William (Bill) DiPaola

When your story begins as a homeless undergrad living in your car, at the mercy of friends who sneak you into their dorms to shower, every step up the ladder is met with greater meaning. Bill’s story may start unlucky, but for those who hear his message, inspiration explodes as he stirs and inspires audiences with his powerful insight about moving leaders forward, from career beginnings to dreams realized; establishing a work environment where teams celebrate the successes of those alongside them; and growing creative brand management strategies that double revenue.

With 27 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Bill embraces leadership responsibilities inside and out. A renowned thought-leader among the food, franchise, and hospitality industries, he is the current Chief Operating Officer of Franchising for Ballard Brands, LLC, with a portfolio of multiple brands and more than 200 units worldwide. Among the many brands that Ballard represents are PJ’s Coffee, which just opened its 100th location, and the Iron Chef Jose Garces fast-casual restaurants.

Bill currently sits on the board of the International Franchise Association and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, as well as the Louisiana Restaurant Association/Educational Foundation, and he serves as an Industry Representative of the National Restaurant Association. Bill has been featured in "Forbes", "Entrepreneur Magazine", "The Huffington Post", "Franchising World", "Franchise Times," and "Fast Casual Magazine". He was featured in the book "Franchise Management for Dummies" by Michael Seid and Joyce Mazero.