Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s (FDM) annual December Game Changer edition recognizes those making waves in the franchise space. The magazine receives hundreds of submissions nominating the top talent in franchising who are vying for this prestigious recognition. President and CEO of FranServe, Inc. Alesia Visconti shared the remarkable impact of a game changer. By Nancy E. Williams
Heath Falzarano’s journey to finding Naturals2Go is similar to many of the company’s other vending business owners. Falzarano had been a special education teacher when he began looking for a change and more agency over his career. By Kelsi Trinidad
Stephen Bowen and Michael Falotico have been HomeVestors® of America, Inc. franchisees for more than 14 years, serving the greater Boston area as business owners and through charitable works. By Patty Horansky
Hammer & Nails is in the business of making people feel good by providing luxury grooming services to a diverse clientele. The brand provides a space where luxury meets self-care, offering popular services, including haircuts, shaves and hand-and-foot treatments. By Erika Ortega
Kyle Chiasson’s commitment to building authentic relationships motivated him to own a client-first business. After succeeding in advisory roles at banking and wealth management organizations, Chiasson decided to pursue his dream of business ownership in 2017. By Erika Ortega
What are the biggest challenges for opening a new business in 2025? Many say the hurdles include real estate and borrowing money. I had the privilege of moderating a webinar last month with three professionals whose expertise is helping new small-business owners get their doors open faster. By Jack Monson
Mr. Transmission®/Milex Complete Auto Care®, a member of Moran Family of Brands, specializes in automotive services ranging from oil changes, brakes, tune-up services, all diagnostics and repairs as well as transmission rebuilding and repairs. As a nationwide brand with a superior reputation, it offers a one-stop shop experience for customers and maintains a service philosophy based on relationships and trust. By Erika Ortega
Angela Batchelor and her wife, Jenny, were looking for an opportunity to break out on their own and become entrepreneurs. Angela has a background in real estate, flipping properties with her brother-in-law, and Jenny manages a successful business in North Carolina. After two years of searching for the right franchise opportunity that could leverage Angela’s real estate experience, they were about to sign on with another franchise when Angela discovered Painter Bros. By Kelsi Trinidad
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners, the nation’s largest home-based travel agency franchise network announced their lineup of training programs for 2025 at their annual Convention, CP World, in Fort Lauderdale.
Among the training schedule are some new programs for advisors to leverage to enhance their sales and marketing skills. A new River Cruise Academy will focus on the art of selling river cruises. This event will be held on the Tauck ms Savor as a pre-event to the ASTA River Cruise Expo. Another new training program is called R & R – Refresh and Reboot. It is for franchisees who want to focus on marketing, business operations and systems to jump start their path to success. Overall, Cruise Planners offers over 25 in-person training opportunities throughout the year for advisors to engage, learn and strategize about their business.
“We are excited to offer an incredible array of in-person events for our valued advisors in 2025,” said Michelle Fee, Founder and CEO of Cruise Planners. “This year, we’re introducing new training initiatives that reinforce our commitment to ongoing education and professional growth. These events will give our agents the chance to connect, collaborate, and stay at the forefront of this ever-evolving industry.”
2025 In-Person Events Hosted by Cruise Planners (25+ Opportunities):
Cruise Planners has introduced exciting new online training programs and initiatives to complement their already industry-leading offerings, elevating their advisors to the next level.
Some of these new initiatives include:
Cruise Planners announced 20 new and exciting technology and marketing initiatives during their annual convention. For a full list of those announcements, click here.
Company Background: Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 2 years.
Cruise Planners received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2024. Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.
Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/.
WACO, Texas — The Grounds Guys®, a Neighborly company, is thrilled to announce the start of the 20th Annual WeCARE Week™, a week-long initiative dedicated to volunteerism and community support, beginning today, November 4, 2024. WeCARE Week encourages franchise owners, team members, and community partners across North America to join forces in impactful activities that support local communities, focusing on projects such as public space beautification, community engagement, and seasonal giving.
Launched in 2005 as a tribute to Monika Woerlen, one of the siblings of the founders of the Sunshine Brands (The Grounds Guys’ founding company) and her seven children who tragically perished in a house fire, WeCARE Week embodies The Grounds Guys values and internal Code of C.A.R.E. – Customers first, Attitude, Respect, and Enjoy life in the process (C.A.R.E.). This annual event has grown into a powerful tradition, uniting people to create meaningful change in neighborhoods everywhere.
“This year marks an incredible milestone in our company’s journey to give back,” said Lori Johnson, Brand President of The Grounds Guys. “WeCARE Week is more than just a corporate initiative; it’s a heartfelt commitment to the communities that support us. Every act of service, big or small, brings our values to life, reminding us of the difference we can make when we work together. We hope that through this initiative, others are inspired to give back and spread positivity in their own neighborhoods.”
The Grounds Guys has outlined several community service ideas that individuals and groups can participate in during WeCARE Week. These include:
The Grounds Guys encourages community members to participate and carry the spirit of WeCARE Week forward throughout the year by adopting similar acts of kindness and service in their own lives. For more information about WeCARE Week, or to learn about available services, please visit The Grounds Guys website.
About The Grounds Guys®:
The Grounds Guys®, a Neighborly® company, is a full-service grounds care company offering commercial and residential landscape management services. The Grounds Guys® currently operates more than 250 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Acquired in 2010, The Grounds Guys® is part of Neighborly®, the world’s largest home services company with more than 30 brands and 5,500 franchises in six countries that have collectively served 14 million+ customers by repairing, maintaining, and enhancing their homes and businesses. Through Neighborly.com and the Neighborly mobile app, we connect consumers with local service providers who meet rigorous franchisor standards across 19 service categories. For more information about The Grounds Guys®, visit GroundsGuys.com or GroundsGuys.ca. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly®, click here.