Todd Joined the Family Entertainment Franchise in 2022
Launch Entertainment, an indoor family entertainment franchise, has promoted Jeff Todd to chief development officer. Todd joined the family entertainment brand in 2022 as senior vice president of business development and now has expanded oversight of Launch’s development efforts. This announcement comes amid the brand’s accelerated growth across the country, with signed development and lease agreements in Colorado, New York, Texas, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Todd said he looks forward to working with Launch’s franchise partners, experienced leadership team and private equity partner, Silver Oak Services Partners. “I want to be involved in industries that are Amazon-proof. While individuals may cut down on trips to Disneyland, they are still going to spend time and money on their kids having a fun and fulfilling childhood and creating memories with their families,” he said. “Launch offers a world-class product mix that attracts kids while also creating an environment that appeals to their parents with our bowling, bar and full restaurant.”
CEO Craig Erlich said he is thrilled to have Todd take on this new role. “With his proven track record, Jeff has played a pivotal role in Launch over the last few years. Jeff is a valuable member of our team, with an expertise that has been and will continue to be instrumental in driving our brand’s expansion efforts and delivering exceptional experiences to families across the nation,” Erlich said.
From Finance to Franchising
Todd’s professional background includes serving as an investment banker at PNC, Harris Williams & Co. and Wells Fargo, assisting private equity firms with leveraged buyouts and advisory work. He credited his experience in the financial industry with helping him fully understand how to create value for companies and complete successful transactions.
Following his time in corporate America, Todd joined Driven Brands, a portfolio of automotive franchises, and held various franchise development positions. He said the transition from Driven Brands to Launch Entertainment has been exciting.
“Luckily, there are many overlaps between the concepts that I can leverage from the past. Each concept is brick-and-mortar based with specialty; navigating landlords and zoning boards is nothing new,” he said. “Aftermarket automotive is highly regulated from a construction standpoint, so ensuring family entertainment concepts are built to stringent standards to ensure our locations are safe for children is no different.”
Keys to Success
Todd said supporting franchise owners drew him to franchise development and he advocates for franchisors focusing on training, operations and marketing support for franchise partners to achieve success. “Happy and successful franchise partners drive growth through their validation of success. Many franchisors get distracted by trying to do too much, but they only have one job: support their franchise partners.”
“My favorite aspect of franchising is how impactful it can be for individuals. Whether it’s helping people transition out of corporate America to become multiple-unit business owners or enabling owners to achieve financial freedom, franchising done correctly can have a huge impact on people’s lives,” he said.
