
Scott Sharkey
CEO, Sharkey's Cuts for Kids
Thank you! Great presentation Keith. Enjoyed every bit of it and so did the brand. They had very nice things to say about you and what you delivered.

Daniel Stein
Founder and CEO, Special Strong
Based on both our post-conference survey and verbal feedback, his keynote was considered the most valuable part of the entire event. I strongly recommend Keith to any franchisor seeking a keynote speaker who can enhance franchisee execution, increase engagement, and create a lasting impact.

Mike Skitzki Chief Operating Officer, Goldfish Swim School
We recently partnered with Keith Gerson to develop a custom training for our multi-unit franchisees at Goldfish Swim School. Keith brought deep expertise to the table—interviewing both franchisees and key stakeholders across our system, collaborating closely with our operations and training teams, and ultimately delivering a high-impact program that filled a critical gap in our learning library.
What made Keith’s work stand out was his ability to create content that transcended brand specifics. This wasn’t about how to run a Goldfish Swim School—it was about how to be a great multi-unit operator in any franchise system. The framework he built addressed the unique complexities of scaling people, processes, and performance across multiple locations—something that’s often talked about but rarely taught well.
The training was exceptionally well received by our founder and our largest multi-unit operators. It was professional, thoughtful, and immediately actionable.
If you’re a franchisor looking to level up your multi-unit playbook, Keith is one of the few people I’d recommend without hesitation

Rob Ristagno, President, Vistage Worldwide, Inc.
President, Vistage Worldwide, Inc.
I had the pleasure of working with Keith Gerson on a strategic consulting project aimed at helping our Licensees thrive. Keith got up to speed quickly, rolled up his sleeves, and delivered a thoughtful, practical plan that’s already proving valuable.
He brought deep expertise to the table, but what stood out most was how he organized the facts and translated them into a do-able solution—nothing theoretical or pie-in-the-sky. His recommendations were grounded in reality and addressed the opportunities and challenges we were facing head-on. The final deliverable was well-structured, easy to digest, and ready to implement.
I’d gladly recommend Keith to anyone looking for strategic insight paired with real-world execution.

Jaffrey Ali, FranConnect
I don’t use this term lightly, but Keith is a ‘legend’ in the franchise industry. I was very fortunate to work alongside him over the last five years as we grew Franconnect, including the addition of several new products for our customers. Keith’s deep understanding of the industry was crucial, enabling me to rely on him not only for insights into the current state of the industry but, more importantly, its future direction. He truly has the pulse of the industry. As Keith moves on to his next role, I am really glad to have his wisdom to count on.
Keith is also very generous with his advice, having helped multiple friends who were looking to enter franchising.
Thank you, Keith. It’s been a pleasure! 🙏

Daniel Stein CEO of Special Strong
CEO of specialstrong.com | The Adaptive Coach
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This is Keith. I was referred to Keith by a mutual friend who knew I needed help in the franchising industry. When I connected with Keith, I planned an initial call to discuss a few pain points. I quickly realized that Keith had a lot of value to add. Instead of simply answering my questions, he helped me uncover areas I didn’t know I needed help in. I ended up asking him to consult with me every month. Working with Keith has been a game changer for our entire company. From franchise development to operations, Keith has guided me in every area I need. With his 30+ years of franchising experience, he knows a lot of key players in the industry, so he has made several vital introductions for me that I would not have been able to make on my own. I feel privileged to have someone of his caliber in my corner, helping me with everything franchising!

Gerry Henley, CFE
We were lucky enough to have Keith as our keynote speaker at our recent annual franchise conference. Keith’s message was perfect for our group. We have never had such raving reviews from our franchisees for our keynote presenter. He was able to connect with the franchisees at their level and made them very comfortable.
Keith’s keynote address was certainly the highlight of our conference.
Thanks Keith!

Joe White, Franchise Consultant
In my past, I have known many people who say they are brand marketing experts. Recently, I attended an International franchise Summit in the United Kingdom and had the privilege to hear Keith Gerson yet again perform as a Keynote Speaker as a Franchise Expert on the topic of Franchise Brand Marketing. After the Keynote address, Keith had the time to share some additional insights with me on Franchise Operations and have an even more enriched discussion on Franchise Brand Marketing. I must say Keith is the best expert in the area of franchise brand marketing that I have known. But what is even more amazing is his passion to talk with the guests at the conference. I commend Keith’s passion for Brand Marketing and would highly recommend him as a Keynote Speaker at your next franchising event.

Lisa Montanio
“I feel the information you provided validated some of the areas I thought we needed to work on which was great to hear. It was also very helpful to see how we compare to other B2B concepts. I also appreciated the ideas on how to better position some of the advantages of CMIT Solutions versus some of our competitors. It was very helpful for my team members to hear this information firsthand to get a better understanding of the franchise industry and how CMIT Solutions fits in the industry.”

Kevin Wilson
“ I highly recommend Keith for entrepreneurs growing an emerging brand or more mature companies looking for a fresh perspective”.

Jamshaid (Jam) Hashmi
“Keith’s presentation opened minds & created a sense of urgency for action”.

Michael Mabry
“Keith, I can’t thank you enough for speaking at our MOO Franchisee Conference. As you know, this is our premier franchisee gathering that we host each year, and is our time to shine as a brand. Your keynote was the icing on the cake. Your ability to take our internal message of Simply Better and apply it to our industry, brand, and individual franchisees resonated throughout the room. I personally received more comments and praise on your presentation than any other. The coolest part for me is the fact that you are a brand partner (FranConnect), presenter (keynote), and friend (your wicked piano and singing skills during dinner)! Thank you Keith for making MOOYAH Simply Better!”
Diane Davis
“Keith Gerson put together a six-page report for us on our competition, and we learned things in one fell swoop that we never would have known. We are now able to look at ourselves compared to the competition and make strategic decisions that are educated in nature. And I just want to say a big thank you to Keith. I would recommend this for anyone in franchising who wants to grow significantly. Understanding your competition and what they’re doing is an important part of what we need to be doing as franchisors. This report has helped us do this and I see us doing this on an ongoing basis. I highly recommend that you take this opportunity and let Gerson Advisory Services to help you out-execute your competition.”

Eric D’Amico
“Keith is a fountain of knowledge regarding the franchising and restaurant space. He was able to quickly and efficiently boil down where gaps were in our disclosure process and how we stacked up against the competition. If I need future counsel as we think through our strategies going forward, Keith will be one of my first calls.”

David McKinnon
“Under Keith Gerson’s leadership as President and COO, PuroClean became one of the fastest growing franchise systems in North America, literally tripling in size from 92 locations to over 300 in a three year period. Consumer level revenues grew from $46 million to $90 million and profitability of the organization soared 3.5 times. Keith was able to reduce Franchisee attrition rates to an all-time record low, each year besting the one before it. This results in our receiving two world-class Franchisor designations by the Franchise Research Institute during 2007 & 2008. We are grateful to Keith Gerson for the contributions he made to the PuroClean Franchise System.”