Mother-Daughter duo Gwynda Jones and Monica Nia Jones, franchisees with HOTWORX, join us today on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast.
We talked about their philosophy of: When the door opens walk through it and the pivotal moments in their lives that led to business ownership.
Gwynda’s during the pandemic, and while battling a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, she discovered the physical and mental health benefits of infrared energy, namely through working out at HOTWORX. Upon entering remission, Gwynda along with her daughter, Monica Nia, opened their HOTWORX location in Chicago’s River North Neighborhood in early 2023.
Monica Nia’s pivotal moment was when she was fired from her first corporate job after graduating from the University of Arizona. She decided to enter the Miss Illinois Competition in 2022. Monica was crowned Miss Illinois in 2022, the first Black woman to hold the title in 20 years. She competed in the 2023 Miss America competition, where she was named “People’s Choice” and finished as a top 11 finalist.
Listen in to the full interview here.
Meet Gwynda Jones
Gwynda Jones earned her B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Illinois State University, launching her career in Business Information Systems and Technology with GTE Data Services. Over an impressive 8-year tenure, she quickly climbed the ranks, culminating in the honor of being the Keynote Speaker at the Unitech, Inc. User Conference. There, her expertise caught the attention of the Quaker Oats Company, now PepsiCo, Inc., where she was recruited to implement a mainframe audit and control balance system into Quaker’s Master Service Agreement AR, AP, and GL systems.
This opportunity paved the way for a remarkable 30-year career with PepsiCo, Inc., during which Gwynda earned numerous accolades and certifications. Unfortunately, a debilitating medical condition prompted her to step back and focus on her health. After a long period of recovery, Gwynda eventually retired and began exploring new avenues, including franchising.
During the pandemic, while courageously battling a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, she discovered the transformative physical and mental benefits of infrared energy, particularly through HOTWORX workouts. After achieving remission, Gwynda, alongside her daughter Monica Nia, pursued a new chapter in franchising with HOTWORX, opening their River North location in Chicago in early 2023.
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Meet Monica Nia Jones
Monica Nia Jones is an accomplished entrepreneur and Managing Partner of HOTWORX in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, working alongside her mother, Gwynda. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Special Events Management from Arizona State University. After a stint in the corporate world, Monica set her sights on the Miss Illinois Competition in 2022, seeking a scholarship to further her education. Her determination paid off when she was crowned Miss Illinois, becoming the first Black woman to hold the title in 20 years.
Monica went on to compete in the 2023 Miss America competition, where she earned the “People’s Choice” award and placed in the top 11 finalists. Today, she continues to lead and grow the HOTWORX franchise, overseeing day-to-day operations that have grown their membership to over 400 active members. In addition to her business ventures, Monica is pursuing a Master’s degree in Communication to deepen her expertise in public relations, events, and marketing.
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