Franchise Interview with Franchise Expert and Consultant Dante Vespignani

We are meeting with Dante Vespignani of Turma Inc. dba, The Entrepreneuers Source. Dante Vespignani has spent his entire career in the food and restaurant industry. Prior to starting Turma, Inc., he entered the business in 1973 with an Arby’s franchisee, growing the franchise to 21 restaurants with two full service concepts Tequila Junction and the Samari Steakhouse, Switching from franchise to company operations Vespignani held various senior management positions before leaving in 1993 as Director Operations NE United States, encompassing over 800 restaurants with 227 franchise groups. Prior to starting his own restaurant consulting firm he was the Director of Franchise Operations/Sales for a start up, full serve restaurant chain, growing that concept to over 100 restaurants. Turma, Inc., DBA The Entrepreneurs Source, evolved as a need based organization, bridging the gap for many franchise operators with different concepts, whose expertise was lacking in the areas of marketing, operations, P&L and cost analysis. Additionally, there was a need for his considerable consulting/coaching skills in mentoring would be business owners, thru the often muddy waters of business ownership. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he attended The Pennsylvania State University, Blanchard Training and Development, Management 2000 and various American Management Association courses. Married and now living outside Portland Maine, his business acumen and experience gives him a unique perspective of the models necessary to succeed in the New England market