Richard Davies, Brian Maciak and Patrick McGee Join More Than 60 Other Franchise Professionals to Advance the Titus Center’s Mission
Palm Beach Atlantic (PBA) University’s Titus Center for Franchising has welcomed three new advisory board members: Richard Davies, Brian Maciak and Patrick McGee. They join more than 60 other franchise professionals to advance the Titus Center’s mission of inspiring and educating current and future franchise leaders. Through financial contributions and mentorship, the advisory board’s members evaluate the Titus Center’s programs and spread the word about the center among business communities. These franchise professionals are dedicated to supporting franchise education and are asked to attend two meetings a year.
Davies, Maciak, McGee, and the other members of the advisory board will work to achieve the center’s goal of educating students about the opportunities that franchising offers. Here, they discuss what attracted them to the Titus Center and its impact on the future of franchising.
Patrick McGee
There are ample opportunities for those with a variety of skill sets, backgrounds, and financial capabilities across the franchise industry.
What attracted you to the Titus Center?
I was attracted to the Titus Center for three key reasons: 1. The Titus Center has attracted some of the top individuals in the franchise industry, and it is an honor to be a part of its advisory board. 2. Higher education is in a crisis. I believe that the Titus Center should be a national model on how to provide students with practical, real-world experience and a clear path to entrepreneurship, ownership, and wealth creation for themselves and their families. 3. I believe in the opportunity that franchising provides and am excited to continue to share the message to a broader audience through the work of the Titus Center.
What advice do you have for those looking to get into the franchise industry?
My advice to those looking to get into the franchise industry is to get to work. There are ample opportunities for those with a variety of skill sets, backgrounds, and financial capabilities across the franchise industry. If you’re not ready to be a franchisee yourself, then go work for one of the countless hard-working and ambitious franchisees who are always on the lookout for smart, motivated employees.
What are you most looking forward to as a board member?
I’m most looking forward to being a resource to the hard working and ambitious students at PBA.
How do you believe the Titus Center will positively impact the future of the franchise industry?
I have already seen the positive impact that the Titus Center is having on the future of the franchise industry. Students are provided real-world skills and experiences, which allows them to positively impact their companies, communities, and families.
Richard Davies
If you are serious about investing in a franchise, make sure you include your family in discussions and ideas as they will play a major part of your life everyday.
What attracted you to the Titus Center?
In 2019, we supported John Hayes and his students when they visited London for their European trip. I was very impressed with what the center offered and stood for. Speaking with the students first-hand and listening to their different experiences inspired me to find out more about the center and how we could support the students on their franchise journey.
What advice do you have for those looking to get into the franchise industry?
Take your time and do your research. If you are serious about investing in a franchise, make sure you include your family in discussions and ideas as they will play a major part of your life everyday. It’s also important to speak with different franchisors and franchisees for their own personal experiences. Ask them what made them invest in franchising. If you are prepared to work hard and invest your commitment to the opportunity, you can achieve huge success and have fun along the way.
What are you most looking forward to as a board member?
I am looking to share ideas and opportunities with my fellow board members but also look at ways we can continue educating the next generation of franchisees and franchisors. Together, we are stronger and can grow franchising worldwide.
How do you believe the Titus Center will positively impact the future of the franchise industry?
The courses are well developed and the students have a lot of support. Now is the opportunity to expand this worldwide by getting in front of more students and encouraging schools and universities to have franchising as part of their curriculum.
Brian Maciak
Do your diligence first. If you still have the passion for doing it, jump in with both feet.
What attracted you to the Titus Center?
It melds two disciplines that I enjoy – higher education and franchising. When you couple the two and place it under John Hayes’ leadership, Titus Center was a logical fit.
What advice do you have for those looking to get into the franchise industry?
Do your due diligence first. If you still have the passion for doing it, jump in with both feet.
What are you most looking forward to as a board member?
I have a unique role of leading the legal department and other corporate functions, but also managing operating units. I hope the board will tap into these areas of expertise.
How do you believe the Titus Center will positively impact the future of the franchise industry?
The Titus Center is uniquely positioned as the leader in franchise education. The faculty is passionate, and it translates into the students getting a unique education about all things franchising. When the students enter the business world – either as a franchisee or on behalf of the franchisor – they have the tools to make an immediate impact on their respective business.
The Titus Center and Franchise Education
As the franchise industry continues to boom, colleges and universities understand the importance of franchise education. PBA University is the only university with a fund established for lending to students or graduates who buy franchises, according to John Hayes, the Titus Center’s director. The Titus Center opened in 2017 and is located in the Rinker School of Business at PBA University in West Palm Beach, Fla. After completing 12 credit hours, students earn a concentration in franchising as part of their business degrees. The Titus Center is named after Ray Titus, founder and CEO of United Franchise Group, who provided the center with a $1.5 million gift.