After an 11-year career in the U.S. Army, Thaddeus Grage worked a short time in law enforcement before eventually becoming the owner of an aftermarket performance shop. From there, his interest in the automotive industry grew, and what initially began as a search for an automotive maintenance franchise resulted in Grage becoming the new owner of an existing automotive-styling franchise location: Tint World Gulfport, Mississippi. By Cindy Charette
Ram Malayan served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, and Hawaii before retiring in 2005. The experience enabled the native Filipino to travel to various parts of America – completing boot camp in San Diego, attending engineering school in the Great Lakes of Illinois and carrying out his first tour of duty in Norfolk, Virginia. By Jessica Jones
Many of the articles in our annual veterans issue share reasons why franchisors love having owners that are veterans as part of their network. Mr. Transmission/Milex (Moran Family of Brands) is no exception. By Nancy E. Williams
During his 31-year career in the U.S. Army, Jim Scalf spent 22 years in active duty, served in the Army Reserves and the National Guard, and taught for three years at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. By Cindy Charette
Manduu America salutes and supports the nation’s military population on multiple levels. The company is dedicated to boosting veterans’ wellness and offering them exceptional business opportunities. By Lizzy Yeserski
International powerhouse CorporateConnections® wants military veterans to know how much the brand values their contributions and service. “We offer a 25% discount off the initial franchise fee for veterans,” said Matt Gerding, global director of franchise development. By Lizzy Yeserski
For Tom Culver, joining the Marines was a significant turning point in his life. “Marine training is designed to take individuals who are highly motivated, but raw, and instill military discipline and initiative,” Culver noted, describing the mental toughness he learned during his military career. By Jessica Jones
Franchisors are looking for franchise owners, and veterans are looking for a business opportunity – now is the time for you to connect with each other. If you’re a franchisor you may be wondering why you should focus on veterans and why you should do this now. By Dawn Abbamondi
Wayne Walker was looking for a way to enhance his internet marketing business. He and his wife had a long history of business ownership in self-storage, record retention, and document shredding, and they also built websites and did some digital marketing. By Nancy E. Williams
A multi-platform fitness concept developed from decades of industry experience, Regymen Fitness has expanded rapidly throughout the Southeast for the past three years, and now is expanding across the U.S. and into Canada. By Jessica Jones