LORI KARPMAN, FOUNDER & CEO

Lori Karpman, B.Com, BCL/LLB, is a dynamic and articulate businesswoman with essential professional designations and over 20 years of real-world business experience in a variety of corporate and not-for-profit environments. A strong leader and valued team-player with outstanding interpersonal skills, Lori understands that communication and respect for human values is the key to productivity and bottom line results.

Lori has been working in the areas of strategic development and growth since 1990. With just the right mix of education and real-world experience, Lori has become one of Canada’s leading business consultants and a recognized expert in the field of franchising and business development. Her firm, Lori Karpman & Associates Ltd., has garnered “Canada’s Best Franchise Consultants/Attorneys” for 2 years running. She has also been awarded several prestigious marketing and advertising awards for her creative work and was a finalist for the Young Jewish Entrepreneur Award.

Acting on her passion and instinct for business, Lori graduated with honours from McGill University (Montreal, Qc) with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, specializing in Marketing and Management Information Systems. She quickly followed that up with degrees from McGill University in Civil and Common Laws (applicable to all of Canada). Lori is a member of the Quebec Bar.

Lori began her career with a private law practice specializing in mergers, acquisitions and tax planning. After 7 years she traded her private practice for a corporate position as Director of Legal Affairs and Human Resources for a multi-national with interests in the franchised foodservice industry across Canada. She later left to co-found Zyng Noodlery, a pan-Asian restaurant that was successfully sold to a private investment group after only 5 years in operation. Under her reign, Zyng garnered awards and accolades in the areas of operations, development, branding and marketing including the coveted “Frankie” from the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) for Outstanding Overall Corporate Image.

Lori is also one of Canada’s premier professional speakers and writers. She has been published in Canada’s foremost business and news publications, including Canadian Entrepreneur, CFA Magazine, The Gazette, Toronto Star, National Post and Journal les Affaires, plus numerous online publications. To view Lori’s articles, click here. Lori is quoted as an expert in over 100 articles. She is a regular guest speaker at the Franchise & Business Opportunity Shows and the CFA Convention, and gives a variety of seminars to meet the needs of the community. She has been a regular featured guest expert on CTV television's News You Can Use, discussing a variety of business issues, and has been featured on several radio stations and internet sites.

In addition to Lori's distinguished service on the boards of the CFA and the CQF, Lori has earned recognition for her work in the non-profit sector. She has served as President and CEO of St. Andrew’s School, Vice-President of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC), Chair, Strategic Planning Committee (CCFC), Chair, Marketing Committee (CCFC), Resource Chair of the Lower Canada College Parents Association and has participated in the organization and execution of dozens of charity events and fundraisers for a variety of causes.

To read Lori's blog, click here.

JESSIE HALL, MANAGER, CREATIVE & IT

Jessie Hall joined the LKA team in 2007, managing clients' marketing and branding creative direction and website development. Jessie won the Applied Arts Magazine 2005 Digital Media Award for her design of "axyz" website and was named 2006 "Young Blood" Up-and-Coming Talent. Jessie's corporate and agency experience lead her to design for clients that include Dashboard, BOS, Graffiti, and Splash Entertainment.

Her creative work extends to title sequences and motion graphics for Departures (television series on OLN and City TV), branding and promotion of Canada's Next Top Model Judge and Celebrity Make-Up Artist Paul Venoit, flash website for 2008 Juno Winner, MSNs launch of a new music portal, flash website for Toronto Film Festival Best Canadian Film winner "AMAL", styling and creative direction for various fashion and product shoots, design and packaging for various independent films, music videos, events, and awards galas. Jessie has great strength in concept and style development, branding, and creative direction. 

For over 20 years, Lee Johnson has participated in and excelled at the executive level of office administration; most of which has been spent with two renowned icons in the hospitality industry. Her responsibilities have included: managing a staff of over 50 people, purchasing, inventory control, overseeing payroll and accounting systems and designing & upgrading various operating systems.

Lee’s entrepreneurial spirit also allowed her to assist others in the start-up of their own business ventures. In doing this, Lee began to recognize a business potential for herself in part-time outsourcing. By providing certain needed administrative services to entrepreneurs, they could free up their time to concentrate on the core elements of their business, and without needing to hire out full-time administrative personnel.

In 2003, Lee created her business, Virtual Assistance, providing organizational and time-management skills and executive assistance on an out-sourced basis. She quickly became Lori Karpman’s right-hand and joined the LKA “dream team” in 2005.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Our Strategic Partners help round out our team so we can serve you better, from translation to SEO, social marketing, communications dedicated to the franchised foodservice industry, factoring and much more.

"Whether it be for recruitment services, reference checks or legal advice, Kelsey's has always found LKA to be extremely competent and effective. Their understanding and implication in the foodservice industry makes LKA an awesome partner for our brand. LKA takes our success to heart...a key element in a solid partnership." - Daniel Harvey, GMO, Quebec & Ontario East, Kelsey's