Dr. Benjamin C. Litalien, CFE

Founder, FranchiseWell

Ben has invested over two decades in the franchise community, with a broad range of management and franchise-building experience. His specific strengths are in strategic planning, organizational development, concept management, and franchise system growth. He has developed and implemented strategic plans for a diverse group of companies including a major oil company, quick serve concepts including a sandwich and catering franchise and a national franchiser of food court cafes. Under his direction and management, he forged significant expansion in the United States and abroad, as well as increasing brand awareness and improving profitability.

Ben is the Founder and Principal of FranchiseWell, LLC, a consulting practice dedicated to the improvement and enhancement of franchising. Simply put, “Franchising can be done ’well’ if there is a disciplined approach, systems thinking and a commitment to the betterment of society”. In 2009 Ben formed the Social Franchise Institute, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing education on franchising to the nonprofit sector where he serves as President and Director. He is also on staff at Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Education as the Academic Advisor for Entrepreneurship and Franchise programs, and teaches the Franchise Management Certificate program each semester for franchise and nonprofit professionals from across the country and around the world. He is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor at University of Maryland University College in Adelphi, MD and Southern New Hampshire University where he teaches Franchising, Entrepreneurship Venture Planning and Consulting.

Prior to forming FranchiseWell, Ben was the Director of U.S. Dealer Sales for Newbury, Ohio based Kinetico Incorporated. Kinetico manufactures high-quality water filtration systems for commercial, retail and personal use. He was responsible for assembling and managing a team of regional managers to oversee more than 250 licensed dealerships in the U.S. generating $50M in annual revenue.

Ben invested over four years with the ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing Company as the U.S. Franchise Development Manager, based in Fairfax, Virginia. He oversaw the Company’s On the Run convenience store franchise for Exxon and Mobil branded distributors in the U.S., creating a unique Regional Franchise Developer program that was responsible for almost 1,000 franchise units. Due to the innovative work by Ben, Exxon Mobil was able to sell the developer franchise program to a competitor.

Ben is a recognized speaker on “Franchise Development” and “Franchising for Good”. He has been referenced as a franchising expert in feature articles of Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Chain Leader, Entrepreneur Magazine, QSR Magazine, Supermarket News, Successful Franchising, Convenience Store Decision, and Restaurant Hospitality. He has also authored articles that appeared in industry periodicals such as Franchising World, Franchise Asia and Successful Franchising.

Ben completed his doctoral program at the University of Maryland University College focused on the concept of Social Franchise. He was presented with the Karp Research Foundation Award in 2011 for the ‘best paper in franchising’. He holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. He received his CFE (“Certified Franchise Executive”) designation from the International Franchise Association in 2003 and was appointed to the ICFE Board of Governors for the IFA in 2013. Ben is a member of the Academy of Management and the Social Enterprise Association. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Stafford Junction, a nonprofit organization in his community that serves children and their families. Ben has been married for 32 years and has three grown children and two grandsons. He is an avid fly fisherman and classic car restorer.