BIOGRAPHY
Full Biography & Actual Work Experience
Shery is Managing Director of Shery Christopher Consulting, LLC and the Vice President of Nutty Scientists USA (a children’s science education franchise program established in Spain in 1996). She has over thirty years’ experience in the business franchise industry, having co-developed and owned her first franchise Adventure Games of America in 1984 before selling the business two years later. Shery manages an international, multifaceted practice that offers clients consulting, coaching, training and monitoring through a unique combination of creativity and insight with extensive experience and expertise in the industry.
Shery combines coaching and consulting to bring out the best in each individual client and maximize the potential of every business, forging long-term relationships through creative vision, strategic planning, focused guidance and continuing support. From the initial analysis of a new or existing franchise business; through structure, programming and documentation; to attorney liaisons, sales and marketing; and culminating in expansion, development and growth on a national and international level, Shery will work closely with you every step of the way.
In February 2014, Shery received her Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) Certificate from the International Franchise Association (IFA) at the IFA Convention in New Orleans. Her specialty is consulting US and international clients to develop structure and strategic planning that prepares the franchisor to expand nationally and internationally, and she offers continued coaching, training and monitoring to ensure franchise growth.
In 2011, Shery successfully lobbied the New York Attorney General’s Office for a special three-day Trade Show Exemption on behalf of MFV Expositions (www.mfvexpo.com) to facilitate their relocation of the International Franchise Expo from Washington, DC to New York City (www.ifeinfo.com). As a result of her work, all US and international franchisors can now apply for this Trade Show Exemption status to exhibit at the upcoming International Franchise Expo in New York each June.
Shery's thirty years of hands on experience in the franchise industry includes:
- Strategic planning, structure and support; document lay-out for attorneys; marketing programs; manual drafting and revision; client/counsel liaisons
- Adapting international franchise systems to the US market; attorney liaison, set-up, trademark filings, state filings, annual updates, renewals and all related support and consultation for national and international franchise companies (e.g., Australia, Brazil, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand) expanding into the US market
- International consultation for US franchisers expanding into the United Kingdom, Brazil, South America, Mexico, Europe, Asia and Canada
- Re-structuring franchisee outlets for franchisors; establishing open lines of communication between the franchisor and the franchisees through coaching
- Consultation with existing business owners to implement systems; design and refine all aspects of the business for improved operations; guide improvements and set new business standards
- Setting up, operating and owning a franchise with partners; managing day-to- day activities; documentation work with the attorneys, selling master licenses and supporting existing franchisees
- Providing training in franchise sales, compliance and manual-writing
- Presenting seminars and workshops in England, Scotland, India, Italy, Panama, Spain, Thailand, and the United States
- Living and working in England intermittently for over twelve years
- Traveling internationally several times a year to represent clients at trade shows
Throughout her years as a self-employed consultant, Shery has continued to re-educate herself on the ever-changing intricacies of the franchising and business opportunity industry, and has established an impeccable reputation for the highest standards of integrity in this extremely competitive market.
