DDIFO Leadership
DDIFO Board of Directors
Kevin McCarthy, Esq.
Chairman
Kevin McCarthy brings a diverse and highly successful background to DDIFO. Prior to founding his own law firm, Mr. McCarthy served as a Vice-President of the Dunkin’ Donuts Corporation and as President of Quikava – a subsidiary of Chock Full ‘O Nuts Inc.
Mr. McCarthy possesses an MBA from the Suffolk University School of Management and a BA from Lake Forest College along with a JD from the Boston University School of Law.
Mr. McCarthy is a Massachusetts attorney practicing in the areas of Franchise Law, Civil litigation, Employment Law and Real Estate Law. Additionally, Mr. McCarthy is a past Chairman and Board Member of the New England Franchise Association (NEFA). He is also a past President of the National Association of Public Interest Law and has practiced before both Federal and Massachusetts State Courts and is admitted to the United States Supreme Court.
Joseph Kimball, Jr., CPA
Treasurer
Joseph Kimball is a partner in the firm Sansiveri, Kimball & McNamee, which currently works with Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees.
Mr. Kimball has provided tax advice and general business counsel to closely held businesses and their owners for more than three decades. He began his career with KPMG Peat Marwick and joined SKM in 1980.
Mr. Kimball has lectured at tax seminars and addressed various civic and business groups on the impact of new tax legislation and sophisticated tax planning strategies. He is member of the International Business Development Task Force of the PKF North American Network and currently serves on its international tax committee. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants, and a former member of the University of Rhode Island Tax Committee.
Mr. Kimball received his Master of Science degree in taxation from Bentley College and has held faculty positions in the MBA and MST programs at Bryant University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Stonehill College where he remains active in alumni affairs.
Patrick Kaufmann
Clerk
Patrick Kaufmann is Professor and Chair of Boston University’s Marketing Department and renowned expert on Franchising.
Professor Kaufmann holds a BA in Economics from Georgetown University, a JD from Boston College Law School, an MBA from Wharton, and a Ph.D. in Marketing from Northwestern University. Prior to joining Boston University, he was on the faculty of the Harvard Business School and Georgia State University, and practiced law in Boston.
Professor Kaufmann is on the executive committee of the International Society of Franchising; he chaired the organization in 1992. He has also served as a member of the Education Committee of the International Franchise Association and is a member of the New England Franchise Association (NEFA).
Dan Connelly
Director
Dan heads up the JCM Franchise Development division for Joyal Capital. Since joining the Joyal team in 2007, Dan has efforts have produced over $50,000,000 of Dunkin’ Donuts M&A related closings.
Dan’s past leadership in mergers and acquisitions at Dunkin’ Brands included the facilitation of the Purchase and Sale activity of Dunkin’ restaurants in New England. This process required leading more than 150 store transfers that involved store valuations, lease negotiations, lease assignments, valuation of rent streams and debt restructurings. Most importantly, Dan was able to bridge the gap between Dunkin’ Brands and the franchisee to allow for a smooth transition and an ultimate closing that provided a value proposition for everyone involved.
Dan began his career in the Boston office of Ernst & Young, LLP where he spent six years in the audit and consulting divisions.
Masters Degree in Business Administration- Babson College, Magna Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics with an Accounting Major- College of the Holy Cross. Certified Public Accountant- State of MA.
Asheesh Seth
Director
Asheesh Seth holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Loyola University as well as a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Chicago. Seth is the Business Development Manager at Sterlite Software USA. His work with Sterlite firm has further spurred his keen business sense and knowledge base.
As Executive Director of the MWDDFA—founded in 2005 with 85 members representing 400 of the 500 stores in the Illinois/Indiana market— Seth fulfills a variety of managerial and communications functions, which have helped him to gain ample knowledge about a myriad of pressing issues affecting franchise owners.
“I look forward to the opportunity to work more closely with the DDIFO and hope that we can strengthen the position of existing franchise members while, at the same time, working toward the goal of a nationwide association,” said Seth.
DDIFO Management Team
Jim Coen
President and COO
Jim Coen, took over as President and Chief Operating Officer on December 1, 2008 prior to that he has been a director of and the Clerk for the DDIFO board since May, 2008.
Mr. Coen is Executive Director of the New England Franchise Association and founder of Franchise Perfection a franchise consulting company that helps those interested in buying a franchise business opportunity.
With 25 years of franchise, marketing, and entrepreneurial experience, Jim Coen, brings key skills to the management of DDIFO.
For over 20 years Jim worked with Super Coups. Super Coups is a MA based direct mail franchise business to business opportunity.
Prior to Super Coups Jim successfully marketed franchises in the New England area for Uniglobe Travel Northeast a travel franchise, Merry Maids a maid cleaning franchise, & Emack & Bolio an Ice Cream franchise.
Jim was the host of a popular radio show in the Boston Area called “Let’s Talk Franchising” that was broadcast on AM 1060 WBIX The Boston Business Station.
Carl Lisa, Lisa & Sousa
General Counsel
Carl B. Lisa was admitted to bar, 1964, Rhode Island; 1965, U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island. Education: University of Rhode Island (B.A., 1961); Boston University (LL.B., 1964). Smithfield Probate Judge, 1973-1975 and 1977-1981.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION: Outstanding Franchise Lawyer, Franchise Times; Certificate of Distinction, Rhode Island Bar Association. Member: Rhode Island Bar Association; American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Probate; Franchise; Corporation; Banking; Business Law). Reported Cases: Smithfield Voters for Responsible Development, Inc. v. LaGreca, et al 755 A.2d 126 (R.I. Sup. Ct. 2000) Practice Areas: Franchising Law; Land Use Law; Zoning Law; Business Law; Real Estate; Probate Law.
Carl ‘61 was inducted in the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977. Carl was an indoor and outdoor track star who held the all-time URI 100-yard dash record of 9.5 seconds, was voted the outstanding athlete at Kingston in 1961. He held the New England 100-yard dash record for 12 years following graduation, won the Yankee Conference title twice, and qualified for the 1960 Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships as a six-letterman for the Rams.
Matt Ellis, Ellis Strategies
Communications
Matt is a former television news executive with 20+ years at the local and network level. As the Head Writer for Good Morning America in New York, Matt earned a prestigious Peabody Award for his work covering the September 11th Attacks.
Matt led teams of broadcast journalists cover local news and produce Emmy Award winning programs as a News Director at WBZ TV in Boston and WPRI TV in Providence and as Executive Producer for WCBS TV in New York.
Matt is a cum-laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and lives in Boxford with his wife and daughter.
Jim Ventriglia, James P. Ventriglia CPA Inc.
AccountantJim is a graduate of Bryant College of Business Administration with a BSBA majoring in Accounting in 1982.
Received a Master’s of Science in Taxation in 1992.
Successfully completed the uniform CPA exam in 1982 and has been practicing as a CPA since1985. Received a Certificate of Achievement from the Massachusetts Society of CPAs.
Has a variety of large firm (Big 4), local firm and controllership experience. Drawing on this experience established the accounting firm of James P. Ventriglia, CPA, Inc. in 1991 to satisfy the accounting, tax and business advisory needs of a Dunkin Donuts franchisee. Developed the practice to serve a variety of franchisees as well as many other types of businesses.
Formed Westminster Franchise Advisors in 2004 to reflect the firm’s area of specialization.
Professional Associations:
- Member of American Institute of CPA
- Member of Rhode Island Society of CPAs
- Member of National Society of Public Accountants
- Member of the Massachusetts Society of Public Accountants
- Member of the Cranston Chamber of Commerce and currently serving on their Board of Directors
- Treasurer for the Cranston Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the New England Franchise Association (NEFA)
