FERZANA VALANI
Edmonton,Canada
Summary
Senior Franchise District Manager with over 25 years of leadership in multi-unit restaurant operations across 34 franchises. Drives operational excellence and guest satisfaction while coaching 32 franchisees to enhance performance, resulting in improved sales and sustainable growth.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Franchise District Manager
FDF Brandz
07.2026 - Current
- Lead operational performance across 34 franchised restaurants representing Ricky's All Day Grill, Humpty's Big Plate Diners, and Famoso.
- Coached and supported 32 franchisees in strategic business operations to enhance performance.
- Led operational strategy and Front-of-House training for new restaurant openings, ensuring seamless integration and execution.
- Mentor and coach two Franchise District Managers while promoting consistent operational execution.
- Partner with executive leadership to implement brand initiatives, LTOs, and continuous improvement strategies.
- Acted as senior escalation point for operational performance, franchisee relations, food safety, and guest experience, resolving critical issues effectively.
Franchise District Manager
FDF Brandz
07.2022 - 06.2026
- Oversaw multi-unit franchise portfolio across Northern Alberta and Saskatchewan, enhancing operational consistency.
- Enhanced sales, labor, food cost, audit performance, and guest satisfaction through targeted operational coaching.
- Developed managers into successful leaders through mentoring and succession planning.
- Facilitated successful restaurant openings, remodels, and operational rollouts, ensuring seamless transitions.
National Customer Service Representative
Gordon Food Service
08.2018 - 07.2022
- Managed national customer accounts, consistently exceeding service expectations by enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Resolved customer complaints through effective communication and problem-solving.
- Assisted customers with product inquiries and order placements.
- Collaborated with Sales, Logistics, Purchasing, and Operations to resolve complex issues, reinforcing customer relationships.
- Maintained accurate records of customer interactions and transactions.
Franchise Owner & General Manager
Ricky's All Day Grill
01.2000 - 05.2018
- Owned and operated multiple restaurant locations, ensuring profitability through full P&L responsibility.
- Managed budgeting, forecasting, payroll, inventory, staffing, marketing, and operations to drive operational efficiency.
- Developed high-performing management teams through targeted coaching and leadership development.
Education
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Alberta
Skills
- Franchise Operations
- Franchise Operations
- P&L Management
- KPI Management
- Budgeting
- Strategic Planning
- Operational Excellence
- Process Improvement
- Food Safety & Compliance
- Restaurant Openings
- Franchise Development
- Leadership Development
- Customer experience
- Franchise Operations
Key Business Results
- $15M+ annual sales volume across a multi-brand franchise portfolio.
- Executive operational leadership for 34 franchised restaurants across Ricky's, Humpty's, and Famoso.
- Strategic business partner supporting 32 franchisees across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
- Mentor and coach two Franchise District Managers, supporting onboarding, leadership development, and operational consistency.
- Led operational readiness and Front-of-House training for 12 successful restaurant openings.
- Improved average operational audit scores from 82% to 91% through structured coaching and accountability.
- Increased average Google Review ratings from 3.9 to 4.2 by strengthening guest experience standards.
- Improved SkipTheDishes performance to 9.5+ across key locations through operational coaching and execution.
- Former franchise owner with full P&L accountability and 25+ years of hospitality leadership.
Professional Development
- Alberta Health Services Food Safety Certification
- WHMIS
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Leadership Award – Ricky's All Day Grill (2017)
Timeline
Senior Franchise District Manager
FDF Brandz
07.2026 - Current
Franchise District Manager
FDF Brandz
07.2022 - 06.2026
National Customer Service Representative
Gordon Food Service
08.2018 - 07.2022
Franchise Owner & General Manager
Ricky's All Day Grill
01.2000 - 05.2018
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Alberta