Tag: featured

Join Amy Layne, Director of Franchise Development at ResiBrands and Rebecca Monet on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.

Her childhood was filled with numerous activities including gymnastics, swim, cheerleading, dance, soccer, etc. Each activity brought a new coach with a different approach. The variety of activities and teammates and the diversity of instruction instilled in her an adaptable personality, a love for learning and an ongoing desire for new challenges. In fact, today she seeks it out.

Don’t let Amy’s youthful looks fool you she knows a thing or two about franchising.

Listen in here.

Meet Amy Layne

Amy Layne is a Director of Franchise Development at ResiBrands, the parent company of That 1 Painter, Garage Up, and Pinks. In her current role, Amy plays a pivotal role in the franchising world, responsible for the comprehensive process of qualifying, disclosing, and awarding franchise ownership opportunities.

Amy’s journey in the franchise industry began at FranConnect, where she started as a Business Development Representative and quickly ascended the ranks. Her relentless dedication and expertise led her to take on roles as the Team Lead and later as an Account Executive. In these roles, Amy excelled in qualifying prospects, offering consultative guidance, and educating brands on technology solutions tailored to their unique needs.

After her significant contributions at FranConnect, Amy took on an exciting challenge by joining Thryv, where she played a crucial role in developing a startup within a publicly traded, multi-million-dollar organization. As an Enterprise Business Consultant, she was instrumental in creating and formalizing systems and processes for the new channel. Amy also established invaluable relationships within the franchise industry and worked diligently to raise brand awareness in this evolving franchising landscape.

Amy’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech, majoring in Business Management, with a minor in Sociology and a concentration in Sales. In recognition of her exemplary expertise and commitment to the franchise industry, she holds the prestigious designation of Certified Franchise Executive (CFE).

With her extensive experience, unwavering dedication, and remarkable achievements, Amy Layne continues to be a driving force in the world of franchise development, shaping the future of brands under the ResiBrands umbrella and beyond.

Learn more about Amy Layne

Learn more about ResiBrands

Work for the job you want, not the job you have.

Tatum Crews, CEO of The Covery Wellness Spa, joins us on this week’s episode of The Franchise Woman podcast.

Tatum talks about a defining moment in her life. She was part of a roundtable discussion where she was the only woman. At one point in the conversation one of the men said to her that she would be a CEO someday. She was only 25 or 26 years old at that time and somehow that struck a chord with Tatum. From that moment on she lived by the motto: Work for the job you want, not the job you have.

Seems that man not only saw something in Tatum but spoke prophetic words that soon transformed into reality.

Meet Tatum Crews

Tatum Crews has an impressive background with over 10 years in the health & wellness space. Starting her career with the nationally recognized brand, Orangetheory, focusing on regional operations training. She then worked with REGYMEN Fitness, sister company to The Covery, for six years, where she was the first employee of this start-up as VP of Operations and Marketing. When The Covery was founded in 2019, Crews took her passion for the wellness space to the brand, starting as the VP of Franchise Sales and Development and has worked her way up to become The Covery’s CEO.

Learn more about Tatum Crews

Learn more about The Covery Wellness Spa

Early influence from an ‘accidental’ mentor shaped Vicktoria Healy into the woman she is today. Vicktoria comes from a small farming town in Florida where she and her parents were tobacco croppers. Actually Southerners like Vicktoria pronounce it ‘tobaccah’.

Vicktoria Healy is VP of Franchise Development for SUPPLY POINTe, a unique network of select trucking, freight forwarding, pallet and packaging companies that connect to form a wide menu of choices and savings for a rapidly growing list of customers nationwide.

You’ll want to listen in to this interview on The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide. Vicktoria Healy shares her story from farm to entrepreneur to helping others own their own businesses.

Meet Vicktoria Healy

Vicktoria has served as the VP of Franchise Development of Supply Pointe in Charlotte, NC since March 2023 and the Director of Franchise Development of Icebox Cryotherapy Studios in Atlanta, GA since 2016. Ms. Healy has also served as the Vice President of Franchise Expansion for FranServe Inc. in Upper Saddle, NJ from October 2019-September 2022, as well as a Corporate Trainer and Mentor for FranServe Inc. from 2010-2019. In 2003 Vicktoria and her business partners founded and franchised a Home Care Concept before selling it in 2013. Vicktoria also serves as CEO of Prosperity Franchise Advisors in Port Charlotte, FL since October 2009.

Prior to franchising, Vicktoria owned and operated a Health Club from 1998-2002. Vicktoria is also an Ironman triathlete completing Coeur d’Alene, ID in 2013 and Chattanooga, TN in 2015. She is also an avid adventurer and dog lover.

Learn more about Vicktoria Healy

Learn more about SUPPLY POINTe

Music – the metaphor for business.

Aside from being a music fan, Tom Krouse believes music, in many ways, is a metaphor for life … and business. Tom is a musician and composer and sees many points of correspondence between what creates a beautiful melody and a harmonious work environment.

Tom Krouse, is the CEO of Donatos, the fast-casual pizza franchise famous for its ‘Edge to Edge’ toppings. Tom has created a new weekly segment on LinkedIn called, The Corner Piece: Leadership Insights by a Pizza Man to share career advice and ideas that he has learned from working in the fast casual industry for 35 years.

Listen to this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion and Purpose Collide as the Pizza Man shares taste slices of wisdom.

Meet Tom Krouse

Tom Krouse is the CEO of Donatos, the fast-casual pizza franchise famous for its ‘Edge to Edge’ toppings. Tom has created a new weekly segment on LinkedIn called, The Corner Piece: Leadership Insights by a Pizza Man to share career advice and ideas that he has learned from working in the fast casual industry for 35 years. Here are some of the topics he has recently discussed…

Huh? Make it Simple

One of the most vital parts of the job as a leader is to take the complex…and make it simple. No matter the business, bringing products or services to market always has many, many moving parts. To be successful, you must know how to navigate all the different variables to achieve all your goals. It is complex, and it can be challenging. The problem is that leadership communication requires the opposite skills. You need to make what you’re doing easily digestible for your employees, and simplicity is key. Lay it out for them. Here’s what we’re doing…and here’s why. Period. No one needs to know how complicated the objective is…they all have enough to worry about. Be clear, simple, and motivating. 

The One Question to Ask

You can accomplish amazing things by asking ONE straightforward question every time you meet with your employees: “Is there anything I can do for you that will help you accomplish what you have planned?” That’s it! First, it shows them how much you care and want to help. Next, you might be able to help get something “unstuck” in their work. Finally, you start doing the most crucial part of your job, which is to help your people achieve success. Never be afraid of the question and ask it every time. They will appreciate the opportunity to discuss their needs.

Learn more about Tom Krouse

Learn more about Donatos Pizza

When the Future-Self Speaks, Amy Cheng Listens.

Amy Cheng joins us on The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide. 

Amy is the founding partner at Cheng Cohen LLC and general corporate practice with emphasis on domestic and international franchise, licensing and distribution law. She shares her insight on joint employer issues facing franchisees and franchisors and potential solutions going forward. One such solution includes educating the public about franchising and how franchisees are individual business owners.

Listen in to hear about Amy’s ah ha moment many years ago where it seemed her future-self was speaking to her.

Meet Amy Cheng

Amy Cheng is the founding partner of Cheng Cohen LLC in Chicago, Illinois. Amy concentrates her practice in domestic and international commercial transactions, general corporate, and franchise, licensing and distribution law. She represents franchisors on the structuring and operation of their franchise programs through all phases of domestic and international development.

Amy has extensive experience in structuring complex franchise, licensing and distribution relationships and in regulatory compliance. Her experience includes advising clients in connection with complex issues arising from the ownership of multiple brands, non-traditional opportunities, system restructuring and brand acquisition.

Amy represents clients of all sizes, from emerging to mature companies with multi-national operations. Representative clients include leaders in the restaurant, retail, fitness and home services industries.  With her broad range of experience, Amy essentially acts as general counsel to her clients, collaboratively maturing their businesses from infancy to prominence within their various industries.

Amy’s commercial transactional practice includes counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial relationships, strategic business alliances and joint ventures.  Amy’s unique combination of corporate and franchise experience provides clients with comprehensive legal services to expand their franchise portfolio. Her experience includes representing private equity in acquiring and selling franchise companies of all sizes and in a myriad of industries.

Amy is the vice-chair of IFA’s Supplier Forum Advisory Board and a member of the Franchise Advisory Board for the Illinois Attorney General. For her work in the field of franchise law, Amy was named a “Legal Eagle” by the Franchise Times, recognized by Who’s Who Legal, Leading Lawyers, Chambers and Partners and selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America@ and was The Best Lawyers’ 2014 Chicago Franchise Law “Lawyer of the Year”. In 2016, Amy was bestowed with the Crystal Compass Award for outstanding leadership by the IFA’s Women’s Franchise Committee. In 2020, Amy received the Bonnie LeVine Award from the IFA, an award that recognizes women for being role models by their professional accomplishments and contributions to society.

Learn more about Amy Cheng

Learn more about Cheng Cohen LLC

Pay it Back; Pay it Forward.

That seems to be Larisa Walega’s motto in life. She grew up as an only child. She loved and excelled at dance. Her first mentor was her father who is a physician. She has fond memories of watching her father who always wanted to help and serve. He was fearless and selfless – attributes Larisa aspires to emulate. She has had many mentors through childhood, college and in her career. Today, she pays it back and pays it forward by serving, mentoring and educating others.

Larisa serves as Vice Chair of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Women’s Franchise Committee. She also serves on the Auto Care Associations’ Marketing and Communications Committee. Larisa has been recognized within the franchising community as an Entrepreneur Top 50 Franchise CMO Gamechangers and a Top 100 Global Influencers in Franchising.

A special shut-out to Robin Gagnon!

Larisa Walega is VP of Marketing at Ziebart International Corporation, where she is responsible for worldwide employee, franchise owner and consumer brand development.

Meet Larisa Walega

Larisa Walega is Vice President of Marketing for Ziebart International Corporation, where she is responsible for worldwide employee, franchise owner and consumer brand development. Larisa leads an integrated in-house marketing team that provides leadership and support across the entire Ziebart customer journey.

Prior to joining Ziebart, Larisa held account management roles at the two largest advertising agencies in Detroit.

Larisa holds a Bachelor’s degree from Adrian College, is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and was appointed Vice Chair of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Women’s Franchise Committee. She also serves on the Auto Care Associations’ Marketing and Communications Committee. Larisa has been recognized within the franchising community as an Entrepreneur Top 50 Franchise CMO Gamechangers and a Top 100 Global Influencers in Franchising.

Learn more about Larisa Walega

Learn more about Ziebart International

Pressure is Privilege!

That’s the motto that Ali Kraus, VP of Marketing at Benetrends Financial lives her life by. The idea is we should not let opportunities to test ourselves pass us by. Pressure is the privilege to try ever-harder, to win (and lose) bigger, experience and learn more and to experience the full range of feelings that life has to offer us.

Listen in to this inspiring interview and learn more about the ‘Why’ behind Benetrends Financial and how she is bringing that message to the world.

PS: there’s a special shout out to Jack Monson, CEO of Brand J and host of Social Geek and Amanda Dempsey Franchise Law Attorney at Saxton & Stump.

Meet Ali Kraus

Experienced in the dynamic world of franchising, Ali Kraus brings a wealth of expertise in marketing and events to the industry. With a focus on franchise development marketing, digital strategy, brand elevation, social media, and event orchestration, Ali thrives on driving brand awareness and engagement.

As a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and an engaged advocate within the International Franchise Association, she is a member of the Women’s Franchise Committee and participates with both the Baltimore and Philadelphia chapters of the WFN. This involvement has earned her recognition, including the title of Franchise Influencer in 2023.

Ali’s achievements span beyond the franchise realm. With a history that includes serving as an Assistant Coach for the Baltimore Ravens Cheerleading Program and being named a ProBowl Cheerleader in 2019, Ali combines her passion for excellence with her dedication to making a positive impact.

With her expertise, commitment, and proven track record, Ali Kraus is a driving force in shaping the future of franchising.

Learn more about Ali Kraus

Learn more about Benetrends Financial

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The Queen of Questions!

Pattye Moore, former Chairman and Interim CEO at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and former Sonic Drive-in President joins us on The Franchise Woman Podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide. She shares her story of falling in love with franchising so much so she is now leading an expansion project with Donatos as an area developer.

Her story is about how curiosity and asking the right questions lead to a more fulfilling and successful life. Some of these questions turned into ways she could contribute her talents and ultimately step into leadership roles. Learn how you can be more curious on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast.

Meet Pattye Moore

Pattye Moore formerly served as the Board Chairman and Interim CEO at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and served as the former Sonic Drive-In President. Pattye is leading a new expansion project with Donatos Pizza, the fast-casual pizza franchise famous for its Edge to Edge® toppings, growing its presence throughout Oklahoma by opening dozens of locations along with her franchise partner group. She currently resides in the state and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and thought Donatos would be a perfect fit with growing markets.

Learn more about Pattye Moore

Learn more about Donatos Pizza