Mark Lando

About Mark Lando

Mark Lando is an accomplished executive and consultant with more than 30 years of success in the franchise, specialty retail, wholesale distribution, services and consumer products industries, first as an owner operator, franchisor and franchisee and more recently as a consultant. His broad area of expertise and services now focuses on, and emphasizes, SWOT analysis and strategic/tactical planning for businesses, whether or not franchise related, and no matter the industry. Mark began his career in franchising with The Athlete\'s Foot, first as an owner/operator of two franchised stores and then as part of a syndicate that acquired the worldwide rights to the name. Mark grew the chain to more than 425 franchised and 50 company-owned stores throughout the United States. He was also responsible for the company\'s expansion into seven international markets. After negotiating for a sale of the company, Mark founded his consulting group, now doing business as Lando Consults. His first engagement with a retail candy operation resulted in his being asked to lead the company as President and eventually ended up with his acquiring the company. After growing that group to more than 35 stores, Mark coordinated a merger with the South African public company trading under the name Sweets from Heaven. Mark assumed CEO responsibilities for the North America and the Pacific Rim subsidiary, Sweets from Heaven USA, Inc. Since negotiating for the sale of that entity, Mark has been engaged to do both short and long-term projects for over 50 different companies including private, public, start-up, existing, struggling and thriving businesses, from a variety of industries. Mark has also been asked to assume the CEO or COO positions for some of his clients and even Chaired the Licensee Advisory Board for one that is a multi-billion dollar company. Mark is particularly proud to also have consulted for several Not for Profit organizations both at the local and national level.

Experience

1. COO & Consultant

   Lando Consults

   Mar 2013 — Present · Pittsburgh, PA

   After consulting for DSF-LLC for 3 months, Mark was asked to join the team as COO and the person in charge of driving all franchise related activities. He assumed that position in a \"part time \" capacity until the grows and to allow him to continue other consulting activities.

Education

• University of Pittsburgh

  BA

Skills

• Team Building
• Finance
• Strategic Partnerships
• Business Development
• Contract Negotiation
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Management
• Strategic Planning
• Real Estate
• Investments
• Start-Ups
• Executive Management
• Profit
• P&L
• Management Consulting
• Small Business
• Leadership
• Franchising
• New Business Development
• Sales
• Marketing Strategy
• Marketing
• Customer Service
• Business Strategy
• Business Planning
• Budgets
• Due Diligence
• Budgeting
• Advertising
• Sales Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Retail
• Strategy
• Negotiation