Corporate Bios

Brent H. Alvord was a key member of the team that acquired Lenny's and has been instrumental in Lenny's rapid growth. He has helped establish the foundations for world class departments in the areas of finance, marketing, operations, purchasing, information technology, restaurant construction, and franchise sales. Alvord has helped sell hundreds of restaurants and is also responsible for the creation of a proprietary point of sale software that networks all restaurants to provide business intelligence and marketing information. Prior to Lenny's, Mr. Alvord worked at LNR Properties in Miami Beach, FL, where his duties included planning and strategy, investor and rating agency relations, and work on a variety of complicated financial transactions. Before LNR, Mr. Alvord worked for AOL, where he was involved in the launch and IPO of an international division, and worked on international consolidation and planning, online business intelligence systems, and marketing. Prior to AOL, Mr. Alvord worked at the corporate headquarters for Burger King, where he helped analyze and support all aspects of the company restaurant portfolio. Mr. Alvord began his career in the finance department at Federal Express at its Memphis headquarters. He has a Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of Memphis. He serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and is passionate about making a positive impact in the world.  Mr. Alvord and his wife have three children and reside in Memphis, Tennessee.

Carl Jacobson is the General Counsel of Lenny's Franchise Systems, LLC. Mr. Jacobson graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1983, spent four years as a prosecutor in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, and spent the next 12 years in the private practice of law in Memphis, Tennessee, where he devoted most of his time representing businesses in commercial and employment litigation.

In 1999, Mr. Jacobson went in house with one of his clients, Dobbs/Gate Gourmet, as General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources for the world's second largest airline caterer, where he remained until he joined Lenny's. Mr. Jacobson leads all corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives for Lenny's Franchise Systems, LLC. He provides legal counsel and direction to all levels of management and is involved in negotiating and finalizing various contracts and business transactions. In addition to overseeing the operations of the Legal Department, he oversees the Human Resources, Education & Development, Logistics and Compliance Departments. Mr. Jacobson and his wife have five children and reside in Lakeland, Tennessee

John Strand serves Lenny’s Franchise Systems, LLC as Vice President of Business Standards. He is responsible for system-wide educational programs, training and resources.  He also takes on challenges in implementing and maintaining operational benchmarks, measurements and systems designed to enhance restaurant and brand performance.

Mr. Strand is responsible for the education and development of franchisees and their operating teams. He serves as the Dean of Lenny's University and continually develops, expands and implements new training processes, online programs, materials and technologies to enhance unit level economics and employee satisfaction.

Prior to joining Lenny’s in 2004, Mr. Strand had twelve years of writing, directing and production experience in film and television in the retail food industry. He also served on the corporate staff of Fleming Companies, Inc., a supermarket wholesale distribution company and supermarket franchisor. While at the Fleming Companies, Mr. Strand worked to produce education and development programs for use in the supermarket industry.

Mr. Strand was an owner of three franchised restaurants in Memphis, Tennessee. He has received his Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) from the International Franchise Association in 2010 and his BA from from the University of Memphis in 1993.

John Cameron has approximately thirty years of restaurant experience and currently holds the position of Vice President of Operations for Lenny's Franchise Systems, LLC. He previously worked with Lenny's in the past as well as for YUM! Brands, Dunkin Brands, and McDonalds.

Out of college John began as a restaurant manager and worked his way up. Since then, he has held the following positions: Restaurant Manager, Regional Training Director, Area Manager, Franchise Business Leader, Franchise Director and National Director of Multi Brand Restaurants.

Prior to Lenny's John was an Operating Partner for Kentucky Fried Chicken. During those eight years at KFC he held the Director of Operations position where he operated twenty seven restaurants in Memphis, six restaurants in Arkansas, three restaurants in Kentucky, two restaurants in Illinois, and two restaurants in Missouri.

He also managed over 200 restaurants as a Franchise Business leader and over 250 restaurants as the National Director of Multi Brands.

John and his wife have two children and live in beautiful Bartlett, TN.

Anita Howald joined Lenny’s Sub Shops’ corporate team as Director of Information Technology in February 2005. Anita brought more than nineteen years of experience developing database systems for companies in a variety of industries. Most recently, Anita served as the Project Team Manager/Systems Analyst at Gate Gourmet Division Americas. Anita’s primary responsibility at Lenny's is to develop and maintain a fully integrated Point Of Sale system for all franchisees, and as Director, IT, Anita plans, organizes and executes all IT functions.

Anita has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems/Computer Science from The University of West Florida since 1993 and a Masters of Science Degree in Computer Science from University of Memphis since 2002. She and her husband live in Bartlett, Tennessee.

Sheila Murphy joined Lenny's Sub Shops' corporate team as Director of Accounting in December, 2011. Mrs. Murphy brought more than fourteen years of experience directing accounting staff and managing financial information as well as financial system operations. Most recently, Sheila served as the Assistant Controller at EnSafe Inc. Mrs. Murphy's primary responsibility at Lenny's is to manage all financial reporting, manage workflow within the accounting team, and manage/develop system processes.

Mrs. Murphy has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from The University of Memphis and is currently completing her Masters of Business Administration in Accounting from The University of Memphis. She and her husband live in Bartlett, Tennessee.

Jenna Duett joined Lenny's Franchise Systems, LLC as Marketing and PR Manager in July 2011. With more than eight years of marketing, sales, and training experience, Jenna's primary responsibility is managing national marketing promotions and other corporate initiatives from initial concept through completion.

 

Prior to Lenny's, Jenna sold print and online advertising, websites, and videos as Associate Sales Manager and Certified Google AdWords Reseller for yellowbook. After she was hired in 2006 as a Media Consultant, Jenna lead yellowbook's three week training course as Initial Sales Training Manager for the South/Central Region from 2007 - 2010.

Before yellowbook, Jenna placed internet and yellow page advertising as Marketing Coordinator for The ServiceMaster Company. She was assigned to ServiceMaster Clean franchise owners as their Yellow Pages Marketing Group consultant. Jenna also completed Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training while working at The ServiceMaster Company.

Jenna earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Mississippi State University.