Before launching her 360˚ Painting franchise in Sarasota, Florida, last March, Emily May was a stay-at-home mom who had her hands full with two sons. But something was missing. So, together with her husband, Jeff, she started investigating the prospect of launching a franchise. By Jessica Jones
Lara Olson, founder and chief creative officer of Kidcreate Studio, is on a mission to solve the growing issue of the decline in children’s art education. A creative mind herself, Lara understands the importance of offering children the opportunity to express themselves through art. By Charlotte Wagner
The entire world is feeling the repercussions of the recent pandemic. Still, we are happy to say that franchises across the country are ready to REOPEN under the new guidelines needed to continue to protect the consumer, the employees, and communities. By Rose Mango
Though COVID-19 rocked all businesses, their response to those challenges will be the key to their future. For Medi-Weightloss, a significant player in the weight-loss industry with locations nationwide, the future is bright because of its swift and effective response to adversities presented by the pandemic. By Rochelle Miller
Each year we reach out to you, our readers, and ask you to nominate a woman franchisor who has gone above and beyond her business’s expectations and who has inspired you the most. This year we were excited about the number of nominations that came in and were genuinely motivated by their stories. These next several pages are a culmination of the top 50 nomination results.
When Julie Goldberg realized she didn’t want to return to the office after her childcare leave ended, she sought to invest in a franchise to start her own home-based business. Having started her career in the accounting department of a national retail brand that was a franchise, she knew first-hand that her chances of success would be greater if she invested in a proven business model rather than launch her own independent company. By Rochelle Miller
As vice president of operations for a chemical nanotech company, Darlene Jacobson had already broken the glass ceiling in many ways. She knew, however, she was destined for even higher aspirations – like owning her own business. By Rochelle Miller
From all appearances, it would seem Emily Barton had always been athletic. But childhood asthma had prevented her from participating in exercise and sports. Her interest in fitness grew out of a desire to reach goals she had long desired to accomplish. By Elice Morgenson
Mary Ann Stallings, president of Bridge to Better Living (BBL), founded her company in 2010 with a clear vision of expanding throughout the country. To support her dream, Stallings selected her corporate staff carefully. Her team of women proudly offers a combined 130 years of experience and knowledge in the senior-care industry. By Cindy Charette
After 20 years of working in corporate America, Rupa Keskar grew bored with her IT career. In 2012, she started exploring real-estate investments and left the security of a well-paying job to launch her own property-acquisition firm. By Jessica Jones