KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(// BUSINESS WIRE //)--Goddard Systems, Inc., named the number one child care franchise company for the eighth year in a row by Entrepreneur magazine, announced today that Joseph Schumacher has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2010. He succeeds his brother, Phil Schumacher, who is retiring at the beginning of next January after seven years in the role.
"Goddard Systems, Inc. provides a level of quality that surpasses anything currently available in the child care industry," said Joseph Schumacher. "The Goddard School® is the franchise system for success-oriented entrepreneurs. I look forward to continuing the company's unparalleled support for our franchisees, directors and teachers while further expanding the innovative programs for which the company is known."
After representing the company as outside counsel for 20 years, Joseph Schumacher joined Goddard Systems, Inc., as Chief Operating Officer in 2007. In that position, he has been responsible for overseeing franchisee relations and support, including operations, a stringent quality assurance program, advertising and marketing, human resources, accounting and legal.
Before joining GSI, Schumacher was a partner with Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where he was chair of the firm's Franchise and Distribution Practice Group. He has extensive experience in all aspects of franchising and distribution including creation and growth of franchise programs, transactional and regulatory matters, day-to-day business consulting and litigation and arbitration. A frequent lecturer and author on franchise matters, Schumacher has spoken and written for the American Bar Association Forum Committee on franchising, the International Franchise Association and various other organizations.
Named one of the top 100 franchise attorneys in the nation by Franchise Times magazine, Schumacher has also been selected for inclusion in The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (in franchising) and in The Best Lawyers in America.
Phil Schumacher retires at the beginning of January. He first joined the company in 1992 in the franchise sales department, became president in 1996 and was promoted to CEO in 2002.
During his tenure the company grew from 80 schools to more than 350 today, and became the fastest growing preschool in the United States.
About Goddard Systems, Inc.
Recently named #1 Childcare Franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine, for the eighth consecutive year (January 2009) and one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales), by Franchise Times for the second consecutive year (October 2008), Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI) is expanding The Goddard School® network throughout the United States. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, GSI currently licenses 350+ franchised schools with more than 40,000 students in 37 states. With a successful system in place and dedicated franchisees, GSI is the acknowledged leader in franchised childcare and a premier childcare provider in the United States. Goddard is owned by Wind River Holdings, L.P.
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