Mary Jo is vice president of Franchise Times Corp. and publisher of two of the company’s publications: Restaurant Finance Monitor and Franchise Times magazine. As publisher of these titles, she has overall responsibility for the advertising sales and editorial content of the publications.
Mary Jo has been with Franchise Times Corp. since 1990. In addition to her publishing duties, she also heads up the sales and planning efforts for the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference and the Franchise Finance & Growth Conference. She is quoted on the franchise community in general interest, news and business publications, and is a speaker at industry events.
Mary Jo has been active in various organizations related to franchising and restaurants, including working on the Executive Programs committee of the Women’s Foodservice Forum and as a member of the franchise advisory committee of Women Venture, a non-profit organization that helps women realize entrepreneurial goals. Mary Jo is also past president of the board of directors for the Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association. She holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communications from the University of Minnesota.
Since 1988, the Restaurant Finance Monitor has been circulated to senior executives in the restaurant finance, franchising and real estate industries, with an emphasis on topics such as public offerings, finance sources, analyst stock recommendations and taxes.
In 1998, the Restaurant Finance Monitor purchased Franchise Times magazine. The new Franchise Times premiered in January 1999, and targets the multi-unit franchise executive or owner. Franchise Times has grown to be the definitive source business executives and owners will look to for franchise news and business information. The publication takes a look at both the serious, and fun, side of the franchise sector. The magazine also released the Franchise Times Guide to Selecting, Buying and Owning a Franchise, which was published and distributed by the publishing arm of Barnes & Noble Booksellers.