Franchise Brief Writers & Contributors

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Tim Katsch, CFE, is the publisher of Franchise Brief and founder of Franchise Hire, an executive search firm for franchisors. He chairs the IFA's Education Advisory Council and works as a talent strategy partner inside franchisor organizations, helping teams land priority hires by sharing the brand's story and evaluating roles with a franchise operator's mindset. He previously served as EVP for an emerging franchise brand, overseeing operations, real estate, zoning, construction, and marketing.245 Articles

Franchise Brief Editorial represents the newsroom voice of Franchise Brief. This byline is used for timely updates, press-release summaries, menu launches, leadership announcements, and short industry briefs. Each piece published under this name reflects editorial review and a commitment to accuracy, clarity, and relevance across the franchising ecosystem.133 Articles

Nate Tew is the co-founder and CEO of Keyrenter Property Management, a recession-resistant residential real estate franchise that provides a wide range of residential services including rent collection, repair, routine maintenance, and securing tenants for vacancies – all in a protected territory, typically a marketplace consisting of 25,000-30,000 single-family rentals in a 45-mile service radius. Founded in 2007 and franchising since 2014, the brand has grown to 84 franchisees representing 94 different locations across the U.S. He can be reached at nate@keyrenter.com.2 Articles

Valeriia is a tech consultant who focuses on operational excellence in the franchising space. She lives in Denver and loves anything business, technology, and outdoors.1 Articles

Munjal Patel is a former mechanical engineer who successfully transitioned into the dynamic world of franchising, owning multiple Retro Fitness locations in New Jersey. With a robust background in STEM, Munjal leverages his analytical and problem-solving expertise to thrive as a franchisee, combining his passion for fitness with his knack for strategic decision-making.1 Articles

Jim Lusardi is a senior operations executive and franchise operator with over a decade of experience scaling PE-backed and high-growth service brands across franchising, home services, and multi-unit retail. He has led operations across 10+ states, managed $26M+ P&Ls, and supported networks ranging from early-stage concepts to mature systems with hundreds of operators.1 Articles

Blake Martin owns FranNet of The Heartland, a franchise brokerage, sales, and consulting firm that provides coaching and consultation for entrepreneurs and small business owners. He’s a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Psychology Program. During his two decades in the franchising industry, Blake has provided practical advice in building franchise systems from the ground up, while helping hundreds of entrepreneurial clients become small business owners.1 Articles

Eugene Sefanov is a marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning the full go-to-market lifecycle. He has led brand, demand generation, contact-level, and field marketing initiatives, with a consistent focus on sales alignment and efficiency.1 Articles

Calvin Davis is the owner of Keyrenter Richmond Property Management of Richmond, VA, a residential real estate franchise that provides a wide range of tenant-facing property management services, including leasing assistance, tenant placement, coordinating maintenance and repairs, filling vacancies, rent collection, and day-to-day property management support. Backed by proven systems and a commitment to highly personalized service at the local level, Keyrenter Richmond provides seamless turnkey services that reduce the stressors typically associated with residential property management. To date, the company handles property management duties for over 300 single-family rental units in central Virginia.1 Articles

Gretchen Johnson is a Franchise Business Development professional at Top 2 Bottom Business Solutions, where she partners with franchisors to develop standardized bookkeeping procedures for their franchisees. By creating consistent financial reporting systems, she enables accurate analysis, actionable insights, and scalable unit growth across franchise networks. With a strong background in consultative sales and strategic support, Gretchen is passionate about helping brands strengthen their infrastructure and grow with confidence.1 Articles