ATLANTA, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — National DCP (NDCP), the $3 billion supply chain management company serving Dunkin’ franchisees, has announced its 2026 Board of Directors Officers. An active working board committed to advancing the needs of fellow Dunkin’ franchises, NDCP’s Board members are elected by their peers within a designated regional area (Series).

National DCP’s 2026 Board Officers include:

Shams Charania, Chairman of the Board – Charania was re-elected Chairman of the Board. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, he represents Series E. With over a decade of experience as both a Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins franchisee, he owns 43 restaurants throughout the southeast as well as a CML. Charania has chaired multiple committees, and most recently served as Board Treasurer. A previous member of Dunkin’s Brand Advisory Committee, Charania also served as the Vice Chair of the Atlanta Ad Committee. In addition, he was previously a member of the Southeast DCP Board prior to the merger that founded our organization in 2012. Charania has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Georgia State University as well as an MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Vishal Shah, Vice Chairman – Most recently serving as Secretary, Shah has been an NDCP Board member since 2021. The Series D representative owns Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins restaurants in Illinois and Iowa. A second-generation franchisee, he has been in the business since 1991. Shah has served on NDCP’s Finance Committee, Sourcing Committee, Operations Committee, and the Strategic Initiatives Committee. He served as a member of Dunkin’s Brand Advisory Committee from 2011 – 2015. In addition, Shah has been a member of Dunkin’s Manufacturing Sub-Committee, Regional Advisory Committee, and the Chicago Advertising Committee. He graduated from Northern Illinois University. In 2011, Shah was one of three franchisees profiled in a CNBC “Behind the Counter” story.

Dharmisth Patel, Treasurer – Representing Series D, Founding Board member Dharmisth Patel has been a member of the franchisee community since 1992 with Dunkin’ restaurants primarily located in the western suburbs of Chicago. He previously served as Board Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary throughout his long tenure and has chaired numerous board committees.

Neal Faulkner, Secretary – Representing Series B, Faulkner is a Founding Board member of National DCP. He has been a Dunkin’ franchisee since 2000, serving as the President of a team that operates 28 stores throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Faulkner previously served as Board Vice Chairman and Treasurer, and chaired numerous committees. A current member of Dunkin’s Brand Advisory Committee, he also served on the brand’s IT committee. Faulkner has both a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University in Business and History. In addition, he received an MBA degree from Babson College.

In addition, other National DCP Board members bring a strong business perspective and long tenure of service to the organization. Besides the Board officers, the 2026 roster includes:

Matthew Doyle – A Dunkin’ franchisee for nearly 25 years, at one point his business operated 100 Dunkin’ stores in Rochester, New York, Cleveland, Ohio and Worcester, Massachusetts. He resides outside of Worcester, Massachusetts and owns and operates Worcester Building Systems, which caters to commercial retail/medical/industrial /mixed use construction. Over the years Doyle has constructed, developed, and managed over 350k SF of real estate of various commercial uses. He previously served on the Northeast DCP regional Board of Directors from 2009 – 2011 before the merger that formed the National DCP. A member of NDCP’s board since 2014, he represents Series B. Doyle is a graduate of Assumption College and served several years on their Board of Trustees.

Dipak Patel – A founding Board member of National DCP, Patel played a critical role in the creation of our supply chain management co-operative, serving as the Board Co-Chair in 2008 – 2011 prior to the merger that created NDCP. Since that time, Patel served as the Chairman of the Board four times, held the Vice Chairman role, and has chaired every NDCP committee. He has served as a Dunkin’ franchisee since 1989, and today has around 100 stores located in New York, New Jersey and Florida. A prominent figure in the franchise community, Patel has served on a multitude of Dunkin’ committees, including the BAC, RAC, DAC, Enterprise Advisory Council, Marketing and Mid-Atlantic DCP committees. His education includes receiving a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, another bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in industrial engineering. In 2022 and 2020, he was honored as the New York Market Franchisee of the Year and in 2021 Patel won the Above and Beyond Award.

Atul P. Patel – Based in New Jersey, Patel became a Dunkin’ franchisee in 1994. Representing Series C, he owns and operates a network of five Dunkin’ restaurants as well as a CML in South Jersey. Patel brings a strong background in finance and technology and is deeply committed to ensuring financial stability, operational excellence, and long-term value for franchise owners across the NDCP system.
Patel has extensive leadership experience within the Dunkin’ system, currently serving on the Brand Advisory Council and its Manufacturing Subcommittee, and previously as a member of the Restaurant Excellence Committee. He is also a longstanding member of the New York Regional Advisory Council and the New York Regional Marketing Committee. Prior to his franchise career, Patel held senior roles at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. as Vice President of Trading Systems and at J.P. Morgan & Co., where he designed and implemented financial systems supporting institutional banking operations. Patel holds a master’s degree in computer science from NYU Polytechnic University.

Pathik Patel – Based in North Carolina, Patel has nearly 20 years of Dunkin’ experience and owns and operates 16 Dunkin’ restaurants, three Buffalo Wild Wings Go locations, and several additional retail businesses, with seven more locations currently in development. Representing Series E, he has demonstrated deep expertise across the full business ecosystem, including finance, development, operations, marketing, and construction. Patel is an active leader within the Dunkin’ system, serving on multiple committees including the Regional Advisory Council, Regional Marketing Committee, and Baskin-Robbins Profitability Committee in South Central. Leveraging his background in architecture and construction management, he supports disciplined growth and operational efficiency. As founder of VAAP Management, Patel is known for fostering a people-first culture rooted in his “Of Course I Can” philosophy, empowering teams to deliver outstanding service.

Joel Blanchard – As the Dunkin’ representative from Series A, Joel Blanchard serves as Chief Supply Officer for Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,600+ Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. He is responsible for leading the supply chain efforts for Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC, as well as overseeing international supply chain functions across the Inspire portfolio. He also leads procurement, quality assurance, commodity trading, and distribution and logistics. Prior to stepping into his current role, Blanchard served as Senior Vice President of Inspire’s Group Purchasing Organization and Brand Supply Chain, where he led joint procurement efforts between Inspire and external supply chain co-operatives. His previous experience includes time with the Boston Consulting Group and several leadership positions at Georgia-Pacific focused on pricing strategy and strategic sourcing.

Dennis Baker – Dennis Baker currently serves as an Independent Director on NDCP’s board. A former Marriott International executive, Baker held senior roles in procurement and distribution before leading the initiative to create an independent business offering best in class supply chain services to the hospitality industry. The company, known as Avendra, was eventually spun off and Baker was appointed President and CEO. Avendra is now a leading provider of procurement and related services to the broader hospitality industry across North America. Baker served as a member for the Board of Directors of Avendra from 2001 until 2014 and was actively engaged in the Audit and Compensation Committees.
Baker possesses a unique skill set of strategy, finance, and operations. He has held various senior roles in finance, accounting, and operations across multiple industries. Baker is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Georgetown University.

Stephen Down – With more than thirty years of outstanding financial and corporate leadership experience in the foodservice and distribution sectors, Stephen Down serves as Chief Executive Officer of National DCP, leading the company’s overall business strategies focused on transformation, effective processes, and sustainable growth. Prior to joining NDCP, Down served as the Chief Financial Officer of Shamrock Foods Company, Inc., a $5 billion foodservice distribution, dairy, and food manufacturing company and also held the positions of Senior Vice President, Broadline Finance for U.S. Foods, Inc., and Chief Financial Officer of The Martin-Brower Co. Down earned an M.B.A. in Finance and Corporate Accounting and a B.A in Economics from the University of Rochester.

About National DCP, LLC (NDCP)

National DCP, LLC (NDCP) is the $3 billion global supply chain management company serving Dunkin’ franchisees. The organization supports over 10,000 quick service restaurants in the U.S. and distributes products to more than 40 countries. NDCP’s expertise includes strategic sourcing of food and non-food items, equipment services, distribution, business services, supply chain and full visibility, traceability, continuity, and sustainability of supply. Each year, its extensive distribution network makes 700,000+ deliveries of over 86+ million cases, driving more than 30 million miles. Innovative practices with strategic sourcing, inventory, warehousing, transportation, and program management have allowed NDCP to generate more than $3 billion in cumulative savings for Dunkin’ franchisees. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, the award-winning company has nearly 2,000 employees nationwide at its nine distribution centers and 30+ logistics hubs. For more information, visit www.nationaldcp.com.