Rogelio Martinez recently made a trip to Afghanistan, but he was not there on a political mission. He was there representing Tutor Doctor Systems Inc. The Van Nuys company offers tutoring services for K-12 students, and helps adults who are taking citizenship courses or military entrance exams. He was hoping to sign some deals in Kabul to open franchised locations. Martinez makes several overseas trips each year, working as vice president of international franchise development for the tutoring firm, an affiliate of Toronto’s Tutor Doctor. Last month, he traveled to the Middle East country as part of a team that included the U.S.-Afghanistan Reconstruction Task Force and the International Franchise Association. “We have no borders,” said Martinez, who has previously worked on franchise deals in Saudi Arabia, Chile and Colombia. Sometimes, however, Martinez has had to be creative in signing up foreign franchises. For example, in Saudi Arabia, male tutors cannot visit homes occupied by females. But now with computer technologies like Skype, Martinez said the company can do more overseas than it ever has. An Afghan who wants to become an accountant could be partnered with a certified public accountant here in the Valley. And Martinez isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Next month he’s headed to Tunisia. – Bailey Brewer
