Our Leadership
With combined experience of more than 100 years in the franchise arena, we believe our leadership is one of the best in the industry. CEO Richard Palfreyman and his team of dedicated visionaries have worked together for over five years to ratchet up our potential for success. Each of our principals joined Relax The Back because they believe in our products, our business model, and the growth potential of our industry.
Executive Bios
Richard W. Palfreyman, Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Palfreyman has been President and Chief Executive Officer since November 2001. As such, he is responsible for all aspects of Relax The Back activities, under the direction of the Board of Directors. Mr. Palfreyman has over 37 years of experience in a broad range of businesses. From October 2000 to July 2001, he was the Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer of Spa Finder, Inc. in New York City. From October 1997 until July 2000, he was Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer of Spectra Entertainment in Moorpark, CA.
Robert S. McMillan, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer
Bob McMillan has over 30 years of broad business experience in primarily senior management positions. With over 20 years of experience in franchising, he has been both a franchisor and a franchisee. Mr. McMillan joined Relax the Back in October 2004.
From 1995 to 2004 Mr. McMillan was Senior Vice President and CFO of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, Inc, the world's largest computer training company. McMillan helped the franchise organization grow from 50 locations in 4 countries to over 275 locations in 54 countries. His management and franchise expertise helped New Horizons earn prestigious recognition with Fortune Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies, Forbes Magazine's 200 Best Small Companies and Business Week's 100 Hot Growth Companies.
Mr. McMillan is a graduate of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Bill McClymonds, Vice President of Franchise Development
Mr. McClymonds primary focus will be growing the number of stores through the United States and Canada. He has over 18+ years of experience in the Franchise and Financial Services Industries. Most recently, he worked at Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services handling Franchise Sales and Merger's/Acquisitions throughout North America. Bill graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Economics
Leanne Mattes, Vice President of Marketing
Leanne Mattes has over 30 years experience in the retail industry with publicly traded and privately owned companies. Ms. Mattes joined Relax The Back in July 2001.
Ms. Mattes spent most of her career at The Broadway, a regional department store based in Southern California, with both in-store experience and 10 years in various buying positions. In 1989 she was promoted to the Vice President of Advertising where she planned and managed a $70 million media budget. In 1995, Ms. Mattes was hired as the Vice President of Marketing by KidsMart, a national specialty retailer with 350 locations, where she worked to re-brand the company with new marketing materials and remerchandising of all the stores. Prior to joining Relax The Back, Ms. Mattes spent 3 years working for Ambrosi and Associates, where she consulted with companies like Ulta Cosmetics, Petsmart, and Saks Inc. on brand strategy, marketing plans, results analysis and budgets.
JD Nespoli, Vice President Merchandising
Prior to joining Relax The Back, J.D. Nespoli spent 27 years in the retail merchandising industry. He has held executive tenures with Department store leaders such as Abraham & Straus, Robinson's, and Robinson's-May. He was the Senior Footwear Buyer for Robinson's-May and later Director of Merchandising for Van's shoe company. In addition, Mr. Nespoli has extensive background in store management with companies such as Polo Ralph Lauren.
More recently, Mr. Nespoli spent several years as the Director of Merchandising for Evolution Furniture Company, a fast-growing, independently owned Bay area home furnishings company. Mr. Nespoli is now responsible for product development, visual merchandising, merchandise assortment planning, and sales support planning for the Relax The Back franchise network of stores.
Max Beaty, Vice President of Franchise Operations
Mr. Beaty has been Vice President of Franchise Operations since December 2004. He joined the company in December 2003 and until December 2004 was Director of Operations. Mr. Beaty was Founder, Owner and C.E.O. of Yogurt Enterprise System, Inc., a franchisor of Frozen Yogurt stores in California and Arizona from 1981 to 2001. After selling the business in 2001, he was the Operations Consultant for Gloria Jeans Coffee, a national chain of specialty coffee shops from 2001 to 2003.
