Meet the Team

Ray Titus is the CEO of United Franchise Group and its affiliated companies. Mr. Titus is a life-long entrepreneur who began his career with his father, franchising legend Roy Titus, and went on to develop a group of successful brands and franchise development services. Ray founded Signarama, growing it into the leading sign franchise in the world and laying the foundation for what has become United Franchise Group (UFG), The Global Leader for Entrepreneurs. Today UFG affiliated brands are among the most recognized within multiple industries, from franchise services to the family of affiliated franchise brands within the United Franchise Group division. Ray’s commitment to franchising helped establish the Titus Center for Franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University, the first university center of its kind. His philosophies on growth, positive attitude, and family influence the core values that have driven success within the award-winning brands he has developed from conception to international expansion.

Austin Titus is the Brand President of Accurate Franchising, where he leads franchise development and growth strategy for emerging and established brands. He previously was the Director of Franchise Development at United Franchise Group and served as President of UFG Emerging Brands, helping scale multiple concepts into successful franchise systems. Austin has also held presidential roles across several UFG brands, where he focused on building scalable infrastructure, strengthening broker relationships, and aligning brands, operations, and growth strategies to support long-term franchise success.

Michael Brugger is the President of Franchise Real Estate & the Services Division. Mike joined United Franchise Group (UFG) in 1994 and has been very successful in overseeing multiple departments of the company since. In 2000, Mike opened and managed the very first EmbroidMe store in West Palm Beach, FL. Among many other roles, Mike has managed UFG’s marketing, technology, and training departments and spent 4 years as the President of Fully Promoted where he lead the Fully Promoted team to help the brand and franchise owners grow profitability. Most recently Mike transitioned to President of Franchise Real Estate & the Services Division where he oversees UFG’s real estate team to find ideal locations for our franchise owners and clients to get them open as quick as possible while setting them up for success.

Michael White began his career as a Marketing Consultant for Signarama in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. He officially joined us in 2008, when he was named a Regional Director for Starpoint Brands affiliated brands Signarama and Fully Promoted in the Carolinas. Over the past 15 years, Michael has worked up the ranks to become Chief Development Officer, where he oversees franchise sales and the development of our family of brands. In addition, he also serves as the President of Venture X, working towards elevating franchise owner success.

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.

As the Chief Technology Officer, Max Taha directs the company’s online presence and its technology platforms, from websites, networking to franchisee store management and support tools. Max started his career in a Signarama store in Fargo, ND before transitioning in 2011 to the Corporate office in West Palm Beach, FL.

As Regional Vice President at Accurate Franchising, Mike Landis specializes in guiding businesses through the franchising process to achieve scalable growth. Prior to this role, he contributed to the development of several United Franchise Group brands. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Florida Atlantic University, he resides in South Florida with his wife, Brittany, their daughter, Layla, and their son, Lucas. Mike is deeply committed to ensuring clients’ success throughout and beyond their franchise development journey.

Jason Jacobson has been with United Franchise Group since 2014 in a variety of capacities with the company, and most recently transitioned over to Accurate Franchising in early 2021. He is responsible for project managing the entire development process for our clients, to include Strategic Planning, legal document creation, operations assistance and Sales and Marketing. He takes great pride in helping our clients develop their businesses into a lucrative and profitable franchise concept. He is originally from Islip, NY and now lives locally in West Palm Beach, FL with his wife, Jill, daughter Emma, and twin sons Pearce and Dylan.

Michael Bickford serves as Franchise Development Manager at Accurate Franchising, where he focuses on driving brand growth through strategic client development and franchise expansion initiatives. He works closely with franchisors to identify growth opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and enhance participation in the Sales & Marketing Program.

With a background in sales, operations, and logistics, Michael brings a performance-driven mindset and a strong commitment to delivering measurable results. Known for his ability to build relationships and execute growth strategies, he helps franchisors implement strategic growth initiatives.

Nadeen Retzler has been with United Franchise Group since 2008, with her career starting as the Director of First Impressions. Nadeen has held numerous positions at UFG including Communications Specialist, Franchise Development Representative, Executive Assistant and UFG Global Coordinator. She has been working with our Master License Partners around the world and takes great pride in assisting them with a “What Ever It Takes” attitude. Nadeen enjoys cruising and spending time with her family.

Diego Verd serves as the Accurate Franchising Development Manager, supporting franchise growth across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He joined the company in 2018 as a Franchise Development Representative and has since advanced into his current role within the development team.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Diego moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, to earn his bachelor’s degree in finance. His background in finance and franchise development supports his work with brands as they expand into new markets.

Cheryl Campbell serves as the dynamic and detail-oriented Operations Manager for AFI, bringing with her over five years of valuable experience in the franchising industry. Throughout her career, Cheryl has worn many hats—excelling in launch services, coordination, onboarding, and training—demonstrating her versatility and commitment to operational excellence. She is enthusiastic about integrating into the UFG family, expanding her franchising expertise, and contributing to AFI’s continued growth as a strong and collaborative team within UFG. Beyond her professional role, Cheryl enjoys quality time with her family and expressing her creativity through artistic pursuits.

Amanda Bloom is a seasoned operations professional with 20 years of experience at United Franchise Group, where she played a pivotal role in driving efficiency and collaboration across the franchise launch team. Throughout her tenure, Amanda was deeply involved in a wide range of operational functions, developing a strong reputation for streamlining workflows, managing cross-departmental initiatives, and leading projects from concept through execution.
 
Known for her problem-solving mindset and commitment to meeting deadlines, Amanda has successfully navigated complex challenges and consistently delivered results. She has cultivated strong vendor relationships, facilitated seamless communication between teams, and championed improvements that enhanced organizational performance.
 
Amanda currently lives in Jupiter, FL with her husband of 20 years and her 2 children. 

Crystal Perez is the Real Estate Manager for Accurate Franchising, where she partners with franchisors, franchisees, brokers, landlords, and developers to streamline the real estate process. She specializes in identifying locations that align with brand growth objectives, ensuring every new site supports long-term profitability, scalability, and community impact. Her expertise includes market research, demographic analysis, territory mapping, LOI drafting, lease negotiations, and build-out coordination. Leveraging advanced analytical tools, AI insights, and a strong broker network nationwide, Crystal strategically identifies prime opportunities to position franchise
brands for success.

With over 18 years of experience across multiple sectors of the real estate industry, Crystal has overseen luxury multifamily assets, new construction lease-ups, condo conversions, and property stabilization. In 2022, she pivoted to franchise real estate, securing commercial sites and managing ground-up builds for a leading brand. Since joining Accurate Franchising in 2025, Crystal has focused on helping franchisors expand by placing great concepts into thriving destinations.

Ariana Tamayo is the Marketing Coordinator at Accurate Franchising. She attended Florida Atlantic University, where she pursued a degree in Marketing with a focus in Digital Marketing. Ariana began her career within United Franchise Group as a Marketing Intern for The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill before transitioning into her current role at Accurate Franchising.

She has gained hands-on experience through multiple internships across various industries, as well as freelance marketing projects, with a focus on branding, content strategy, and digital marketing.