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NOA Leadership
Blake Casper
Chairman | Director
Blake Casper is the CEO of Caspers Company Inc., a 62 McDonald’s Restaurant Franchisee. He serves as a Tampa General Hospital Board Member, Hillsborough Education Foundation Board Member, Managing Member of Riverside Recovery, and is a past president of the Tampa Bay McDonald’s Marketing Co-Op. Blake is a private pilot, avid skier, local bookshop operator, and a YPO member. He is married with two daughters, McKenzie and Chapman, and resides in Tampa, FL.
Robert Lane
Vice Chairman | Director
Robert Lane has been an Owner/Operator since 1975. Along with his wife, Jen, he operates 19 restaurants in central Kansas. He has received honors, including the Golden Arch and Gerry B. Newman Philanthropic Man of the Year Award. Robert is also a two-time Ronald Award Winner. In addition to being the recipient of many awards, he has previously served as Co-Op President, RLC Chair, DLC Member, NOAB Member, NLC Representative, and SET Team Chair. He has negotiated to rebuild policy my term on SET and served on the RMHC Board Wichita since 1981.
Larry Tripplett
Director
Larry C. Tripplett has been an Owner since 1988. He owns and operates seven McDonald’s Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently serving as Chairman and CEO of the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association (NBMOA) for the second time. Larry is a licensed Real Estate Broker and Investor. He has served on the Co-Op Board, Stanford University School of Education Advisory Board, and the Peninsula Boys and Girls Club as Board President. As President of of the Boys and Girls Club, he helped raise 8 million dollars to build a new club and completely remodel another one. He has been a Board Member for the Stanford Ronald House. He was recently recognized for donating the equivalent of $500,000 in meals for the popular Friday night meals program at the house. Larry, a former educator, supports local schools by donating for scholarships. He has received numerous McDonald’s awards including the Ronald Award. He also worked as a Crew person for McDonald’s in one of the old “red and whites” in the 1960’s.
Val Netland
Treasurer | Director
Val Netland is a 27-year veteran McDonald’s Owner of 15 restaurants in the Twin Cities. Her restaurants excel operationally and focus on profit while insisting on premier people, practices, and training. In addition to being the recipient of many awards, she has previously served on the NOAB, NLC, RLC, WON Board, SET Board and COOP People Team. As a member of the NOA Executive Board, her commitment is to communicate openly and respectfully to her peers and McDonald’s corporate staff while maintaining a sense of partnership. She plans to advocate to find the right solution with the help of the Owners, suppliers and McDonald’s to continue moving the brand into the future with integrity.
Bob Hogan
Secretary | Director
Bob Hogan has been an Owner/Operator in the Boston region for 34 years. Prior to becoming a McDonald’s Owner/Operator he was an assistant district attorney in Boston. Bob is a two-time Ronald Award winner, and has been an elected member of NOAB, NLC, and OPNAD. The NOA has reignited his passion for McDonald’s and he is honored to be serving on the NOA Board. Bob is extremely appreciative of the NOA creators, Blake Casper and Mark Salebra, and is thankful for everything they have accomplished to move the brand forward. His wife, Michele, has been a judge in the Boston area for 20 years. He has been married for 44 years and has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
Joel Pellicci Sr
Director
Joel Pellicci Sr has been a Owner / Operator for just over 41 years. He, along with his wife Linda and son Joel, operates 13 restaurants in the Myrtle Beach, SC area. Prior to becoming a owner he served as a pilot in the United States Navy. With McDonald’s he served on the NOAB, NLC, and was a RLC Chair and Chairman of the East Division. He and his organization were recognized with the Golden Arch, Ronald Award, People, Mentor, Press On and Marketing Street Fighter Awards. Joel is honored to serve on your NOA Board of Directors helping represent the interest and point of view of the owners.
Michael Retzer Jr
Director
Michael Retzer, Jr. is a second-generation McDonald’s Operator and CEO of the Retzer Organization, a McDonald’s Franchisee for over 46 years and Operator of 100 restaurants in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas. Retzer is currently the NFLA Representative of the Ark-La-Tex Co-Op and has previously served as the Capital Campaign Lead for the Little Rock Ronald McDonald House as well as Vice Chairman of The Great Southern Region RLC. Retzer also serves on the Board of Planters Bank and Trust Company and is a Young President’s Organization (YPO) member. An avid duck hunter and golfer, he and his wife, Jacqueline, are the parents of two children, Sara Taylor and Michael III, and reside in Little Rock, AR, where they are members of Pulaski Heights Methodist Church.
Mike Donahue
Executive Director
Mike Donahue has worked for McDonald’s for 20 years and has 40 years of advocacy experience for business owners and companies. Donahue worked for small business trade associations, led the state of Illinois’ Small Business Department, lobbied for 3M company, and launched sports and restaurant brands. During his tenure at McDonald’s he held multiple positions including leading the government relations department for 11 years, starting the first Public Affairs and Social Responsibility functions, and for several years worked as the Chief Communications and Customer Satisfaction Officer in McDonald’s USA. As Chief Communications Officer his mantra became “When We Tell Our Story We Win” and easily recounts the number of victories accomplished when the three-legged stool united on a common goal. He has two sons, Patrick, 21, and Keaton, 18, and admits he’s a lousy golfer, but enjoys it just the same.