Franchise Update Magazine Issue I, 2017 | Page 14

WOMEN IN THE C-SUITE
Vanessa Fox
Title : Vice President & Chief Development Officer Brands : Jack in the Box , Qdoba Mexican Eats Years in franchising : 7 Years with current brand : 20 Franchised units : 2,170 Total units : 2,954 Brand revenue : $ 1.6 billion
Background : Vanessa Fox has been Vice President and Chief Development Officer overseeing development for Jack in the Box and Qdoba since 2014 . Her experience includes 25 years in real estate development and almost 20 years with Jack in the Box . She started with the company in 1997 as a Development Coordinator in Portland , Ore . A licensed real estate agent , she ’ s served as Lease Administrator , Senior Manager of Real Estate Assets , Director of Franchise Sales , Division Vice President of Franchise Business Development , and Vice President of the Franchise Business Development Department . She received an MBA from the University of Redlands and a bachelor ’ s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix . She has a culinary certificate from the San Diego Culinary Institute .
Vicky Garcia
Title : Chief Operating Officer & Co-owner Brand : Cruise Planners Years in franchising : 19 Years with current brand : 23 Franchised units : 1,800 + Total units : 1,800 + Brand revenue : $ 395 million
Background : Vicky Garcia is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-owner of Cruise Planners , an American Express Travel Representative . She learned the industry from the ground up starting at Royal Caribbean International , and is among the most respected women in travel . As Chief Operating Officer , she oversees the overall strategic and operational responsibility for all business development and marketing programs . She is an advocate and volunteer for many causes close to her heart . In 2012 she was named the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society ’ s Woman of the Year , Ft . Lauderdale , after raising an unprecedented $ 115,000 to support lifesaving blood cancer research and services . She has a lot of “ Cruisitude ,” a positive attitude about life and a zest for travel , and spreads it wherever she goes .
Debbie Gonzalez
Title : Chief Brand Officer Brand : Massage Envy Spa Years in franchising : 3 , this May Years with current brand : 3 , this May Franchised units : 1,160 Total units : 1,160 Brand revenue : NA
Background : Debbie Gonzalez has been Chief Brand Officer at Massage Envy Spa since May 2014 . She is responsible for leading the development and execution of brand strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the company . As such , she oversees marketing , brand development , retail , merchandising , and industry relations . She has more than two decades of marketing and retail experience . Before moving into franchising with Massage Envy , she held marketing leadership roles at Kellogg ’ s , Gerber , Herman Miller , and PetSmart — companies that all share a focus on health and well-being , two personal passions she has been able to extend to her professional passions . She received her bachelor ’ s degree from the University of San Diego and her MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management .
Alice LeBlanc
Title : Chief Quality , Supply Chain , and Commercialization Officer Brand : Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Years in franchising : 35 Years with current brand : 7 Franchised units : 2,559 Total units : 2,631 Brand revenue : $ 259 million
Background : Alice LeBlanc assumed her current position in October 2009 . Before Popeyes , she worked at Papa John ’ s International from 2006 to 2009 as Vice President , Global Strategic Supply Chain and Quality Control Center Management . She sits on the Board of Directors for Supply Management Services ( Popeyes ’ purchasing co-op ). From 1996 to 2006 she provided supply chain management support to Yum ! Brands restaurants in North America . She is involved with the National Restaurant Association Supply Executive Council , the Women ’ s Foodservice Forum , the National Minority Business Council , and is a Board Director on the Georgia Council for International Visitors . She holds a B . S . in Food Science from McGill University , is married and has two sons . In her spare time , she enjoys engaging in volunteer work with seniors .
12 Franchiseupdate ISSUE I , 2017