When Jeff Martin and his wife, Brandy, founded Smallcakes: A Cupcakery in Kansas City in 2009, little did they imagine that their family-owned cupcake shop would grow to a budding international network of franchises. Specializing in rich, decadent cupcakes baked fresh daily, Smallcakes has become a popular household name for being the friendly neighborhood cupcakery in its markets.
“This past year has been tremendous for Smallcakes,” says Martin. “We now have over 55 locations across 13 states and have multiple international locations in the works. With our rapidly growing family of stores, it has come time to also grow the management of our brand and operations.”
Smallcakes: A Cupcakery is proud to announce the appointment of Nadia Saqr as chief executive officer for its U.S. franchises. “We are privileged to have Nadia be a part of our team and to have the further support for our franchises,” adds Martin. In her role as CEO, Saqr will be responsible for overseeing the opening of new franchises and operations of existing franchises as well as assisting Martin with brand development.
Saqr joined the Smallcakes team in February 2013 after opening the first franchise cupcakery in the Texas region. In less than six months, the cupcakery had gained recognition in the Houston market being voted Best Cupcake by the Channel 11 Great Day Houston Viewer Fave Poll, and Best Cupcake and Best Dessert in the Channel 11 Best in Houston Poll. Her northwest Houston-based location is heavily involved in the community supporting numerous causes and charitable organizations, as well as local school and church groups.
“This is an exciting time for Smallcakes and I look forward to the many great things to come,” says Saqr. “I am honored to lend my experience and expertise to guide Smallcakes’ flourishing brand to a long, sweet and successful future.”
Nadia Saqr began her career in sales, marketing and business development at the technology firm Unique Digital in Houston, Texas. She chose to pursue an opportunity to give back to the community through education and outreach as the Marketing Coordinator for Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital and Houston Northwest Medical Center. Saqr was later promoted to Marketing and Communications Manager for Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital where she handled strategic marketing plans, community education, and philanthropy and volunteerism projects for the hospital and its network of community-based emergency, imaging and urgent care facilities. During this time she also was responsible for spearheading web and social media campaigns, and publishing multi-page publications to connect the health system to the community. Her efforts earned awards for creative marketing campaigns and designs from the Houston Advertising Federation and HMR Publications Group.
Though successful, Saqr decided to combine her goal of owning her own business and passion for baking by opening Smallcakes Houston. She is experienced in custom cupcake and cake decorating as well as figure modeling and 3D cake carving.
Nadia Saqr holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Houston C. T. Bauer College of Business. She has served on the board of the American Heart Association Northwest Harris County Division and is a member of the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, as well as cycling and traveling.
For more information on domestic and international franchising opportunities, visit Smallcakes online at www.smallcakescupcakery.com and on Facebook.
