Frank Krasovec has founded, built and monetized various successful companies over the last thirty years. He is a determined leader with an eye for strategic growth opportunities and the capacity to attract strong operating executives and develop successful management teams.
Frank is Chairman and one of the primary sponsors in building Dash Brands, a major quick service restaurant platform in China. Frank co-founded Dash Brands, Ltd. in 2007 by acquiring the development rights for Subway in Shanghai and Jiangsu Province. Dash also owns the development rights for Domino’s Pizza in Eastern & Northern China, which includes Shanghai and Beijing. Dash is growing rapidly and will open over 100 new Domino’s stores in the next two years. Macquarie Capital became a strategic financial partner in 2013 and is working with Dash to prepare for an initial public offering.
In 2005, Frank was elected Chairman of the Ohio University Foundation to reorganize and lead the University in its major fundraising campaign to grow the endowment from $220 million to $1 billion dollars. Ohio University was established over 200 years ago and presently has over 30,000 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs. Under Frank’s leadership the endowment has more than doubled in size since 2005. In 2008, former Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland appointed Frank to the Board of Regents to represent Ohio University. In his role, the Board of Regents has called upon Frank’s strong financial and strategic leadership to advise on the directive to reengineer and reset priorities during unprecedented economic challenges for higher education.
Frank began his career at Pittsburgh National Bank, now PNC. He relocated to Austin as co-founder of The Rust Group, a Texas-based investment partnership. A series of successful ventures followed: The Rust Group founded Communications Properties, Inc. and Prime Cable, domestic cable television operators; Telesystems International Corporation, a Zurich-based international cable television group; Rust Properties, a commercial real estate development company; and Evergreen Capital (now Austin Ventures), a venture capital firm.
In 1983, Frank founded Norwood Promotional Products, Inc. (NPPI) and remained CEO for nearly two decades. Under Frank’s leadership, NPPI grew from $4 million to over $470 million in annual revenues. The company achieved recognition as the nation’s leading supplier of promotional products. With Frank at the helm, NPPI’s 3,000 products were sold by over 16,000 distributors in North America.
In 1984, Frank founded Littlefield Real Estate Company. The Texas-based commercial real estate investment and operating firm acquired 50 commercial properties with an investment basis of approximately $400 million. In 1996, the company began an orderly liquidation and sold its three portfolios to CarrAmerica (office), Los Angeles County Employees’ Retirement Association (industrial) and Galesi Management (multi-family).
In 1984 Frank also developed the operating platform Norwood Investments where he serves as Chairman. Norwood Investments is a private enterprise that invests in and manages rapidly expanding companies in growing or consolidating industries. Primary investments included promotional products, media and telecommunications, and real estate. Norwood Investments is providing strategic assistance to investors interested in buying and selling in attractive markets. Frank has deep expertise in the private equity, hedge fund, and real estate markets.
Frank is Chairman Emeritus of the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees. Frank has been active in the Austin/San Antonio chapters of Young Presidents’ Organization, and as a founding member of the World Presidents’ Organization. Frank and his wife Margaret are generous donors to Ohio University and to the Austin community where they reside.