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Feeding Young Entrepreneurial Minds & Businesses Plans Entrepreneurs come to the Shrimp Tank to compete for funding to grow their dreams.
Hosts of The Shrimp Tank Chris Hanks and Ted Jenkin Executive Producer Lee Heisman
Ted Jenkin, John Barber, Chris Hanks
John Barber / SpeedPro Imaging
John T. Barber Biography Franchise Development, General Management Executive, Entrepreneur A proven executive, Mr. Barber has a diverse background in strategic management, sales and franchise development, acquisitions, and organizational leadership. He began his career with The Procter and Gamble Distributing Company, gaining a solid foundation in disciplined sales techniques, execution of existing and new product management, managing key accounts, and motivating sales teams. He quickly advanced to Unit Sales Manager in one of the largest retail markets in the United States. (1982-1985)
Recruited by the Pepsi-Cola Company, he progressed on a fast-track progression through increasingly responsible sales, business development, and leadership roles in both the retail and food service industries over a fourteen year period. As a Market Unit General Manager, Mr. Barber managed all aspects of sales and operations in union and non union facilities, where he positioned the organization as a gold standard operation in the U.S. While at Pepsi Cola’s North American headquarters in New York, as Vice President of Marketing Equipment Management for the United States and Canada, he led an organization of 3000 employees, improving productivity by double digits, with annual cash flow responsibility of $1.5 Billion USD. (1985-1998)
Mr. Barber was recruited by the Manitowoc Company to form a new operating division created through acquisition. As Executive Vice President and General Manager, with full financial responsibility for Manitowoc Beverage Systems, Inc, he was challenged with completing the acquisition, assimilation and roll-up of formerly entrepreneurial organizations into a common corporate sales/technology/distribution platform, while maintaining full customer service and product distribution integrity. The Company exceeded $100 million in year 1 revenue (1998- 2000)
He then joined a technology start up company with a suite of POS-based wireless transaction payment solutions for the food service, vending, and retail segments. As Chief Operating Officer of Wirca Inc, the scope of responsibilities included establishment of operating infrastructure, business development, partnership opportunities, recruiting, and active participation in the capital raise process. He was challenged with gaining market share for technically advanced products in development with high commercialization costs, during capital market decline. (2001-2003)
As the capital markets declined, Mr. Barber was hired as the Vice President of Member Development and Member Services for Foodbuy LLC, a Foodservice Group Purchasing Organization and operating division of the Compass Group PLC in London. His responsibilities included leading the team in all aspects of member management including business development, staffing, member relations, opportunity analysis, and negotiating member agreements. During his tenure with Foodbuy, the represented purchasing volume doubled to $1.4 Billion USD by adding new members and organically growing the existing client base. (2003-2006)
In 2006, he joined Hot Stuff Foods, a prior business partner, who had just completed a management led buyout in partnership with business development corporation Allied Capital. Mr. Barber’s first assignment as Executive Vice President of Development was to build a high performing franchise development team. In 2007 and 2008, the team signed and opened twice as many franchise convenience store locations as in any of the previous four years. Mr. Barber was then promoted in October 2008 to Executive Vice President Sales and Development for a wholly owned operating division, Lettieri’s Inc, while maintaining his current responsibilities at Hot Stuff Foods. Effective January 2009, Mr. Barber was promoted to Chief Customer Officer and Executive Vice President for Hot Stuff Foods Lettieri’s, adding the functional departments of R&D, Innovation, Brand Marketing & Advertising, and Franchise Store Operations for 1100 locations in six countries, Equipment Installation & Service, and all Sales functions for the consolidated company. In 2009, Hot Stuff Foods Lettieri’s doubled EBITDA. Allied Capital sold the portfolio of companies in 2010. (2006 to 2010)
John T Barber Bio, continued page 2 In 2010, Mr. Barber focused his efforts on delivering rapid growth for numerous Quick Serve/Quick Casual restaurant brands in the franchising industry. He was the Senior Vice President for Focus Brands in Atlanta, owned by Private Equity firm Roark Capital. The Focus portfolio included Moe’s Southwest Grill, Schlotzky’s, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, and Carvel Ice Cream. Mr. Barber was on the executive committee with the Brand President’s and reported directly to the CEO of the 3300 unit franchise parent.
In late 2011, Mr. Barber was recruited to the position of Chief Development Officer Worldwide for Global Franchise Group based in Norcross Georgia. His responsibilities included franchisee acquisition and contract negotiation, real estate development, store construction, project management & build out, and franchisee relations. Under Mr. Barber’s leadership, the portfolio of brands (3000 plus store locations in 36 countries) including Great American Cookies, PretzelMaker, Maggie Moo’s Treatery, Marble Slab Creamery, and The Athlete’s Foot Shoe Stores grew franchise deals signed by 300% and store openings worldwide by over 250%.
In 2013, the founder of Paratus Health Systems contracted Mr. Barber to assist in reacquiring the company and to build operational capabilities and profitability. 2014 was a record sales year for Paratus increasing net profit by over 800%. He currently serves as a Board Member and Advisor to Paratus Health Systems. In 2014, Mr. Barber, after several years of requests, joined privately held Chester’s International as Senior Vice President of Franchise Development. On behalf of ownership, he resurrected and completed negotiations for International Master Franchise agreements in Europe and the GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE/Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman). Since 2015, Mr. Barber founded Rapid Growth Partners, a growth consultancy firm to the Food & Beverage Industries (currently serves as the President and CDO), he is the President, Treasurer, and Director of H&J Resources Inc. in Midland Texas, and he is a Partner/Owner and the CCO of SpeedPro Imaging of NorCross Georgia.
Mr. Barber is a current Board Member of The United Intentions Foundation, a Board member of Hedgehog Lacrosse, a Board member of Paratus Health Systems, a past Board member of Studio RG Technologies, and a Committee Member of the 2016 Azalea Festival to benefit the Endowment Fund of The Cottage School in Roswell Georgia. He has held licenses in Real Estate since 2003 and is a 2011 graduate of the Alpharetta Public Safety Citizens Academy. Mr. Barber has also been a past member of The International Franchise Association, The Association of Healthcare Foodservice Management, The International Council of Shopping Centers, The National Association of Convenience Stores Hunter’s Club, The National Association of College & University Food Service, and the National Association of College and Auxiliary Services. He is a recent inductee (2016) in the Southeast Chapter of BNI.
John Barber graduated from the University of Minnesota and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management and an Associate in Liberal Arts degree.
Contact information: John T Barber Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
Domestic: 770.712.7708
International: 001 770.712.7708
Email: rapidgrowthpartners@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https:www.linkedin.com/in/johntbarber
Skype:john.barber9090
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