Our Team ::

J. Perry Maisonneuve
Principal, Northern Lights Consultants Corp.

J. Perry Maisonneuve is the Founder and Principal of Northern Lights Consultants Corp. Educated at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Mr. Maisonneuve articled with Deloitte and Touche Chartered Accountants before joining a multi-national franchisor as the Director of Franchise Operations. Mr. Maisonneuve subsequently worked with a diverse range of franchisors in the marketing and expansion of their systems before going on to establish Northern Lights Consultants Corp. in 1998.

In 2002, Mr. Maisonneuve assembled and led the team of consultants in business, economics and law in conducting primary research in South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire and secondary research regarding the balance of the continent, and the extent of franchising internationally. The engagement included an International Symposium on Franchising in Africa held in Johannesburg, South Africa in May 2002, the publication of two texts entitled “Enhancing Business in Africa: Franchising” (authored and edited by Mr. Maisonneuve) and its companion volume “The Franchise Toolkit” (written by Mr. Maisonneuve), and a full day workshop dedicated to the final Report and its recommendations at the African Development Bank’s Annual General Meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in June of 2003.

In November of 2003, the Canadian Franchise Association (“CFA”) presented Mr. Maisonneuve with the “Franchise Support Services Recognition Award” for outstanding support and contribution to the CFA and the franchising community.

Since June of 2003, Mr. Maisonneuve has continued his work in the private and public sectors in Africa and the Middle East with regards to SME development through franchising and licensing. He has participated in capacity building symposiums in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria (April 2004), sponsored by the Nigerian Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (“NOTAP”), the World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) and the Nigerian International Development Association (“NIFA”); Cairo, Egypt (2004, 2005 and 2006), sponsored by the Social Fund for Development and the Egyptian Franchise Development Association (“EFDA”); and Casablanca, Morocco (2004 and 2007), sponsored by Le direction des investissements du Maroc, the African Development Bank, the Canadian International Development Agency (“CIDA”) and the American Moroccan Professionals Association (“AMPA”). Mr. Maisonneuve has also consulted with various private sector businesses in Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Dubai UAE, Abu Dhabi, UAE and Saudi Arabia with regards to franchising, licensing and distribution matters, as well as with certain Canadian franchisors interested in expanding overseas. In April 2005 and again in June 2006, Mr. Maisonneuve appeared before the Canadian Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs in order to provide testimony regarding his business activities and experiences in the private sector in Africa. In October 2009, Mr. Maisonneuve presented a paper to the American Bar Association (“ABA”) entitled “Franchising in the Middle East and North Africa: Business Perspective”.

J. Perry Maisonneuve is often interviewed and quoted by the media, and has published numerous books and articles on the subject of franchising. He is also a frequent public speaker and lecturer in this area. Most recently, Mr. Maisonneuve presented papers with regards to “Expanding Canadian Franchise Systems Overseas” (CFA Legal Day, March 2009); “Operations Manuals: Proper and Effective Development, Use and Protection” (CFA, Annual Convention, May 2009); and a third paper entitled “Franchising in the Middle East and North Africa: Business Perspective” (American Bar Association, October 2009) and participated in a webinar under the same name hosted by the ABA in February 2010. Mr. Maisonneuve also presented papers entitled “Franchising in Quebec” (CFA Marketing Day, January 2010) and “How to Franchise Your Business” (CFA, April 2010). Mr. Maisonneuve is currently featured by TD Canada Trust as a key note speaker in its on-line webinar entitled “The Business of Successful Franchising” (http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/smallbusiness/webinars.jsp).

Mr. Maisonneuve has provided expert testimony in franchise disputes as well as being listed in LEXPERT as an Expert Witness for litigation purposes regarding franchising matters.

Please contact J. Perry directly at jpmaisonneuve@franchiseservices.ca.

Deborah A. Ferdinand
Consultant

Ms Ferdinand is a marketing and sales professional with over 15 years of specialization in the Information Technology industry. Ms Ferdinand practices in the area of business development – including business development and strategic planning, franchisee recruitment and business divestitures.

Born in Trinidad and raised in Montreal Quebec, Ms Ferdinand holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and a degree from the Commerce & Administration program, both from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec.

Please contact Deborah directly at dferdinand@franchiseservices.ca.

Pacifique Biroli
Consultant

Mr. Biroli is a Certified Information Technology (“IT”) professional with extensive business development experience in North America and overseas. In addition to Mr. Biroli’s work with North American firms, he has successfully secured business opportunities on behalf of his clients as well as in his own business ventures throughout Africa for many years. Mr. Biroli’s success may be attributed to, among other qualities, his superior interpersonal and communication skills; his extensive familiarity with the business practices and diverse cultures throughout Africa; and his extensive network of professional colleagues and business associates at varying levels in both the private and public sectors

Born and raised in Rwanda, Mr. Biroli holds a degree in management from the Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. In addition to a strong command of the English language, Mr. Biroli is also fluent in five additional languages: French, Italian, German, Swahili and Kinyarwanda.

Please contact Pacifique directly at pbiroli@franchiseservices.ca.

Dale E. Maisonneuve
Editorial Consultant

Dale Edward Maisonneuve is responsible for the research, development and editing of various forms of operations manuals and franchisee training manuals as well as employee training, certification and policy handbooks for the Firm’s clients.

Dale Maisonneuve began his career as a writer and researcher with the Canadian federal government and subsequently with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He has been published in The Globe and Mail and has written a novel that is currently under consideration by publishers.

Mr. Maisonneuve has developed and edited operations and related manuals written for IMAX Ltd., The Jimmy the Greek Group of Companies, The Beat Goes On Franchising Inc., Santino’s Pizza & Pasta, Sunshine Grounds Care, Pro-Shred, Two Men and a Truck, Il Fornello and AllStar Wings & Ribs

Mr. Maisonneuve holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec.

Please contact Dale directly at dmaisonneuve@franchiseservices.ca.

Julia A. Gatto
Office Manager

Julia A. Gatto is responsible for client relations and office administration including preparation of legal documents and quality assurance compliance, human resources, bookkeeping and maintaining the Firm’s library.

Ms Gatto’s previous experience includes over 15 years working with various prominent Canadian law firms in the field of corporate finance and securities law focusing on commercial transactions and initial public offerings.

Ms Gatto holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo, as well as having completed her Law Clerks of Ontario Program and Business Administration Program at Conestoga College (Waterloo). Ms Gatto has also pursued ongoing education at Ryerson, York and Brock Universities in the areas of Art History, Psychology and Political Science.

Born in Italy and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Ms Gatto is fluent in Italian as well as English.

Please contact Julia directly at julia@franchiseservices.ca.