OUR FRANCHISE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Tipton Shonkwiler is the Brand President for Accurate Franchising and also the President UFG Consulting Division. Tipton has been with United Franchise Group for more than 20 years. He has been working in the franchise industry for the past 35 years and has served in various capacities including franchise development, sales and marketing, international master license sales, international brand development, along with having the direct responsibility for the day to day operations for several UFG brands throughout his career. Tipton is a Certified Franchise Executive within the International Franchise Association and holds a Franchise MBA from Nova Southeastern University. Originally from Ohio, Tipton now resides with his wife and 3 kids in Palm Beach County, FL.

It is fitting that Austin Titus has a passion for helping people achieve the American Dream since his family is steeped in a rich tradition of entrepreneurship. His grandfather, Roy Titus, was the founder of Minute Man Press and his father, Ray Titus founded Signarama and United Franchise Group (UFG), known as the global leader for entrepreneurs.

While attending Florida Atlantic University studying business, Austin gained hands on experience working for Signarama and Fully Promoted franchise owners. After college he began working at United Franchise Group headquarters in the Franchise Development department, eventually becoming director of the department and also Director of Broker Relations, positions he held for four years.

Austin’s experience in development was instrumental in the creation of United Franchise Group’s Emerging Brands division where he served as president and contributed to the growth of several brands, eventually leading to his appointment as President of Network Lead Exchange (NLX) in 2019.

His contributions to growth and dedication to the success of emerging brands culminated in his additional appointment in 2022 to FranVestCo, a franchise service that identifies and invests in promising new concepts. As President of FranVestCo, Austin is responsible for strategically identifying and cultivating top performing brands, influencing the future evolution of United Franchise Group.

Chad Palmer has been with United Franchise Group since 2018 and has held roles as VP of Digital Marketing and VP of Franchise Development. He brings to AFI over 20+ years of Digital Marketing expertise in both franchising and multi-location businesses. Often featured as a guest panelist or as a podcast guest speaking on the latest trends in marketing, Chad is regarded as an industry expert and is a valuable resource for AFI clients. He has a passion for helping entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality. He also heads our Extended Support Program which is designed to give emerging brands the support they need most to succeed and grow.

Lincoln Baker is a Client Relations Coordinator for Accurate Franchising Inc. He started with United Franchise Group in 2021 as a Franchise Development Representative. He then held the position of Marketing and Development Representative for Accurate Franchising Inc. Lincoln is originally from Kentucky. He has also lived in California and currently resides in South Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Florida where he majored in Political Science and minored in Communications Studies. Lincoln enjoys working with entrepreneurs, who are looking to franchise their own business, to help guide them to achieve their franchising potential.