Columns
FRANCHISEE OF THE MONTH: Nikki Zavradinos, Local Handyman, St. Louis
Nikki Zavradinos worked in global technology operations and led development teams at Mastercard for 15 years. When she ended up with a severance package, she decided to switch gears into business ownership. She started looking for businesses to buy in St. Louis and came across Local Handyman. By Kelsi Trinidad
FEATURED FRANCHISE CONSULTANT: Andrea Dobkin, FranServe, Inc.
Andrea Dobkin launched her career in franchising more than 20 years ago, working in franchise development for an emerging brand – an experience she calls life-changing. However, franchising had been part of her story long before that first job. By Jesicca Petrucelli
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FRANCHISEE: Creative Kids Movement Network
Before becoming a franchise owner of the South Denver Creative Kids Movement Network location, Mona Hinman-Briscoe built a seasoned career as an operations manager in training and management at a corporate communications company. Then, like many others, Hinman-Briscoe’s job role shifted toward using AI. She watched many of her coworkers get laid off, so she began exploring new opportunities. By Kelsi Trinidad
SENIOR + MEDICAL CARE: Leadership in Senior and Medical Care Brands, Dawn Abbamondi
If you are in the medical or senior care industry, you know that caring is just the beginning – and it is often what drives someone to start or join a franchise brand. By Dawn Abbamondi
SENIOR + MEDICAL CARE: Assisting Hands Home Care
Eric Brown came to Assisting Hands® Home Care with a background in business leadership and a strong interest in purpose-driven work. By Jessica Petrucelli
SENIOR + MEDICAL CARE: Prime IV Hydration & Wellness
As a medically supervised wellness franchise, Prime IV Hydration & Wellness specializes in providing clients with proactive, personalized care to boost energy, recovery, immune support, performance and longevity. Its services include IV therapy, weight-loss programs, micronutrients and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. By Erika Ortega
SENIOR + MEDICAL CARE: Home Helpers Home Care
Few industries offer the kind of built-in durability that home care does. Nearly 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, family caregiving can be challenging and adult children increasingly live hundreds of miles away from aging parents. As those dynamics intensify, the need for reliable in-home care continues to rise regardless of economic cycles or consumer sentiment. By Tamara Rahoumi
SENIOR + MEDICAL CARE: Beem Light Sauna
Sarah Cox was the owner of her own successful piano studio, with long waitlists for her private lessons. However, it became difficult to juggle classes and being present for her own children. When her children were able to attend elementary school, Cox was ready to embark on a new business project. Her husband introduced her to the beem® Light Sauna franchise opportunity, and Cox immediately knew it was a great fit. By Kelsi Trinidad
SENIOR + MEDICAL CARE: BrightStar Care
Pete First’s lifelong career in franchising reached a new level of purpose when he joined BrightStar Care® in 2018. After years in retail franchising, First yearned for something different: a mission-driven opportunity that made a meaningful impact every day, and he found that in BrightStar Care. By Lizzy Yeserski
COVER STORY: Comfort Keepers
As the U.S. population ages at an unprecedented pace, the senior home care sector is experiencing a transformation that extends far beyond basic support services. For Comfort Keepers®, the opportunity lies not only in meeting rising demand but in reshaping how aging is perceived. By Rose Mango
GIVING BACK: NTV360
Raising money for ALS research and Make-A-Wish, working with the American Red Cross on blood drives, donating Christmas gifts to local elementary schools and volunteering at The Action Center to support low-income families are all ways NTV360 Director of Sales Marc Muma, and his team, give back to those in need. By Erika Ortega
BUILD YOUR FUTURE: Pridestaff
Corporate environments can be a burden, especially when you’ve established a long career in your field. For John Gemrich, who had a long career in financial services, including large commercial and retail banks, the pressure was definitely on. Starting his own business was a chance to have more control over outcomes and relieve some of the pressure that comes with corporate work. By Kelsi Trinidad
FAMILY AFFAIR: Pilates Addiction
Pilates Addiction operates a modern, scalable boutique fitness franchise that fuses intensity with integrity, delivering heart-pumping, precision-focused workouts that challenge and transform. Margaret and Lance Podell are currently in the presale process for their first studio in Short Hills, New Jersey. Lance has served as CEO and general manager at both corporate and startup companies, while Margaret continues her role as a trusts and estates attorney. After extensive research and help from Jeff Shafritz, a franchise consultant, they decided to bet on themselves by investing in a Pilates Addiction franchise. By Nancy E. Williams
WHAT THE HECK IS A FRANCHISE CONSULTANT?: Don Clayton, FranServe, Inc.
When considering an investment in a franchise opportunity, prospective owners naturally hope the franchise will invest in them as well. While franchising can be an exciting path to business ownership, it can also feel like a daunting step. Knowing the franchise’s support system is strong and reliable can make all the difference. By Don Clayton
Features
From Classroom to Clients: Global Financial Training Program
When students join Global Financial Training Program and enter the lucrative field of commercial finance, they learn the ins and outs of helping businesses and real estate investors secure loans that banks can’t provide. By Jessica Petrucelli
The Learning Curve Behind a Successful Business: 2BOrganized
As the professional organizing industry continues to mature, one of the biggest misconceptions isn’t about the work itself; it’s about what it takes to own and lead a business within it. While technical skill may open the door, long-term success depends on something different altogether: a willingness to learn and adapt. By Tamara Rahoumi
The Power of Predictable Demand: Heyday Skincare
Professional skincare has long been positioned as an indulgence – something reserved for special occasions or self-care splurges. Heyday Skincare saw it differently. The brand recognized an opportunity to reframe facials as routine maintenance that people schedule regularly, much like fitness or dental care. By Tamara Rahoumi
Strengthening Operations With a Franchisee Advisory Council: Schooley Mitchell
Schooley Mitchell, North America’s largest independent cost reduction consulting firm, helps businesses save money by renegotiating expenses in areas such as telecommunications, shipping, waste management and software, helping them operate more efficiently. By Jessica Petrucelli
Franchising With Fire: Ah-Beetz New Haven Pizza
Nicholas Laudano, who founded Ah-Beetz New Haven Pizza in 2016, based the restaurant on the pizza traditions of his hometown, New Haven, Connecticut. The concept features handcrafted pizza with quality ingredients, high-moisture, whole-milk cheese and a dough that’s both soft and chewy with a bubbly, charred crust. Laudano incorporated all the elements of a New Haven pizzeria, including pairing a coal-fired oven with a full-service restaurant. From the beginning, he was thinking about expansion and how to grow his concept across the country. By Kelsi Trinidad
The Importance of Alignment as Franchise Systems Scale: Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers
As a franchise system scales, its leadership evolves with it. The strongest brands use that growth as an opportunity to deepen what already worked – building on the relationships and instincts of their early days while welcoming new leaders whose varied backgrounds add depth and dimension to the team. By Tamara Rahoumi
The Next Big Bite: A Gourmet-Casual Franchise Made to Scale: Bun Mee
With a mission to establish the most beloved Vietnamese fast-casual brand in the U.S., Bun Mee focuses on elevating the sandwich consumer experience. “Our mission has always been to make the vibrant flavors of Vietnam accessible without losing their integrity,” said Denise Tran, CEO and founder of Bun Mee. “By blending time-honored recipes with high-end ingredients and a stylish, approachable atmosphere, we have created a ‘gourmet-casual’ niche that stands out in a crowded marketplace.” By Erika Ortega
Shaping the Future of Franchise Development: Break Coffee Co.
Anthony Spagnola, chief development officer (CDO) of Oakscale Franchise Partners and Break Coffee Co. franchisee, stumbled into franchising 15 years ago while working for a tech startup in New York City. He started attending franchise conferences and expos to sell loyalty solutions to franchises. By Erika Ortega
National Expansion With Traditional Chicago Style: Rosati’s Pizza
With more than 120 restaurants nationwide, Rosati’s Pizza has established itself as a go-to destination for authentic, Chicago-style pizza made exclusively from fresh, quality ingredients. The Illinois-based, family-owned restaurant chain has been voted No. 1 for Best Chicago Pizza by WGN Radio 720 listeners – and that’s a city that knows its pizza. By Jessica Petrucelli
Built to Grow. Built to Sell.: Naturals2Go
Tina Paine’s full-circle journey with Naturals2Go began with a burning desire to be a business owner – a spark ignited by her late father. By Lizzy Yeserski