Executive Leadership

The Alliance Franchise Brands Executive Team is a unique blend of seasoned business strategists and long-time, successful owners of franchise locations who each bring their unique perspectives to the organization. The company is privately owned with no outside capital.

Mike Marcantonio

CEO

Chief Executive Officer since 2011, Mike Marcantonio became an investor in the company in 2000 with others on the management team. In 2006, he expanded his role by becoming Chief Strategy Officer. His entrepreneurial spirit and success-driven attitude has been instrumental in planning the future of the company and positioning it as a driving force in the marketing and visual communications industry today. He has spearheaded growth strategies through acquisitions and company restructuring, paving the way for growth. Marcantonio’s franchising experience began at Domino’s Pizza, Inc. in Ann Arbor, MI where he served as Vice President of Tax.

Ramon L. Palmer

Chief Operating Officer

Ray Palmer was named Chief Operating Officer in 2023 after serving as the President of Franchise Operations since 2020 when he provided executive oversight for all Marketing & Print and Sign & Graphics brands. As president, CEO and co-founder of Palmer Vohrer Enterprises, Palmer had been a multi-unit Signs By Tomorrow franchise owner for more than 10 years. He served as a member and chairperson of Signs By Tomorrow’s Franchise Advisory Council on which he played a key role in developing a national website for the firm and establishing an advertising fund for franchise members. Palmer holds both an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in business from The Johns Hopkins University.

Lisa Buehler

President Marketing & Visual Communications Brands

Lisa Buehler was named President Marketing & Visual Communications Brands in 2023. She is the former Vice President – Sales & Marketing as well as an owner of two franchise brands in Little Rock, Ark., Allegra Marketing Print Mail and Image360. The Centers have received numerous local and national awards for their achievements. She served as a member and chairperson of Allegra Marketing Print Mail’s Network Advisory Council and served as a member of Image360’s Franchise Advisory Board. Prior to these roles, Buehler worked in the hospitality industry, opening and managing restaurants for Hardee’s Food Systems and then Applebee’s. With over 30 years of experience in the print and graphics industry, Buehler brings a passion and understanding for building great client experiences.

Michael Cline

Chief Development Officer

With over 17 years of franchise experience in the print and sign industry, Mike Cline is a wealth of knowledge with unmatched dedication and passion. As Alliance Franchise Brands Chief Development Officer, Cline serves as a key member of the Leadership Team and is an active participant in directing strategic decisions toward the company’s overall vision and growth. He is responsible for overseeing the Franchise Development Team, promoting system growth via new Center placement and acquisition, maintaining third-party broker relationships and assisting Franchise Members with exit strategy. Having supported dozens of entrepreneurs in gaining ownership success, Cline has a deep understanding and breadth of knowledge within all facets of the industry, and truly understands the joy of creating profitable and fruitful businesses.

Harry Silverman

Chief Financial Advisor

Harry Silverman was named Chief Financial Advisor in 2009. His 30-plus years of experience in public accounting began at Grant Thornton International where he worked with several NYSE firms. Silverman joined Domino’s Pizza in 1985, leading several restructurings and recapitalizations, including the sale of the company to Bain Capital. In his role as Executive Vice President & CFO, he led Domino’s $1.1 billion recapitalization in 2003 and its Initial Public Offering in 2004. He serves as treasurer of the Cancer Support Community in Ann Arbor, MI.

Laura Pierce

Chief Administrative Officer

Laura Pierce began her career at American Speedy Printing Centers in 1996 in accounting. She was promoted within finance and accounting through the years and in 2015 became the Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration joining the leadership team. In 2020, she was named Chief Administrative Officer and oversees administration, accounting, legal and compliance, and human resources departments in addition to managing all corporate records. Pierce has an MBA in management.

Joe D’Aguanno

Chief Technology Officer

Joe D’Aguanno was named Chief Technology Officer in 2013, leveraging technology across business units, identifying best practices with new tech and applying them company-wide. D’Aguanno was a long-time Allegra franchise member in the Detroit, Mich. and Windsor, Ont., markets. D’Aguanno has more than 25 years of experience in the print and graphics industry. He began his career as an entrepreneur in college when he founded a graphic design business. He became Director of Technology and a partner in the Windsor, Ont., and Clawson, Mich., Allegra centers in 1994.

Burke Cueny

Executive Vice President Marketing

Burke Cueny was named Executive Vice President Marketing in 2023. Cueny joined Alliance Franchise Brands in 2015 and oversees the Marketing support team, focusing on lead generation for Franchise Members and brand development. Prior to joining the company, Cueny founded and ran a marketing firm for over a decade that concentrated on building brands and growing sales for franchise companies and other multi-location businesses. His background also includes marketing leadership roles with Domino’s Pizza, Rite Aid and The Stroh Brewery Company. Cueny has an Advertising undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and an MBA from Central Michigan University.

Jessica Eng

Executive Vice President Business Development

Jessica Eng was named Executive Vice President Business Development in 2023. She has 20 years of franchise marketing and sales experience and helps develop the company’s strategic vision and direction as a member of the Executive Team. In her current role, she leads the business development and sales support team, as well as Franchise Member communications and events. She understands the need to align sales and marketing with a strong focus on the customer experience, while increasing sales through strategic product diversification. Eng has her MBA in Marketing Management.

Brian Tyll

Vice President, Corporate Operations

Brian Tyll began his career in the printing industry as a pressman for a Detroit area company. He worked his way up to production manager, overseeing prepress, print, bindery and shipping at a publication production company. He spent the next eight years in management positions at Admore before launching a service bureau and purchasing a commercial printing company. He was named Vice President, Corporate Operations in 2013.

Greg Schwartz

General Manager

Greg Schwartz oversees operations of the corporate-owned Image360 franchise in Plymouth, Mich. A founding member of Progressive Art and Frame Design, Schwartz has more than 18 years of experience providing first-in-class artwork, display consultation and fulfillment solutions to discerning corporate and healthcare clientele. With the merger of Progressive Art and Frame Design with Image360, Schwartz continues his focus of refining and redefining the value proposition Image360 brings to its customers through high quality, innovative and fresh offerings combining aesthetic and function to produce unparalleled results.

Schwartz began his career in public accounting for KPMG and later worked in the private sector in various finance, tax and treasury capacities. As general manager of Progressive Art and Frame Design, he was instrumental in the diversification and expansion of the company’s product offerings and design driven growth strategy and had oversight of a number of the company’s major client relationships including University of Michigan Health System, Beaumont Health System, Oakwood Health and others