Rebecca Monet and Elizabeth Denham talk to Ruth Agbaji about how she immigrated from Nigeria and found her calling with Code Wiz. Her desire to introduce coding to kids is inspiring as is her story of overcoming her circumstances regardless of the obstacles in her path. She plans for the next “Steve Jobs” to come from her Code Wiz franchise, and we know she will do it!
Ruth Agbaji is the CEO and Nerd-In-Chief of Code Wiz and has a passion for helping kids connect with their inner genius. Through an interactive and project driven approach, Code Wiz offers kids a wide variety of technology to express their creativity through coding and robotics. Agbaji’s love for coding started when she taught herself to code back in Nigeria. Loving this newly found “powers”, she proceeded to get a Masters in Computer Science from Tufts University and work as a Software Engineer for tech giants like Microsoft and Kronos. Desiring to make a direct impact on the next generation and having a need for flexibility, in 2017, Agbaji quit her day job to open Code Wiz. Her vision was to have a center where kids of all abilities could come and learn about problem-solving through coding and pour their imagination into personalized projects. With her first center a success and a growing number of franchisees, Agbaji is looking to grow Code Wiz into a household brand name in the enrichment education space.
Rebecca Monet and Elizabeth Denham invite Rhonda Sanderson to discuss her history in the PR biz. You will not want to miss her take on growing in the industry as a woman and how she dealt with men who may or may not have been receptive to women in business. She shares stories of iconic PR campaigns she initiated and how her visual stories made all the difference.
Rhonda Sanderson is a franchise expert who has owned and operated Sanderson & Associates and Sanderson PR, both specializing in, traditional, social media and crisis PR in the franchise space since 1986. She has authored many articles, helped grow numerous franchise chains is considered one of the Top 30 Small Business Influencers (Fit Business) in the U.S. Find her at Rhonda@sandersonpr.com or on LinkedIn where she is the author of Franchise Stars at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonda-sanderson-a6b658/
Rebecca Monet and Elizabeth Denham welcome Michelle Rowan of Franchise Business Review. She discusses her life theme of living with integrity and authenticity. In this personal interview, she reveals how she became who she is, how she was parented, how she parents, and what she hopes for herself and her family. She also tells us how her friendship with Paul Pickett drew her out in the business world and showed her how to find her tribe.
Michelle Rowan is the president and COO of Franchise Business Review, a market research and consulting company specializing in franchisee and employee satisfaction, as well as franchise relations issues. She is the Chair of IFA’s Women’s Franchise Committee and a Certified Franchise Executive. She has facilitated CEO Performance Groups and Executive Networking Groups within the franchise industry and regularly speaks at industry events. She lives in Maine with her husband and daugther, where she and her husband also own a tasting room and brewery.
On this episode, Charity Rausch talks about her experience finding her calling. With multiple career changes, she has found ways to prioritize her family while having the career she loves with Wild Birds Unlimited. Tune in to learn the lesson that sometimes life is not a straight line, but the journey can be worth the wait!
My name is Charity Rausch. I was born in Indiana and have lived in Zionsville for the last 17years. I am married to Adam Rausch and we have three children and a dog. Mason is 18(my step son), Parker(boy) is 15 and Avery(girl) is 3 and Lola(the dog) is 7. For the last 6 years I have been the owner of a Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise in Noblesville, Indiana. In July of 2019, the second franchise unit was purchased in Carmel, Indiana.
My professional background until Wild Birds Unlimited had always revolved around corporate retail with a lot of travel. My husband also traveled for his job. This scenario was not working for us. I made the change and started working at Indiana University, Bloomington as a visiting lecturer in the Retail Studies Department. I found a passion which was teaching, coaching, and helping others. I loved this job however it was in Bloomington and the job started to change. I could no longer commute 5 days a week and raise my family. I found a job at Wild Birds Unlimited as a business Coach in their franchise support center, in Carmel, Indiana. This company and job changed my live. The culture is amazing, something I had never experienced. I worked in the franchise office for 4 years before we bought a franchise store. I wanted to emulate their culture that I loved so much in my own business; professionalism, kindness, respect, understanding and connection. My focus for my own business is always on People, my employees and my customers. Our business is about relationships and connection with nature.
On the show today, Dave Keil of Franworth talks about how he has grown over the years and has been laying out plans for how to give back and leave a legacy. He has discovered that the gifts he has and lessons he has learned can be used to help others to live life on purpose!
Meet Dave Kiel, President and Chief Operating Officer of Franworth
Dave Keil is President and Chief Operating Officer of Franworth, a growth equity firm that partners with and accelerates the growth of emerging brands. Franworth brings over 450 years of franchising experience to its partnership with The Lash Lounge, City Row, Madison Reed, skoah, Title Boxing and several affiliate brands. A four-time franchise CEO, Keil most recently led The Lash Lounge, a Franworth brand and growing franchise system offering semi-permanent eyelash extensions, in locally-owned, luxurious salons. Keil led the organization through a national expansion, from 19 units to more than 107 units open today.
Prior to Franworth, Keil was CEO of Pure Barre, the largest barre fitness franchise in the nation. With more than 520 studios, and growing, Pure Barre is a total body workout that utilizes the ballet barre to perform small, isometric movements which burn fat, sculpt muscles and create long, lean physiques. Pure Barre creates a sense of community, in which clients are inspired and empowered by each others’ fitness and lifestyle goals.
Prior to Pure Barre, Keil served as the inaugural Chairman and CEO for The Honey Baked Ham Company LLC, bringing the HoneyBaked brand and business together after 59 years of running as several separate entities. HoneyBaked is a premium food retailer with 1,500 associates serving customers in more than 650 retail locations in 40 states across the U.S., Japan and via eCommerce channels.
Prior to joining HoneyBaked, Keil was on the global management team of Ecolab and led the integration for their $8B Nalco merger. Keil’s previous Ecolab roles included general manager for Healthcare’s North American Sector, vice president of Corporate Development and leading the global Program Management Office responsible for the company’s continuous improvement initiatives.
Prior to joining Ecolab, Keil was at General Mills as president of The Häagen-Dazs Shoppe Company and director of Corporate Development. Previously, he was general manager of the Häagen‑Dazs brand in North America for Pillsbury, and worked in several finance roles. His background also includes 10 years at Frito‑Lay in a variety of operations, sales and finance roles.
Keil received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan, and a MBA from the University of Kansas. Keil shares leadership insights via lessonsonpurpose.com, founded the non-profit company Franchise For Good, and was recognized by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as one of the “Top 40 Under 40” leaders in the Twin Cities.
Kelsie Ackman shares her journey from college to law school to being told she couldn’t wear business skirts in court and realizing she needed a new path. She found her passion in franchising with College Hunks and has never looked back. She is in a franchise system where she can be fully herself and make a difference. Tune in to hear Kelsie’s dynamic interview!
Kelsie Ackman is the Vice President of Franchise Development and General Counsel for College H.U.N.K.S.® Hauling Junk and Moving. She began her career at in the fall of 2015 after retiring from stuffy law firms. She began as a legal Administrator for College H.U.N.K.S. and worked her way up to being a senior executive. Kelsie is a true Hoosier, as she was born and raised in Indiana and moved to Florida after attending Indiana University for four years and Indiana University School of Law for another three years. She has a true passion for helping aspiring entrepreneurs while protecting their investment in the brand. Recently, her two brothers opened a College H.U.N.K.S. franchise on the east coast of Florida and she loves cheering them on their own business ownership journey.
In this fun interview with Sherry Rose of Restoration 1, Sherry talks about the journey to knowing herself and understanding where she fits in business. She loves being the #2, building teams and ensuring things work like a well-oiled machine. She also has a strong focus on her family and children, and has some great advice for women raising their kids!
Sherry Rose is the Chief Operations Officer of Restoration 1. Her focus is on operations, strategy development and customer experience for the franchise which has rapidly expanded to nearly 300 locations open and in development across the U.S. Today, Restoration 1 has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the $210 billion property restoration industry earning numerous rankings from Entrepreneur, Inc., Global Franchise, Franchise Times and more.
Sherry oversaw operations of Restoration 1, deemed an essential business, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Keep It Clean program to address the growing demand for disinfecting and cleaning services to help America reopen safely.
Prior to joining Restoration 1, Sherry worked for ServiceMaster, a billion-dollar global business consisting of company-owned locations and franchised multi-unit organizations. For 15-years she served in various leadership and support roles for brands including Terminix, ServiceMaster Restore and Merry Maids.
Sherry graduated from Wheaton College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Sherry and her family reside in Waco, Texas.
Robert Bruski turns the tables on Beck and Liz today to help then announce the official launch of The Coterie for Women! Hear all about the project, the mission and the goals for building a community to help women #LiveRicherLives!
Mary Ann O’Connell’s perspective and experience can teach us so much. On this episode, she discusses the idea of “managing up,” and she shares stories of coming up through the ranks in franchising. As a woman in business, she was expected to be a secretary and found a space in real estate where she was able to grow and succeed. Tune in to learn how she has successfully navigated the business world.
Mary Ann O’Connell, CFE is the founder of FranWise® a franchise‐counseling firm that helps franchise systems grow through processes, compliance, manuals and training. Her franchise career stretches more than 40 years as a multi-unit franchisee, franchise executive and a consultant. O’Connell works with major brands, new concepts and the top professionals in the franchising sector. She serves on several IFA committees, is a past member of the IFA Board of Directors, former Chairman of the Supplier Forum Advisory Board, Women’s Franchise Committee and Membership Committee; is the recipient of the Crystal Compass Award and frequently contributes to IFA with articles and presentations. She is an advocate for the poor and underserved in her community, working as a volunteer for Share Ourselves, Habitat for Humanity and Big Sisters.
In Part I of our Jane Plitt episode, we discuss community and how Jane participated in it during the Women’s Rights Movement. Her story is important to know as we continue to navigate women’s issues both in the workplace and in the home. As the first Executive Director of NOW, Jane has been integral in the fight for equality!
Jane Plitt ran an award-winning business consulting practice until she became enthralled with the Martha Matilda Harper story. In 1996, she was appointed a Visiting Scholar to the University of Rochester to pursue her research; the result was a book entitled Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream: How One Woman Changed the Face of Modern Business. Syracuse University Press released that biography in May 2000. As a result of Plitt’s efforts, Harper was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame along with the American Business Hall of Fame. In 2017, Plitt released a young children’s book entitled, Martha’s Magical Hair published by Jade Publishing. In 2018, Plitt co-wrote a young adult version of the Harper story, Martha the Hairpreneur, with Sally Valentine. In 2019, a paperback version of the Harper biography was released. Further details at www.marthamatildaharper.org
Addressing world influencers, business leaders and their staffs, women’s groups along with community and youth organizations, Plitt ignites audiences with her practical, impassioned style. She has spoken internationally on topics including immigrant entrepreneurship, daring to succeed, forgotten women’s achievements, using business for social change, and the business lessons of Martha Matilda Harper. She also engages children at book readings and schools.
Selected in 1987 as Rochester’s Small Businessperson of the Year, Plitt also served as the area’s 1986 delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business. That same year, she was chosen by SAVVY magazine as one of 14 Outstanding Women in New York State. In 1993, she was designated the area’s Small Business Advocate by the US Small Business Administration.
Plitt’s writings have appeared in many publications including the Chicago Sun Times, Wall Street Journal, and one was the cover story of Franchising World. She has written columns for the Bradenton Herald and the Sarasota Herald, along with the History News Network, Sept. 2019) Rochester Beacon (June 2019). In 1989, Plitt authored the chapter “It’s Harder for Women” in STARTUP. For many years, she was a business columnist in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.
A 1969 graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial & Labor Relations, Plitt was directly hired as Rochester Telephone’s staff assistant in labor relations and was the company’s first female management trainee. Promoted to several managerial positions, Plitt left in 1973 to become the Executive Director of the National Organization for Women. Thereafter, she joined the consulting firm of Cresap, McCormick and Paget before returning to Rochester, New York. For many years, plitt worked as a labor arbitrator. In 1979, she founded JP ASSOCIATES, a business consulting firm. Mobilizing women, Plitt co-founded the Rochester Women’s Network, and founded the Rochester chapter of NAWBO. She also served as president of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Council as well as Chairwoman of the Board of Rochester Public Radio and Television station, WXXI.
In Florida, Plitt has served on Realize Bradenton’s board, headed its strategic plan for downtown, served as Vice President of the Manatee Chapter of the League of Women Voters as well as President of the Manatee County Library Foundation. Under Plitt’s leadership, the Library Foundation generated over $400,000 to serve the county library system and funded a two-year literacy outreach program. She recruited Stephen King and John Grisham as keynote speakers! Plitt is recognized in Who’s Who in the United States and the World. In 2018, she was recognized with her husband for the Spirit of Manatee Leadership award given by the Manatee Community Foundation and was recognized for being a Women of Achievement by the AAUW – Bradenton Chapter. In 2017, she received the Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, along with many other accolades throughout her life.
