Author: Rebecca

Author and serial entrepreneur Jenna Banks, joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide. 

Jenna Banks is an entrepreneur, public speaker, author, podcast host, real estate investor and self-love advocate focused on women’s empowerment. Be on the lookout for Jenna’s newest book: I Love Me More: How to Find Happiness and Success, Through Self-Love. Coming out in March 2022. 

You’ll find this interview fascinating if you: 

• Are a people pleaser
• Are an over giver 
• Everyone else’s needs, wants are more important than yours 
• Have trouble setting boundaries 
• You find yourself frequently exhausted, depressed, anxious or resentful  

Jenna Banks practiced self-love which allowed her to overcome a traumatic childhood and young adulthood. She was able to move up the corporate ladder with just a GED, navigate single parenthood, negotiate profitable real estate investments and launch, scale and sell her marketing products company.   

Listen in to hear her story and learn how self-love might just be the recipe to healthier relationships, greater success and happiness.  

Meet Jenna Banks

JENNA BANKS is an entrepreneur, public speaker, author, podcast host, real-estate investor, and self-love advocate focused on women’s empowerment and gender equality. Her new book is I Love
Me More: How to Find Happiness and Success Through Self-Love.

Having survived a traumatic upbringing, as well as a nearly fatal suicide attempt, Banks was able to thrive in the business world, despite being armed with only a high school equivalency diploma. Early in her career, she worked in management and entrepreneurial roles, producing marketing products for major movie studios in Los Angeles, including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros. She has also worked in the toy and games industry, including with well-known brands such as Hasbro, Mattel, and Lego.

As someone who learned to never question her instincts, Banks trusted the inner call to quit her comfortable six-figure corporate job and start a home-based marketing products business in 2012 with $400 and a laptop. While running the company, Banks simultaneously ramped up a profitable realestate venture and then later sold her marketing products business for $500,000.

Since selling her company, she’s now focused on what she feels is her higher purpose: to share her story and her message of empowerment and the incredible importance of self-love with the world through her writing; speaking engagements; The Jenna Banks Show, a podcast and video series; and her newest lifestyle brand, TigerFeather.

When she’s not working, Banks enjoys collecting fine art, playing tennis, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and connecting with and inspiring other women to succeed and be empowered.

Marci Kleinsasser, Vice President, Marketing at Handyman Connection joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.    

As a teenager Marci stocked shelves and worked the cash register at her dad’s The Medicine Shoppe franchise. Little did she know that franchising would turn out to be a true passion. Her passion shows in her contagious glass is always full attitude, her uncanny ability to traverse obstacles and help her franchisees grow marketing share.      

Listen in and be inspired as we talk collaborative cultures and individual significance and how she and Handyman Connection fosters a sense of family. Marci provides advice on what to do with the Negative Nellie should someone be having a bad day.   

Meet Marci Kleinsasser

Marci is the Vice President, Marketing for Handyman Connection, the original home improvement and remodeling franchise concept with over 60 locations in North America.  In her role at Handyman Connection, Marci heads up all consumer and franchise marketing.    

Prior to joining Handyman Connection in 2012, Marci led the marketing teams for some well-known brands in franchising – PuroClean, Coverall, Benihana, Kenny Rogers Roasters and Domino’s Pizza.  She also worked on the agency side at Tinsley Advertising and BBDO South for brands like Premier Cruise Lines, Mayor’s Jewelers and Burger King, and worked in partnership marketing at Alamo Rent A Car.    

With more than 30 years of marketing experience for mostly franchise companies, Marci is fanatical about brand experience and franchisee success. Marci holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Florida International University, a Franchise Mini-MBA from Nova Southeastern University and is a Certified Franchise Executive by the International Franchise Association.    

Attorney, advocate and franchise advisor April Porter joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.

Porter has an inner justice compass; a due north. She has been fighting for the underdog and the victimized most of her life. As a prosecuting attorney she worked tirelessly to bring justice to the victims of child abuse, sex offenses and murder.

After 10 years she left the world of law and entered the franchise space. She quickly realized there were some ‘gaps’ between her experience and skills and the franchise model. She was overwhelmed with the magnitude of responsibilities in areas that she was unfamiliar with including marketing, sales, employee development and financial management.

With much introspection and a problem-solving mindset she immersed herself in learning how to be a successful business owner. Ultimately April became an award winning, multi-unit franchisee.

Listen in as April shares how her passion and purpose have collided by helping franchisees and franchisors think, strategize and execute.

Meet April Porter

As an award-winning entrepreneur with a proven record of success, April has experienced first-hand the joy of building a business that creates a dream life.

She is fulfilling her mission of teaching franchisees how to fill the gap between the franchise model and the executive-level know-how needed to increase revenues, build a reliable team, and scale to multiple locations.

When she started as a first-time business owner, April was overwhelmed with the magnitude of responsibilities in areas that she was unfamiliar with (marketing, sales, employee development and financial management), so she fully immersed herself in learning how executives think, strategize, and execute.

April’s approach to franchise ownership created explosive growth.  She expanded to four locations in record time by cultivating a team of employees personally invested in exceeding expectations and maximizing performance.  She used a strategic plan to motivate and empower everyone to drive toward the mission of reaching their BHAG, allowing April to delegate the daily operational tasks and become an absentee owner.

With a passion for mentoring Franchisees, she began teaching the formula to multi-unit success – an evolution from an employee role inside the business into an Entrepreneur overseeing growth and expansion.

April loves finding ways to simplify business ownership by breaking down concepts into easy-to-implement, step-by-step processes and introducing out-of-the-box strategies that separate her clients from their competitors.

As a 3x winner of St. Louis’ Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies, an AAFD Trailblazer Award recipient, and an International Best-Selling Author, April is the go-to specialist for optimizing the systems that make delegation possible, implementing marketing and sales strategies with a high ROI, developing an elite team, and scaling to multiple franchise units.

As a former trial attorney and Judge, April understands the legal agreements and teaches franchisees to think and act like CEOs within the brand standards of the franchise model they love, setting her apart from other coaches.

April believes that franchising provides an awesome business model that benefits from a franchisee proficient in leadership, marketing, sales, and financial management skills, with a growth mindset.

April is dedicated to mentoring franchisees that want to enjoy life, enhance their impact on the world and crush the competition.

Some might say Kim Hanson, CEO of LearningRx is a daddy’s girl. I would argue Kim Hanson is Dr. Ken Gibson’s muse. Listen in and decide for yourself.

I think there are a few things we can agree upon:

Dr. Gibson (Kim’s dad) and Kim Hanson are purpose driven individuals.

Cognitive skills training creates real life results.

The spiritual and intellectual mantel that Kim carries is heavy, and worth it.

The baton has been successfully passed and the race is on to fill yet another football stadium with clients from around the world who have been helped.

Join us on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.

Meet Kim Hanson

Kim Hanson is the CEO of LearningRx, the largest one-on-one brain training company in the world with 60+ centers in the U.S., and locations in over 40 additional countries around the globe. She began her leadership role with the organization in 2004 as executive VP and was named chief executive in 2017. Her career passion is to help professionals, educators, and parents learn more about cognitive skills training and the dramatic results it can have on real life performance. 

Prior to her time with LearningRx, Kim worked in education with second and fifth graders at several inner-city schools in Nashville and Minneapolis. 

Kim is CFE Certified (certified franchise executive) and is a graduate of North Central University in Minneapolis. She is the proud daughter of Dr. Ken Gibson, founder of LearningRx, with whom she co-authored the book Unlock the Einstein Inside in 2007.  

Beyond the workplace, Kim currently enjoys mentoring high school and college students as they identify future career options. In addition, she is a vocal advocate for the civil rights of people with intellectual & developmental disabilities (I/DD). 

Kim is married to her husband Dr. Wayne Hanson of 26-years and together they are busy raising their four children: Lily, Zac, Max and Gracie. In her free time, Kim loves creating custom pottery for family and friends while also watching football on Sundays as she is a diehard Green Bay Packers fan.   

Learn more about Kim Hanson 

Learn more about LearningRx 

Self-proclaimed franchise nerd Cassidy Ford joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.

Here are some topics covered in this episode:

Cassidy talks about trust, specifically her trust in God and the many lessons of learning how to trust herself and others.

Cassidy is the account director at FRM Solutions and the only woman in her company. She shares how her gifts as a woman, encourager and one that is good at keeping others accountable.

The importance of self-awareness and how the statement “I Find” plays such a vital role in her life and business. This part of the conversation … is crazy eye-opening (for Rebecca and hopefully each of you) as Cassidy digs deep into the many benefits of this statement. You must listen to this young sage-like woman and her insights.

Additional topics: Empathy, Grace, Mercy, Risk, Fear of letting others down and the one question the hosts should have asked and more importantly how Cassidy would have answered.

Meet Cassidy Ford

Cassidy Ford is Account Director at FRM Solutions, an enterprise-level, end-to-end franchise relationship management platform.   

A self-proclaimed franchise nerd, Cassidy’s experience spans from launching development departments with emerging brands like How Do You Roll?—a fast-casual sushi concept featured on ABC’s Shark Tank—to working with resales and under-performing franchisees with legacy brands such as Huddle House. Now, in her role at FRM, she uses her insight to consult with other franchisors on CRM utilization and industry best practices.   

Cassidy proudly serves on the IFA’s Women’s Franchise Committee and is a dedicated member of the Southeast Franchise Forum and the Atlanta Chapter of the Women’s Franchise Network.   

Learn more about Cassidy Ford  

Learn more about FRM Solutions 

Elizabeth (Liz) Roberts, multi-unit franchisee with Pure Barre joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.  

Liz is an athlete. She played competitive softball, basketball, soccer, rugby and ice hockey in high school and college. In each she excelled with the exception of ice hockey where she claims she was the worst player. Liz talks about the pressure on top athletes and the many blessings when you are the worst player on a team.  

Whodathunk!? She shares how the lessons of being the ‘worst hockey player’ translates into the way she coaches her son’s soccer team and runs her Pure Barre business.  

Confidence runs through Liz’s veins. She had no doubt she was going to be successful running a business. She studied business in college, her parents were entrepreneurs and her husband is an entrepreneur.  

Elizabeth discusses the entrepreneur’s get the job done mindset and how her upbringing and athletic nature plays into that.  

Listen in to this inspiring business woman as she shares her views on competition, contribution, community and culture.  

Meet Elizabeth Roberts

Vermont native, Elizabeth, has been living with her family in Massachusetts since 2008.  Liz has a strong athletic background, having played sports her entire life, and her passion for health and wellness has only grown since childhood.   

Elizabeth studied entrepreneurship and finance at Babson College, and played sports throughout college. For several years after college she pursued a career in finance, but her ultimate goal was to run her own business.   

After the birth of her two children, she took her first Pure Barre class. She soon realized the impact Pure Barre could have on strengthening one’s body and overall wellness when she saw her body change post-childbirth, and she knew she wanted to bring Pure Barre to the community. Liz loves the burn and body-transforming results of the Pure Barre workout.  She opened her first Pure Barre while pregnant with her third child and ‘tucked’ all the way through!  After opening her first studio she grew from one location to 9 studios in under 5 years.  

Elizabeth sits on the Pure Barre Presidents Council and Marketing Committee to work with the franchisor on the brand. Elizabeth and her husband, Frank, live in Easthampton MA with their three children, dog and cat.  

Learn more about Elizabeth Roberts 

Learn more about Pure Barre 

As a middle child Marianne Murphy discovered the best way to stand out from her siblings was to be the Director and Chief of Everything. A role she took to like a duck to water. Always a bit independent it took some time for Marianne to realize going it alone is not always the best answer. Business has taught her that a true leader surrounds herself with smart, capable people.

Marianne Murphy, CFE and Vice President Brand Experience joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa on this fascinating episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion and Purpose Collide.

Listen in as Marianne share’s her journey and discusses the vital role tradespeople will play in the future of franchising.

Meet Marianne Murphy

A veteran of franchising with over 30 years of experience, Ms. Murphy joined Floor Coverings International®, a FirstService Brands company, in October 2011, and currently holds the role of Vice President, Brand Experience.  In addition, Marianne is an active participant in the International Franchise Association, having received the designation of Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), and previously served on the IFA’s Women’s Franchise Committee.  She was awarded the 2014 Chrystal Compass Award.   

Throughout her career in the Real Estate and Franchising industries, she has engaged with numerous audiences on topics ranging from Selling in a Down Market to The Power of Connecting.   She holds a B.A. from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ.   

Patrick E. Alcorn and Rich Ashe have much in common beyond their military service.  

Patrick was in the United States Army, including time as a Cadet at West Point. Rich served in the United States Marine Corps from 1976 to 1984 in the infantry and then as part of a joint Marine, Navy, and Air Force intelligence project.  

Together they are helping fellow veterans build a business beyond the battlefield.  

Patrick Alcorn is the Director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center University of Texas Arlington. Rich Ashe is the founder and president of Veteran Franchise Advisers.  

Listen in to this special Veterans episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.  

 Meet Patrick E. Alcorn, MBA 

Patrick Alcorn is Director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center University of Texas Arlington.  He served nine years in the United States Army, including time as a Cadet at West Point. He has been an NCAA athlete, a combat engineer, a deputy city councilman, and an award-winning sales professional.   

Patrick is a 2016 SBA Small Business Champion of the Year and a 2018 Fort Worth Business Press C-Suite Award recipient.  His presentations deliver power, passion and a dynamic experience to inspire you to focus on value, leverage resources, implement strategies and persist in building your business beyond the battlefield. 

Learn more about Patrick Alcorn 

Learn more about Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)  

Meet Richard Ashe, CFC  

Rich Ashe is the founder and president of Veteran Franchise Advisers.   

Rich served in the United States Marine Corps from 1976 to 1984 in the infantry and then as part of a joint Marine, Navy, and Air Force intelligence project. After his tenure in the Marine Corp, Rich attained a degree in Marketing and Business Management.   

Rich has worked for Fortune 500 companies such as Chase, Xerox, Compaq, and Hewlett Packard to expand or start new businesses.   

During his 30 years in business, Rich helped to launch three software start-ups and participated in two successful IPO’s. As an entrepreneur, Rich started two businesses of his own; a computer training service and an IT Network consulting firm. Rich also operated two franchises before starting Veteran Franchise Advisers.   

Rich became a Certified Franchise Consultant and founded Veteran Franchise Advisers in 2011. A member of the Franchise Brokers Association, Texas Veterans Chamber of Commerce, Lone Star Veterans Association, he works along with the SBA and SCORE teaching courses on business start-ups. Rich served on the International Franchise Association VetFran committee from 2011 – 2013. Rich founded Veteran Franchise Advisers to assist veterans, past, present, and future, interested in exploring franchise business ownership. Over the last ten years, he has served veterans across the nation to launch franchise businesses in multiple industries.   

Learn more about Rich Ashe 

Learn more about Veteran Franchise Advisers 

A United States Air Force veteran himself, Ralph Yarusso shares the inside scoop on VetFran on this special Veterans episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.  

VetFran is an advisory committee of the International Franchise Association with a mission to help veterans access opportunities in franchising by encouraging franchisors to offer financial incentives to prospective franchisees who are honorably discharged veterans, educating the veterans community about the opportunities of franchising, and being a voice for veterans in franchising within both the franchise and veterans communities.   

Hear Ralph’s personal journey from pilot to multi-unit franchisee and beyond.  

Meet Ralph Yarusso

Ralph Yarusso, CFE.   

VP Business Development, BrandONE 

CDO, FullSpeed Automotive 

COO, Franchising Grease Monkey International  

Over 35 years franchising experience on both sides of the franchise model as franchisee and franchisor.   

Former Multi-Unit franchisee (15 centers) during 23 years with Meineke 

Chairman Meineke National Franchise Council 

President Dealer Association 

Worked on the Franchisor side at Driven Brands for 5 years with last role as COO with Meineke  

IFA – Franchisee of the year 2002 

IFA – Franchisee Forum  

USAF Veteran 

VetFran Committee member 

 Learn more about Ralph Yarusso 

 Learn more about BrandOne 

 Learn more about VetFran 

KC Gardner, Navy veteran turned franchisee, has become Reno’s most seasoned dog training expert. She joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa on this special veterans in franchising edition of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.  

KC spent 15 years in the Navy with the ambition of becoming a lawyer.   

She’s an avid reader, detail oriented, possesses strong administrative skills and was always fascinated with a mystery when it presented itself. These attributes she believed would contribute to a successful career as a lawyer.  

One day after arguing a case in court and the stress mounting, it dawned on her that she hated arguing and was simply not having any fun. Later that night while sitting on the couch and rubbing her feet over her dog’s fur – the tensions of the day seemed to disappear. That was KC’s wake-up call.    

Listen in as KC shares how she took a side hustle, a passion, and turned it into a fulfilling and purposeful business.   

Meet KC Gardner

KC Gardner, veteran turned franchisee, has become Reno’s most seasoned dog expert. Dogs began to follow her home from school when she was in 1st grade and haven’t left her side since. KC joined the Navy, where her work heavily involved military dog training with water training, field trials, and splash dogs.   

After her military career, KC continued to follow her passion for dogs by opening a local business as a professional dog groomer for difficult pets. Living a life centered by dogs, KC became the owner of Zoom Room’s first location in Reno. With decades of experience under her belt, KC knows that the pet industry is the best-kept secret for investors. Paired with a proven franchise model that emphasizes positive reinforcement, strengthening the communication between dogs and their owners and demonstrated profitability, for KC, the decision to open her own Zoom Room was the right decision.  

Learn more about KC Gardner  

Learn more about Zoom Room