marketing engine that actually delivers growth. You’ll dig into the CMO as growth architect, org design for data and AI driven marketing, and where MarTech, data, CX and field enablement should really sit. We’ll unpack how to upskill marketers for AI and analytics, build a true test and learn culture, and structure incentives and governance so marketing earns the right to own more of the customer and unit level P&L. Closed door C-suite forums will get candid about PE expectations, profit pressure and what to do when unit performance is all over the map.
Bring a fresh notepad and pen – you’ll want to take notes!
AGENDA AT A GLANCE
Monday, June 1
Pre-Conference CFE Workshop
1:00PM – 5:00PM Put Your Dream to the Test
Additional Fee Applies. $499 IFA Members / $699 Non-Members. 4 CFE Live Credits
Tuesday, June 2 Full Conference
8:00AM – 9:00AM Breakfast & Open Networking
8:00AM – 9:00AM Meet Your Match – Sponsor Service Conversations
Concurrent Content Pathways
9:00AM – 10:15AM
Pathway 1:
Driving Location-Level Results
Content Pathways are curated learning journeys designed to guide attendees through the topics and skills that matter most to them. Each pathway connects workshops, breakout sessions and discussions around a common theme— helping participants dive deeper, build expertise and explore subjects in a structured yet flexible way.
Pathway 2:
Understanding the Ad Fund: Explore how your system-wide advertising fund is structured, spent, governed and measured so you can confidently evaluate ROI, ask better questions and align brand-level marketing with your local goals.
10:15AM – 10:30AM Break
Winning Today’s Value-Driven Guest Value-Driven Loyalty in a Fragmented World: Designing relationship-based programs and full-funnel journeys that turn price-sensitive consumers into high-value, multi-tier loyalists.
10:30AM - 11:45AM Content Pathways
Pathway 1:
Driving Location-Level Results
Build a Campaign Strategy that Delivers Results: Building a connected 12 month campaign strategy and a 90 day Diagnose › Discover › Plan › Prioritize playbook anchored to unit level economics (ULE) and key performance indicators (KPI).
Pathway 2:
Winning Today’s Value-Driven Guest From Data to Action: Turning CX and loyalty data into local operational improvements, “value innovation” around offers and margin, and transparent insights franchisees trust.
Pathway 3:
MarTech, AI & Data That Actually Drives Growth Data, Dashboards, and Always-On Journeys: Building the data foundations and governance that turn fragmented reporting into always on customer journeys and profitable unit level growth.
Pathway 4:
Leading the Modern Franchise Marketing Org
CEO Summit (Half Day - exclusive to Franchisor CEOs, Presidents and Founders)
Pathway 3: MarTech, AI & Data That Actually Drives Growth Innovation, Partners and Proving ROI –Creating a MarTech innovation engine that tests and scales new tools, makes smarter platform and vendor bets and showcases case driven results franchisees believe in.
Pathway 4:
Leading the Modern Franchise Marketing Org
CEO Summit Continues (Half Day - exclusive to Franchisor CEOs, Presidents and Founders)
11:45AM - 1:00PM Lunch, Open Networking and Partner Success Spotlight - Supplier/Franchisor Case Study Presentations
Opening General Session Chair Welcome – Shana Krisan, CMO, Goldfish Swim School
1:00PM - 2:30PM
2:30PM – 2:45PM Break
«Michael Koch, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of HubKonnect
2:45PM - 4:00PM Content Pathways
Pathway 1:
Driving Location-Level Results
Unit-Level Economics in Practice:
Moving from return on ad spend (ROAS) to profit based, P&L linked KPIs and designing pilots that scale from test markets to systemwide wins.
Pathway 2:
Winning Today’s Value-Driven Guest Sales and Conversion Engines that Close the Loop: Call-center strategies, automation assist and practical email/ SMS/chat/remarketing that track through to repeat visits and referrals.
Pathway 3:
MarTech, AI & Data That Actually Drives Growth
Modern MarTech Stack Design: Defining what’s core, what’s experimental and what to cut in your 2026 stack, with practical guardrails for budget, integration and franchisee usability.
Pathway 4:
Leading the Modern Franchise Marketing Org
CMO Summit: Marketing ROI, Culture and Financial Acumen from Franchisee to PE Sponsor
How leaders scale cultural and operational consistency, elevate franchisee financial acumen and tell a compelling ROI story to franchisees, boards and private equity.
4:15PM - 4:35PM Current Economic Landscape & the Impact on Franchisee Profitability - Darrell Johnson, CEO, FRANdata
4:35PM - 5:00PM The New Value-Driven Consumer & Today’s Loyalty
5:00PM – 7:00PM Opening Reception in Networking Area – Supplier-Sponsored Tables Open
8:10AM - 8:40AM Brand CMO - Building a Program That Drives Franchisee Profitability
8:40AM - 9:40AM «Jamie Siminoff, American entrepreneur, founder of smart home and home security company Ring Inc.
9:40AM - 10:10AM Networking Coffee Break
10:10AM - 11:40AM Innovator of the Year Finalist Presentations
11:40AM - 11:55AM AFMR Presentation & Results
11:55AM – 12:15PM Lunch Break & Networking
12:15PM – 1:00PM Partner Success Spotlight - Supplier/Franchisor Case Study Presentations
1:00PM – 1:45PM Presentation of the 2026 Innovation Awards
1:45PM – 3:15PM Content Pathways
Pathway 1:
Driving Location-Level Results
One Brand, Many Markets: Building campaigns that flex for every system stage and market size, using creative franchisees actually adopt and local first storytelling that fuels community and regional outperformance for driving profitable franchisee growth as well as franchise brand growth.
Pathway 2: Winning Today’s Value-Driven Guest Omnichannel CX Playbooks for Franchises: Connecting web, app, third-party and in-location customer experiences with aligned messaging, offers and service that franchisees can execute.
Pathway 3: MarTech, AI & Data That Actually Drives Growth AI in the Field and at Scale: Deploying AI copilots for local content, lead gen and operations while using GenAI to scale creative, media and personalization without breaking brand standards.
Pathway 4:
Leading the Modern Franchise Marketing Org
The Growth Marketing Suite: Designing Leadership, Talent and Orgs for Data and AI Driven Franchise PerformanceCMO level conversations on organization design, next gen CMO skills and cross functional integration across marketing, ops, finance, tech and development to drive world class unit economics.
5:00PM – 7:00PM Cocktail Reception in Networking Area – Supplier-Sponsored Tables Open Thursday, June 4 Closing Sessions
8:30AM - 9:00AM Breakfast
9:00AM – 10:30AM Closing Pathways
Field-Ready Local Marketing: Create on-the-ground action with a practical local store marketing strategy, a clear location-based playbook, and proven ways to earn real franchisee buy-in .
10:30AM Conference Concludes
Structure Your Marketing Team to Support Platform Brands: Learn how to organize roles, processes and resources within your marketing team so they can efficiently build, manage and grow multiple platform brands under one cohesive strategy.
THANK YOU SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSOR
PARTNER SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR
BRAND SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
INNOVATION AWARDS PRESENTATION SPONSOR
*as of publication time
SILVER SPONSORS
ActiveCampaign HQ
American Solutions for Business
Bonfire
ChoiceLocal
Clayton Kendall
FranchiseFilming
Imaginuity
JOC Analytics
LANYARD SPONSOR
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LocaliQ
LT.agency
ProfitKeeper by PrimePay
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Flint Direct COFFEE SPONSOR
Adplorer
HANDBOOK SPONSOR
ActiveCampaign HQ
REGISTRATION SPONSOR
ClientTether
AGENDA AT A GLANCE SPONSOR
AlphaGraphics National Programs
HOSPITALITY SPONSORS
Franchise Ramp
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PRESENTATION RESOURCE SPONSOR
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NOTEPAD SPONSOR
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BRONZE SPONSORS
Arkadas Group
ClickTecs
Enspire for Enterprise
Flamel
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Ticket
Type Policies
Please visit the conference website for all registration policies.
Substitutions
We are happy to accommodate substitutions up until 2 business days prior to the event, May 29, 2026. Substitutions will NOT be allowed on-site. Please email sponsors@franchiseupdatemedia.com for assistance.
Refunds & Cancellations
The special rate of 3 registrations for the price of 2 registrations is a package rate. If any one of the 2 registered attendees cancels this package, there will be no refunds. Any of the 2 registrations can be swapped for another person, under the same brand, up to 2 business days prior to the event.
Please provide cancellations to Franchise Update Media by FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026 to sponsors@franchiseupdatemedia.com . Your registration fee will be refunded, less a $100 PROCESSING FEE PER PERSON . After May 15, 2026, no refunds or credits will be issued.
We reserve the right to cancel any registrations that do not abide by our policies.
*Your FGMC registration includes a free subscription to Franchise Update Magazine , The Annual Franchise Marketing Report eNewsletter and other related information.
I am so excited about the Franchise Growth & Marketing Conference. Bringing all the best minds of marketing back together, focusing on revenue growth, focusing on profitability. We have the best of the best.”
Susan Boresow President | My
Salon
Suite
WELCOME TO THE INTERCONTINENTAL BUCKHEAD HOTEL
The 2026 Franchise Growth & Marketing Conference will return to Atlanta at the InterContinental Buckhead Hotel to accommodate the growing interest in customer experience and its role in franchise system growth.
ROOM BLOCK EXPIRES - May 11, 2026 SPECIAL ROOM RATE – $239 PER NIGHT
Please note that we DO NOT work with third-party room brokers. Click Here to Book!
