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Robin Gagnon, a a member of my "Franchise Family Faves."  In the past, she has been a savvy corporate marketer,  a business executive and corporate retail strategist.  Today, she is a franchisor, a Supplier and servant IFA leader.  Robin Gagnon is the co-founder and CEO of We Sell Restaurants, the only exclusive, “restaurant specific” business brokerage franchise concept that I am aware of in America.  Robin also chairs the Women’s Franchise Committee of IFA and is a member of the IFA Board of Directors. She holds an MBA from Appalachian State University, a Certified Franchise Executive designation from the IFA and has also earned a CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) designation from the International Business Brokers Association. Robin also co-authored the award-winning book Appetite for Acquisition and contributes frequently to industry press, including Forbes, QSR, Modern Restaurant Management, and Franchise Update.  Entrepreneur Media has named Robin Gagnon to their list of the “Top Influential Women in Franchising.”

It's Spring Break in America and right here, at Franchise Today!  I'll be back next week with Robin Gagnon, Co-Founder and CEO of "We Sell Restaurants!"  Until then, enjoy the break enjoy March Madness, I hope your brackets hold and I'll c-ya next week.

Trevor Rappleye is Founder, CEO at Franchise Filming.  Franchise Filming is about more than just video production.  It is more about storytelling, evoking emotion and communicating authenticity and happiness.  Trevor and his team are passionate about breathing life into all of the B2B and B2C videos they produce for the franchise brands that they serve.  They do it too, with a twist, offering their services on a subscription basis and they turn these videos around within an amazing 10 days of shooting them.  Here to tell us all about it, Founder, CEO and Chief Story teller, Trevor Rappleye.

It all kicks off with FranChoice Founder and CEO Jeff Elgin.  Then, Casey McKewen, Tim Evankovich, Mitch Cohen, Jonathan Benjamin, Ritchie Taylor, Jackie Adams, Charles Thurston, Mark Jameson, Tim Williams, Gregg Majewsky, Gary Prenovest, Dan Monaghan,Jim Thompson, Jack Monson, Clarissa Bradstock, Joe SIeve, Dave Crowley, Motaz Ibito, Dean Miller, Kit Vinson, Rogelio Martinez, Paul Pickett, Michelle ROwan, Paul Wolbert, Michael Seid, Thomas Scott, Mike Isakson, Eric Simon, Jim Atkinson, Ron Bender, John "Johnny Franchise" Francis, Omar Simmons, Steve Greenbaum, Gerry Henley, Scott Lehr, Tony Padulo,.. it's a Who's Who.  Enjoy!

Anne Huntington Sharma brings a unique perspective and depth of experience to Huntington Learning Center. In her role as President, Anne is focused on the company’s digital transformation efforts, continued franchise expansion, developing strategic partnerships and serving as the company’s public-facing representative. In her previous role as Vice President of Business Development, Anne developed and executed programs and partnerships that positioned the company to help more students. Anne works with each department to ensure the company’s vision is carried out. She brings more than 10 years of proven experience in sales and business development within the fields of education and art.  Top all that with the fact that Anne is the daughter of Huntington Learning Center founders, Eileen and Ray Huntington.  With a total investment range from $148,017 – $263,072 all in, almost anybody looking for a franchise shoud be able to afford this opportunity, assumng they meet (or exceed) all other franchisor criteria and considerations.

This week we hear from Craig Sherwood, Senior Vice President of Development of US Development at Wingstop.  Is there any doubt in your mind about how much I am looking forward to this conversation?  Craig is uniquely qualified attorney, business professional, and former Army officer with extensive senior leadership experience in franchise development and operations. Highly effective, at building strong relationships and consensus behind initiatives, leading to revenue and unit growth. His areas of expertise include: strategy formulation, franchise development, relationship management, revenue and EBITDA growth, conflict management, consensus building, contract negotiations, and leadership.

Roger Martin was once the Chief Operating Officer of an industry-leading pharmaceutical development and manufacturing company. His prior experience includes serving in the role of National Sales Director and Sr. Vice President of Sales, for leading sales and marketing teams of over 500 sales representatives in the specialty and big pharma market, so Roger brings a wealth of skills to his franchise brands.  Roger has extensive expertise in sales management, leadership, and deployment, business development, strategic selling, contract negotiation, business-to-business service contracting, licensing, and contracted services and  marketing.  Roger currently serves as the CEO of RockBox Fitness and beem™ Light Sauna and has owned and operated multiple RockBox studios and currently owns the flagship beem™ Light Sauna studio in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Collectively these brands operate under the umbrella of ThriveMore Brands.

Scott Thompson is Chief Development Officer and Managing Director of all the brands, operating under the Level Five Capital Partners banner, most notably Big Blue Swim Schools.  Scott is a strategic Franchise Executive, and Lifelong Learner, and Planner.  He is also a Data Driven Sales and Marketing Executive that continuously innovates and leverages technology to the nth degree, to accelerate growth across all the brands he is aligned with.    His specialties: Franchise Development, Lease Negotiations, Real Estate, Financing, Sales and marketing training, Franchise law, Corporate startups, Business Coaching, Partnership Development, and Teambuilding and Technology.  And he joins us this week, to talk about all of that and more.

This week we hear from Scott Zide, CEO of Empower Brands. He started out as an Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchise owner in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2000, and in 2002 was hired by the brand as a consultant, to help develop and support new franchisees. He became Vice President of the brand in 2004.  Today Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is one of seven brands under the Empower Brands umbrella and Scott is the CEO of the whole shooting match.   Following my interview with Scott, an exciting announcement from yours truly!.

Mark Jameson's career is as entertaining to hear about, as he is informative and enlightening.  Join us this week and learn about his story and the growth and development of Propelled Brands, under the leadership of former IFA Chairwoman, Catherisne Monson.

Rafik Farouk began his illustrious career in hospitality in Egypt, right out of culinary school.  Some 30 years later, he's done it all.  From tending bar to International Operations and Franchise Development.  Rafik's depth of experience has seen it all too, from both the franchisee and franchisor side of the equation.  Today, he directs International Global Business Development for P.F. Changs and he is here to tell us all about it.

This week we close out Season 13 of Franchise Today with a quick review of 2022 and a look ahead to 2023.  Violating every rule of PC (Political Correctness) I will wish you all the very best for a safe and Happy Holiday Season, calling out some of those holidays by their correct and proper names.  :)

I hope you all had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.  I certainly have enjoyed my break on the beaches of Amelia Island, FL.  This week I reprise my interview with Franchise Business Review's Emily George.  Anyone who knows her, gives thanks for the opportunity to do so.  What a better way to bring the Thanksgiving break to a close.  If you already know her, you know I'm right.  If you've yet to meet her, here is your opportunity.   C-ya back here to put the lid on Season 13 of Franchise Today, next Wed. at noon Eastern!

This week I present my interview with Jeremy Morgan, CEO of WellBiz Brands, the pre-eminent beauty and wellness franchise portfolio including Drybar®, Amazing Lash Studio®, Radiant Waxing™, Elements Massage®, and Fitness Together®. Boasting some nearly 250,000 members and $500 million of systemwide sales across the 900 locations of their collective brands,  WellBiz Brands is the leading franchisor of products and services that cater to the needs of affluent women. As CEO, Jeremy has spearheaded the M&A agenda for WBB.  Under his leadership the company has created a world-class membership ecosystem for franchisees, while also building expertise in supply chain management, e-commerce and product innovation. His influence and vision have helped the company earn national recognition on lists such as the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies and Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, among others.

This week I feature my former Wing Zone partner, Matt Friedman.  For years when we would bring prospects and guests into town for Discovery Day, they would inevitably make the leap that by virtue of our last names being the same and me being Matt’s senior by a good 20 years, that we were father and son.  They would look at all that Matt and Adam had accomplished in building the Wing Zone business and suggest how proud I must be of my son.  Well, while I would always agree with them about the growth of the business, I would tell them too, how proud I am of my son, but his name is Michael, not Matt and doesn’t participate in the business.  It was always lots of fun that I could count on monthly.  Anyway, I tell you all that to say this week I am particularly proud of my son Michael, as he gets ready to join his bride Megan, to share their vows of marriage.  So, who better to present today than that other Friedman, Matt, as I celebrate this sacred event with my "real son."  Next week, I am back and joined by Jeremy Morgan, CEO of WellBiz Brands, franchisors of Amazing Lash, Dry Bar, Elements Massage, Fitness Together and Radiant Waxing.

The Band of Hands HR platform is transformational in the management of recruitment, administration and retention of front-line employee relationships. Band of Hands is not a staffing company, a PEO, a payroll company or a compliance admoinistrator.... Band of Hands is all of those things and MORE!  Their game-changing software platform puts the wind at your back, while most everyone deals with head winds.  They've got this down, even in California, so they can do it for you too, ANYWHERE!

This week I present another in my series, "The RIsing Stars of Franchising," as I speak with Ben Utecht, who enjoyed an exemplary career on the gridiron, as a starting tight end for the Bengals, and Colts.  This culminated with a Super Bowl Championship in 2007, playing with Peyton Manning, on Tony Dungy’s award winning Colts.   Today Ben Utecht has brought his transferrable skills from the field and playbook, to the franchise game, as both a franchisor AND franchisee of Conquer Ninja Gyms.  Ben has had success in many realms, including being awarded Tony Dungy's Uncommon Leader Award following in the footsteps of athletes like Peyton Manning. Ben Utecht, this week, on Franchise Today!

This week, I’ll be talking with John Ramsay, Vice President of Franchising for the iconic Noodles and Company.  John’s background spans over 28 years of experience in restaurant franchise development, with such icons as TGI Friday, Jack in the Box, Marco’s Pizza and Bruxie International.  John joined Noodles & Company in November of 2020, as vice president of franchise development. While many restaurant concepts in this Covid/Post COVID era have been hitting the brakes, Noodles and Company has actually doubled down, as the Colorado chain with John leading the franchise development charge, hits the gas, driving Noodles' restaurant growth initiatives.  John’s history includes positions in both franchise and restaurant development and he is extremely excited to have the opportunity to grow and further develop a proven concept like Noodles and Co.  As we will discuss, Noodles has innovated and adapted quickly to the off-premise experience and offers attractive unit-level economics for franchisees." Noodles & Company offers the world’s favorite noodle dishes, salads and soups, all in one restaurant. Each dish is carefully hand-made to the guests’ specifications, using only the freshest ingredients. Noodles proudly uses REAL Food and REAL Cooking for REAL Flavors. Their dishes are inspired by the individuality, creativity and cultural heritage of cuisines from around the globe. From Penne Rosa to Japanese Pan Noodles, The Med Salad, and of course our famous Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, only the most authentic ingredients make the cut.  There's quite the story behind this award winning brand and here to tell it, is John Ramsay.

Goldfish Swim School offers swimming lessons to kids from the age of 4 months to 12 years. Founded by Jenny and Chris McCuiston in 2006, the swimming business started franchising in 2008, following a rise in demand for swimming lessons. Since then, the Goldfish Swim School franchise has expanded to more than 130 locations in both the United States and Canada. Andrew McCuiston, President of Goldfish Swim School is my guest, this week on Franchise Today.

This week I present another inspiring tale of two young kids that went to high school together, remained friends through college and then began a junk business that took off, right from the start.  The story:  College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving is all about how Nick Friedman and his partner Omar Solimon, rode the wave of knowledge and information they took from reading Michael E. Gerber’s E-Myth Revisited. During this interview, Nick will tell you that it was this book that transformed his point of view, from working in the business, to working on it and morphed it from the two of them doing everything from answering phones, driving the truck and collecting trash, to being an enterprise of 400+ franchised territories and growing.  Today, they are delivering nearly $300,000,000 in system-wide sales.   No doubt, one man's junk, is another man's treasure.  Nick Friedman is here, to tell us all about it.