Franchise Interviews

We are meeting with Jeff Schwietert of the Schwietert’s Cone and Candy franchise opportunity.  Schwietert’s   is a family run, candy and ice cream franchise. With three locations along the Oregon coast they are eager to begin branching out. Jeff Schwietert, son of the founders took it upon himself to drop out of college in order to grow the family business and bring the delectable treats of Schwieter’s cones and candies to the Portland area.

This October, Franchise Interviews is featuring “Great Women Leaders in Franchising” month.  We are first meeting with Susan Black-Beth.  Susan is the Chief Operating Officer of Super Wash, Inc., the nation’s largest self-serve car wash franchisor, which was founded by my parents.  Prior to assuming the role of COO, Susan served as Senior Vice President and Director of Franchising from the inception of the Super Wash franchise program in November, 2000.  When Susan was 19 years old she bought her first Super Wash(r) car wash with my sister.  Susan was featured in the January 2011 issue of Franchise Times as one of the “20 to Watch” in 2011; received the IFA’s prestigious Bonny LeVine Award for mentoring and promoting women in franchising in 2012; and am the proud recipient of the 2013 Crystal Compass given by the IFA’s Women’s Franchise Committee celebrating leadership in franchising, company and/or community. Next, we are meeting with Ann Connor of AdviCoach. Ann recently received a Crystal Award from WEBB Women Empowered by Business.  Every year, WEBB - Women Empowered by Business, an organization designed to support, encourage and empower women to go into business and to grow their business, recognizes select female entrepreneurs for their exceptional success and mentorship to other women in business.

This month Franchise Interviews is celebrating Great Women Leaders in franchising.  Today's interview is with Melanie Bergeron.  Melanie officially joined the family business in 1989 when she was awarded the first TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise in Atlanta, Ga. Bergeron also maintained a career in pharmaceutical sales while operating the franchise because all profits from the franchise were being reinvested into the family business. At the request of her mother, Founder Mary Ellen Sheets, Bergeron came to work at the home office in Lansing, MI in the 1990s. In 1994, Bergeron was named president of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. In 2002, she became chief operating officer and in January 2007, she took over as CEO. She became chair of the board in 2009.

This October, Franchise Interviews is featuring "Great Women Leaders in Franchising" month. Today you are going to hear our interview with Jo Kirchner, president and chief executive officer of Primrose Schools, leads more than two hundred fifty schools nationwide. Her lifelong mission is to deliver a nurturing environment and a high-quality early learning foundation to help children become confident adults who love who they are and what they do. Jo joined Primrose in 1990 as vice president of the company and became president and CEO in 1999. Under her leadership, Primrose has grown from four schools in Atlanta to several hundred schools nationwide today.

Over the last eight years, Franchise Interviews weekly radio show has interviewed some amazing leaders in the world of franchising.  This October, Franchise Interviews is featuring “Great Women Leaders in Franchising” month. Today’s Great Women Leaders in Franchising is with Hala Moddelmog.  Hala Moddelmog served as president of the Arby’s franchise system.  Arby’s has approximately 3,500 units and annual system-wide sales of approximately $3 billion. Under Hala’s leadership, Arby's had 12 repeated quarters of comparable store sales increases and increased EBITDA by 80 percent from 2011 to 2012. Her team created new brand positioning, launched new product platforms and new advertising campaigns and redesigned the logo. In 2006, she was chosen as president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s biggest grassroots organization working to eliminate breast cancer through teaching, knowledge, public policy and science throughout the globe. While she was president, Komen received its first-ever 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, there was an increase the number of corporate sponsors and she led international mission delegations to Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Moddelmog was the first woman to lead an international restaurant company when in 1995 she was named president of Church's Chicken, the world’s third largest chicken brand with 1,500+ restaurants in 15 countries and nearly $1 billion in system sales. During her tenure, Church’s Chicken experienced eight years of consecutive comparable sales increases, which outpaced the food service industry growth rate.

Over the last eight years, Franchise Interviews weekly radio show has interviewed some amazing leaders in the world of franchising. This October, Franchise Interviews is featuring "Great Women Leaders in Franchising" month. Each week, interviews will be featured with Catherine Monson (CEO of FastSigns), Hala Moddelmog (President of Metro Atlanta Chamber, served as President of Arby's, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure), Melanie Bergeron (Chair of Two Men and A Truck), Jo Kirchner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Primrose Schools, Ann Connor (AdviCoach, Crystal Award winner from Women Empowered By Business -WEBB), and Susan Black-Beth, Chief Operating Officer of Super Wash. The shows will discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, motivation, women in business and of course franchising. October 2, 2014 Catherine Monson, CEO of Fastsigns International, is no stranger to hard work and long hours on the job. She started working in her family's pre-school business. She has a strong background in franchising and digital printing, having served for over 28 years with another one of the most well-respected business to business franchisors in the industry. Catherine Monson has also starred in the popular show

We have a great show  today - We are meeting  with Mark Dawson, CEO and President of bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain™ was launched in 2014 by a team with decades of plumbing franchise industry experience. It is a proud member of Home Brands Group™, which manages popular franchise companies that date back to 1979, including the Re-Bath® full bathroom remodeling brand. While bluefrog Plumbing + Drain™ is the newest national plumbing company, we've already made a splash, mixing proven systems and years of experience with new innovation and exceptional territory availabilit

We are meeting with Leonard Fisher, President and owner of Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt. Since 1945 Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt is made fresh every day on the premises. We use products, equipment, methods and recipes exclusive only to Handel's. Each batch is made in freezers specifically designed to create Handel's distinctively smooth and creamy texture. What made this interview a bit different was our President Marty McDermott got to sample a half of a dozen different flavors. Learn more by listening to this fantastic interview.

We are meeting with Bill Swanson, CEO of Cartridge World. Cartridge World background: •             Cartridge World is the world’s leading retailer and franchisor specializing in selling brand name printers, high-quality ink and toner cartridges, printing supplies and service for business and domestic customers. •             The company pioneered an industry 20 years ago, and is still the global franchise leader with 1,400 stores in 50 countries. •             This year, Cartridge World will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary in the U.S. •             Cartridge World was named #90 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list. •             While Staples and Office Max/Depot have announced plans to close 625 stores, Cartridge World is looking to fill that need in communities across the country. Ex-big box store managers and B2B sales peoples are ideal franchisee candidates for the company.   In Part 2, we have a clip from our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.  Franchise Interviews meets with Jeffrey Bier who owns and operates the Franklin Lakes, New Jersey location and Norman Friedman a multi store Cartridge World owner who owns and operates the Brick, New Jersey and the Toms River, New Jersey Cartridge World locations.

We are meeting  Matt Kelton, CEO of Showhomes.  Founded in 1986, Showhomes has helped Realtors® and homeowners sell more than 25,000 residential properties worth more than $8.5 billion, by transforming high-end vacant houses into fully-furnished, inviting, valued Showhomes. Currently serving prominent communities in 18 states, Showhomes is a rapidly expanding franchise system with nearly 60 offices nationwide. Boasting the expertise of long-time real estate and interior design professionals, Showhomes is a one-stop-shop for home staging, home redesign, “One-Day Makeover’s” for currently occupied homes and its proprietary Home Manager program – a proven model to get upscale vacant homes off the market, faster. Every major national media outlet in the U.S. has praised the work of Showhomes, the company’s work has also been featured on Oprah, HGTV and the Travel Channel.