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Larry Strain, CCIM
Principal Partner & CEO
James Climer, PMP
Principal Partner & CIO
Market Planning Services
Tom Maraist
Principal Partner & CRE Broker
Real Estate Services
Betty Gower
Partner Agency
Franchise Recruitment
Principal Partner & CEO
Larry is an industry-respected growth driver with over 25 years of experience in national retail expansion. He has successfully steered national retail expansion for many high-profile brands, including Starbucks Coffee, McDonald’s, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Dunkin’ Brands, and Global Partners.
Larry has a proven track record of success in managing, developing, and training multiple disciplines within store development business units for large complex organizations. He has also carried ultimate financial responsibility for multi-million-dollar CAPEX & OPEX budgets.
Larry is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and the Founding Partner of Restaurant Development Experts. He is also the creator of a revolutionary market intelligence platform that provides retailers with customized growth and optimization plans for any geographic region within the United States.
Throughout his career, Larry has been credited with developing synergistic relationships with business owners, franchisees, and CXOs. He has also leveraged his track record in the development and execution of strategic growth plans for the top 1% retail chains. Larry has one of the most impressive portfolios of any senior executive in the industry today, and he continues to operate with one goal in mind, “smart development through strategic planning and precise execution.”
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Principal Partner & CIO Market Planning Services
A highly skilled IT executive and software developer with over 25 years of experience. He is passionate about automating business processes and has a proven track record of success in delivering high-quality software solutions.
James is the Principal Partner and Chief Technology Officer at Restaurant Development Experts, LLC, where he leads the development and implementation of innovative software solutions for the restaurant industry. He is also the founder and owner of Optimal Software Development Group, a software development company that specializes in Microsoft technologies.
James holds an MS in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
James is a brilliant individual with a unique ability to diagnose extremely complicated business models, expose inefficiencies and then redesign them for optimal results. His experiences range from creating applications for Fortune 500 companies and the US Air Force to designing best in class market planning methodologies for the retail & restaurant industry.
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Principal Partner & CRE Broker Real Estate Services
Tom Maraist is a seasoned real estate executive with over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He has a proven track record of success in a variety of roles, including general contracting, commercial property management, maintenance, new site development, and real estate brokerage.
As Principal Partner and Broker with Restaurant Development Experts, LLC, Tom is responsible for leading the firm’s real estate development and brokerage efforts. He has a deep understanding of the restaurant industry and is able to identify and capitalize on opportunities to help his clients grow their businesses. Tom is a highly respected member of the restaurant industry and is known for his expertise, professionalism, and dedication to his clients.
Tom is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in Construction Management. He is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Louisiana.
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Partner Agency Franchise Recruitment
Betty Gower is a highly experienced Latina marketing and branding executive with a proven track record of success. She has worked in a variety of roles, including in-house leader, agency lead, and consultant. She has developed and executed successful marketing campaigns for a variety of industries, including life science, technology, healthcare, restaurants, and start-ups. She is a champion of diversity and inclusion, and she is actively involved in national efforts to diversify c-suite teams and board membership.
Betty is the Founding Member of Market Ninja, RDE’s partner agency. Market Ninja is a boutique firm that specializes in brand messaging, collateral-creation, and website design. With a strong understanding of the customer, Betty has achieved great success in many areas of brand development. Some of her accomplishments include the design of the Universal logo and leading strategic initiatives for Kaiser Permanente’s ACA rollout. With measurable success in reaching the consumer, Betty has developed highly successful regional, global, and multinational campaigns. For implementations, she has sourced and built efficient international teams and functions effectively in three languages.
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