SPEAKERS: Tony Lamb, CEO Kona Ice & Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame
SESSION TITLE: How I Built This – The Power of the Brand
SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Kona Ice and president and founder Tony Lamb. Lamb began his career selling vacuums door-to-door and later became a marketing consultant. His “A-ha” moment came after his family had a “bad experience” with an ice cream truck, which prompted Lamb to create his tropical-themed, mobile shaved ice franchise, with the help of a former client/business partner. A story of inspiration and determination for his business to succeed and it has done just that!
Field of Study: Personal Development
Program Level: Overview / 1 CPE credit / Non-Technical
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Speaker BIO:
In 2007, Tony Lamb launched Kona Ice, a mobile shaved ice franchise that delivers to consumers in a colorful, eye-catching truck. It continues to attract kids and adults alike with its fun atmosphere, steel drum music reminiscent of the tropics, and delicious flavors that keep devotees coming back for more.
From the beginning, Tony wanted a truck that was clean, with employees that were friendly and presentable, and—of course—a product that tasted really good. He wanted Kona Ice to be a positive experience for all of his customers, while also being able to make a positive impact on the lives of the people and the communities it served.
Giving back was a huge component of Kona Ice in 2007, and it continues to be to this day. Their company slogan is, “Shaved ice is what we do, giving back is who we are.” Since June 2007, Kona Ice has given back over $135 million dollars to communities it serves nationwide. Whether it be through financial support for schools, youth sports, or the many other local charities in need, Kona Ice is proud to be helping improve neighborhoods across the U.S.
Since that time, the accolades have affirmed Tony’s vision. Kona Ice has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 List for several years running, rated the Top New Franchise in 2013, and regularly in the Top 25 Fastest Growing Franchises list over the years. Kona Ice has been consistently ranked #1 and #2 in Franchisee Satisfaction by Franchise Business Review, and One of the Best Places to Work in 2015 by the Cincinnati Business Courier. Additionally, Kona Ice has been included on Entrepreneur’s list of Top Company Culture and most recently, Tony Lamb was named the winner of the 7th Annual C-Suite awards by Cincinnati Business Courier. This annual program honors top-level executives who’ve shown outstanding leadership and driven stellar performance at Greater Cincinnati businesses and nonprofits. Tony Lamb won the 2021 Chief Executive Officer for a Large Private Company—a recognition of excellence.
As of 2023, Kona Ice has over 800 franchisees in the system and more than 1,700 franchise units across 49 states, Canada, and Mexico—and is continuing to grow every day!
LinkedIn: (34) Tony Lamb | LinkedIn
Website: Kona Ice | Join the Experience (kona-ice.com)