BOARD OF MANAGERS
In addition to our company leadership, we are supported by an incredible board of managers, who provide support, guidance and input on our company operations. Learn more about this distinguished group of professionals below.
Michael Burnette
Michael B. Burnette, CCIM, is one of the founding members of Mosquito Joe and the founder of Burnette Development. He served as Chairman of the Board until February 2019. He specializes in private equity syndication of real estate developments and operating companies. Through a core group of investors, Michael has helped raise private equity funds to build and/or fund and open 25 self-storage facilities, three PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) franchises, a heavy construction equipment rental company, and several mixed use properties.
Michael is an active member of YPO and currently serves as an appointed Commissioner with the Norfolk Airport Authority. He has served as an appointed Director of the Norfolk Economic Development Authority and appointed Commissioner of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Michael has served on the boards of Monarch Bank, Towne Bank, the Norfolk Forum and the Virginia Zoo (having served as Co-President). Inside Business recognized Michael in 2007 as one of the “Top Forty Under 40” business leaders in Hampton Roads and again in 2009 for “Excellence in Entrepreneurship.”
Michael has a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics from Hampden-Sydney College and an MBA from The College of William and Mary. Michael enjoys boating, skiing and aviation with his family as well as spending time out West and on the Outer Banks. Michael, his wife Cathy, and three daughters live in Norfolk, Virginia.
Harry Krensky
Harry Krensky is a managing partner of the private equity firm, Discovery Americas. Harry is also a founder and director of the airline Volaris. He sits on the board of directors of transportation companies Lipu and FTM, education company AMCO International, and healthcare company H+. Harry is a member of the board of Defy Ventures and a member of the Board of Trustees of Colby College. He was a founder of emerging market hedge fund managers Discovery Capital Management and Atlas Capital Management and was a founder of the Deutsche Bank emerging market hedge fund. He has worked in the emerging market group of Bear Stearns and has served as an Adjunct Professor of International Business at New York University's Stern School of Business.
Harry has a Bachelor’s Degree from Colby College, a Master's Degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
Kurt Landwehr
Kurt has been in the franchise development industry for almost 20 years. He is currently the Vice President of Franchise Development for Regis Corp., the global leader in the hair care industry with 10,000 salons worldwide and $2 billion in system wide sales. Since joining Regis in 2011, Kurt has led a team of franchise development professionals that have recruited over 500 new franchisees in five years and has elevated Supercuts to #3 in the Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 Ranking.
Prior to Regis, Kurt founded a franchise consulting company, BrandONE Franchise Development. Over a six year period, BrandONE recruited 1,000 franchisees for their client companies, most notably taking Snap Fitness from a 100+ regional brand to over 1,200 stores. Other clients included: PostNet, UNITS Mobile Storage, Bright-Star Care, and others. Kurt started his career at Great Clips, helping that company grow from 250 units to over 2,500 in a 13-year period.
Kurt lives with his wife and two children in Minneapolis, Minnesota and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Kevin Wilson
Kevin Wilson is the CEO of Buzz Franchise Brands. He has served as Chairman of the Board since February 2019. He has held these positions since July 2012. Prior to this Kevin was a Senior Managing Director with Envest Ventures where he oversaw $160M across three funds that made 28 investments, four of which were franchisors. Before joining Envest, Kevin was a Senior Managing Director of Discovery Americas, a private equity fund based in Mexico City, Mexico. Utilizing his experience in the airline industry, he developed a business plan and co-founded Volaris, (NYSE: VLRS) an ultra low cost airline. His career includes being CEO of South African Airways Technical, the independently owned maintenance operation of South African Airways, based in Johannesburg, South Africa; the CEO and Founder of Benny’s Bagels, a franchisor of retail bagel stores based in Dallas, Texas. Kevin began his business career working for Bain and Company as a consultant in Toronto, Canada and Dallas, Texas.
Kevin obtained his business degree from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Kevin and his wife Katy live in Virginia Beach, Virginia with their three children.
Brian Garrison
Brian Garrison has served as Chief Operating Officer of Buzz Franchise Brands since 2015, and added the role of President of Buzz Franchise Brands in 2020. Before joining Buzz Franchise Brands, Brian worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where his focus was on operations and strategy across various industries such as aerospace and defense, energy, financial services, and government. He also comes from a military background, having served in the Navy for 22 years and holding multiple leadership positions, including commanding an F18 squadron.
Brian grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in aerospace engineering. He was commissioned as an Ensign in 1990, and holds M.S. degrees in both aerospace engineering and national security studies, as well as an MBA from the Wharton School. Brian and his wife Melissa reside in the Virginia Beach area with their two children.