Franchise Interviews

FranConnect is the leading provider of Franchise Management Systems as more than 450 brands use the company’s comprehensive systems to establish, grow and manage their franchise operations. FranConnect’s integrated suite of applications allows franchisors to manage all aspects of their operations including Franchise Sales, Marketing, Financial Data Collection and Analysis, Royalty Invoicing and Automated Funds Transfer, Contract and Legal Document Management, Customer Relationship Management, Help Desk, Franchisee Support, Online Training, Supply Management, Automated Ad-Builder, E-mail Marketing, Franchisee Websites, ZIP Code Locator Service, QuickBooks, Peachtree and POS Integration.  We are meeting with President of Global Operations, Keith Gerson. In part 2, we meet with franchise expert Karol Mercurio in our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.

We are meeting with Stewart Vernon, CEO and Founder of America’s Swimming Pool Company. Today's show will discuss Stewart’s journey toward entrepreneurship and how he founded America’s Swimming Pool Company. He can discuss coming up with the business plan while in college, working as an apprentice after returning home for college and how he was able to get industry advice from a retired pool maintenance owner before launching his own company, ASP-America’s Swimming Pool Company. Stewart will discuss how he gained real experience by launching his own company and how that translated to the continued success that the brand is experiencing, having its best Q1 in 2012 to date. America’s Swimming Pool Company has also opened 16 new franchise territories that service 11 states and have signed their first Area Developer in Arizona this year.   America’s Swimming Pool Company, the Nation’s most respected swimming pool maintenance and repair franchise, was established in 2001 by Stewart Vernon of Macon, Georgia. The company was built on the belief that providing the highest-quality pool maintenance with competitive pricing and a high level of dependability will attract customers. Since 2005, ASP has expanded into 99 territories in the Southeast, servicing over 175 cities and eleven states across the country. At this point, the company manages over 60 million gallons of water per week and renovates or remodels more than 250 pools each year. In part 2, we hear from the great Warren Greshes from our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.

We are meeting with Ben Davis, President of N-Hance Revolutionary Wood Renewal and Rick Nance, franchisee to N-Hance.  N-Hance Revolutionary Wood Renewal is an innovative, affordable cabinet and floor renewal service that renews your wood cabinets and floors without the dust, inconvenience and noxious fumes associated with traditional refinishing methods. In many cases, the process can be completed in just one day! There’s no longer any reason to wait to renew that beautiful wood in your home. Based in Logan, UT and founded in 2001, N-Hance Revolutionary Wood Renewal is the trusted partner of Home Depot. N-Hance is backed by Harris Research, Inc., the same company that grew Chem-Dry into the world’s largest carpet cleaning company. A proprietary chemical abrasion and buffer technique requires no sanding and can cost 1/3 of the cost of re-facing or replacing cabinets. N-Hance has 200 franchises in the U.S. with 12 franchises in development

We are meeting with Ed Samane, the founder of The Pro Martial Arts franchise system. The Pro Martial Arts System is the result of decades of training and teaching experience. It encompasses an exciting and diverse curriculum of martial arts techniques drawn from the Korean arts of Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. What sets Pro Martial Arts apart from the average martial arts school is the addition of our inspiring and motivational Life Skills Training program. Pro Martial Arts students acquire more than just Black Belt kicking and punching skills: they learn the value of a Black Belt Lifestyle, a lifestyle of quiet confidence, poise, and fulfillment. Pro Martial Arts students are taught how to set and attain goals, be their own greatest advocates and proactively pursue and achieve success in all aspects of life.

We are meeting with Dom Cirello of the BookKeeping Express franchise opportunity.  BookKeeping Express, a national company that provides businesses with professional bookkeeping services, was founded in 1984 in California. After serving 13 years in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of Captain, Cirello spent the next 12 years as an IT project manager and business analyst. He finds a comfortable transition to BookKeeping Express as it is a technology-driven solution. Cirello obtained his masters degree at the Air Force Institute of Technology in systems management and business administration. In addition to owning a business, Cirello is active in his local community. A veteran with service-connected disabilities himself, Cirello supports his fellow veterans by volunteering regularly at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital along with the Knights of Columbus and Disabled American Veterans.   “So many otherwise sound businesses fail to account for their financial dealings, which in turn hinders their revenues and growth. They want to efficiently move forward, but without knowing how to best utilize their financial data, they often feel frustrated and overwhelmed…and that’s where we come in,” added Cirello. “The benefits of allowing BookKeeping Express to maintain their books with CPA oversight throughout the year are enormous from a cost standpoint...particularly in the current economic climate.  Without this kind of partnership expertise, I see too many business owners experiencing the negative impact of falling behind on their financial records.”

Today's show will focus on how Josh Skolnick, founder of Monster Tree Service, is now franchising. Josh Skolnick, a career landscaper who started a multi-crew lawn care service while in high school, was often asked by customers to address their tree problems. Having no experience himself, he regularly subcontracted the task of customers’ requests to tree specialists who could handle the job. Ever the entrepreneur, Skolnick quickly realized there was opportunity to capitalize by building up a professional tree maintenance business. Four years ago, Skolnick founded Monster Tree Service (MTS). Without ever pruning or felling a tree himself, he hired existing professionals to work under his brand and led his firm to become a highly profitable multimillion dollar business which has grown to multiple crews. With multiple experts in the trade to assist him, Skolnick developed a system he recognized as highly duplicable, so he moved to franchise MTS in April 2012. Monster Tree Service (MTS) is professional tree restoration, pruning and removal service founded in Fort Washington, Pa. MTS provides skilled, reliable tree management experts to assist customers with the best possible tree care solutions, while giving prospective franchisees a rock solid reliable system to duplicate and grow their businesses. Founded by Josh Skolnick in 2008, MTS quickly became a multimillion dollar business built on fast and trustworthy service customers could rely on for safe and solution-oriented tree care. It has since become a franchise opportunity for business professionals seeking a duplicable system designed to meet the high-demand service of tree care. In part 2, Marty and Don answer the question, "What is a franchise?"

PI Worldwide® is a premier global consulting organization specializing in leadership and sales performance development. PI Worldwide works with organizations of all sizes to uncover data-driven insights to create and sustain a high performance culture. Addressing critical business challenges from selection and employee development to succession planning, retention and sales force optimization, PI Worldwide.   PI Worldwide provides unlimited access to proven tools and learning programs, allowing business leaders to continuously uncover new levels of talent and value across the organization.  Since 1955, PI Worldwide has extended a passion for understanding talent into the boardroom, providing the data, expertise and global support to build world class teams in over 144 countries, 67 languages and more than 8,000 companies – including many of the world’s largest corporations.   We are meeting with Dave O'Brien, PI Worldwide. consultant.

We are meeting with franchise author, franchise speaker and serial frantrepreneur Lonnie Helgerson.  Lonnie has over 27 years in the franchise industry working with companies such as Super 8 Motels, Ident-A-Kid, and many more. We will be speaking to Lonnie about his new book "Five Pennies: Ten Rules to Successfully Build a Franchise Mega-Brand and Maximize System Profits."  In part 2 of our "Great Quotes in Franchising" podcast, we meet with Lawrence “Doc” Cohen, a veteran of the franchise industry who first franchised Great American Cookies 32 years ago, became the first-ever franchisee inducted into the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Hall of Fame.

Welcomemat Services developed an innovative concept that combines digital and print marketing to provide local businesses access to new loyal customers in their local communities. Welcomemat Services capitalizes on the unique marketing opportunities that families and individuals moving to a new region present as they actively seek out local stores, shops, restaurants and medical resources to provide them with daily services, products and entertainment. By targeting new residents, Welcomemat Services creates loyal customers who boost a business’ customer base and image while extending a warm welcome to individuals as they attempt to acclimate to their surroundings. With its sophisticated marketing system, Welcomemat Services works with local, regional and national businesses, retail brands, organizations and cultural institutions to offer monthly direct mail packages designed specifically to entice recent movers. We are meeting with the CEO of the Welcomemat franchise Brian Mattingly.   In part two we meet with the President of Alphagraphics for our "Great Quotes in Franchising" podcast.

Did you know that according to a recent Small Business Administration study, (http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/rs384.pdf) veterans in the private sector are at least 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed.   Today we are meeting with Sean Falk – A former US Marine infantry officer who served more than 8 years in active duty and reserves, including tours during Operation Desert Storm and in Bosnia.  Falk now owns 10 franchised businesses in several states.   And with the current unemployment rate for young male veterans who served during the Gulf War II era hovering around 21% (more than double the national average), entrepreneurship is becoming a very attractive option for thousands of returning service members. Franchising continues to be a popular way for veterans to take control of their futures.  In fact, Great American Cookies recently launched the Great American Patriot program (www.greatamericancookies.com/patriot) which provides a 40% discount to veterans. In part 1, we meet with Sean Falk, a former US Marine infantry officer who served more than 8 years in active duty and reserves, including tours during Operation Desert Storm and in Bosnia.  Falk now owns 10 franchised businesses in several states. In part 2, we will meet with Derek Henze of Toppers Pizza. Marty had the opportunity to meet Derek several years ago. Derek Henze, 28, is a franchisee with Toppers Pizza. He has signed for 3 stores in Minneapolis, MN market, expecting to open his first store in July 2011. Derek served in the US Army for eight years as a Field Artillery Specialist and Army Paralegal, serving one tour in Iraq from 2003-2004.