Mentors: ISSUE MANAGEMENT
Summary of Qualifications In Tom Lawrence’s forty-year entrepreneurial career, he has progressed from owner of a Valpack franchise, to President of the Valpak Dealers’ Association, to VP of franchise operations for Valpack. As founder and CEO of Richmond-based FranNet, Tom makes time to consult, teach, and speak at the Small Business Development Center, the SBA, and SCORE. He enjoys putting his experience to use helping others who wish to start their own business. Tom began his entrepreneurial career in 1975 with the purchase of Valpak of Virginia. Initially specializing in direct sales, in 1981, he became President and the sole owner of that business. Valpak of Virginia was repeatedly ranked in the top 5% of the over 200 Valpak franchises. In 1987, Tom was elected President of the Valpak Dealers’ Association and served three terms in this position. In this role (held concurrently with ownership of his own franchise), Tom represented, to the franchisor, the interest of all Valpak franchisees, heading policy-making and marketing committees and was the chief adjudicator of intra-franchise disputes. In 1991, Tom sold the Valpak of Virginia franchise and was hired by Cox Enterprises, the corporate parent of Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc. His new role involved the design and implementation of Valpak’s first Field Support program and involvement in the recruiting of potential franchisees. In 1994, he was promoted to Vice President of Franchise Operations. In this position, he retained responsibility for field support, had increased involvement in franchisee recruiting and was given management responsibility for Valpak’s five franchisor-owned operations. Additionally, he assumed responsibility for designing training programs for new franchisees as well as...
Summary of Qualifications Jeff is a founder of Kelley Communications and has helped companies large and startup with communications guidance, issues management, and public relations strategy. A former business reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jeff Kelley has worked in PR and digital agencies. Prior to starting his own communications group, he served as director of marketing and public relations for Health Diagnostic Laboratory, a national cardiac lab in downtown Richmond. He has a particular interest in media and public relations, content development and digital strategy, and crisis and reputation management. He regularly contributes to the city’s Grid magazine, and can probably found on or in the James River, with his family, or firing up a charcoal grill. Ready to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
