For thirty years, Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care has been a one-stop shop providing customers with auto care solutions, promoting long-term customer relationships and delivering more revenue streams for franchisees. By Jessica Jones
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, FASTSIGNS International Inc. was quick to act. As the franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications brand, it was important to ensure FASTSIGNS centers across the U.S. could continue to operate, and the leadership team worked closely with state and local governments to have FASTSIGNS centers deemed as essential businesses. By Jessica Jones
FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, has been honored by Entrepreneur magazine, which ranked it No. 6 on its 2020 list of the Top Franchises for Veterans. By Rose Mango
Catherine Monson is recognized again this year by Franchise Dictionary Magazine as one of the WOW: 50 Women Of Wonder and she graces our cover for excellent reasons. Under her leadership as CEO of FASTSIGNS since 2009, the brand has become one of the country’s largest franchise companies. It has benefited significantly from Monson’s strategic positioning and her franchising and broad business and marketing experience. By Rose Mango
After pouring a cup of coffee and sifting through email, Todd Fisher starts his day like most every other FASTSIGNS franchisee, gathering his staff for a daily production meeting. By Jessica Jones
For more than a decade, Brent Walker worked as a contract ICU nurse, traveling from Michigan to Southern California, offering his services in 14 different hospitals. He was burned out and looking for a career transition when a friend started talking about an entrepreneurial opportunity. By Jessica Jones
Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS® International, Inc., was named International Franchise Association (IFA) Chair at the IFA Annual Convention.
CEO of FASTSIGNS® outlines the must-have ingredients for business success
by Rose Mango
Catherine Monson
FASTSIGNS
FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson leads one of the country’s largest franchise companies. She tapped her education and tenacity to overcome many obstacles in reaching the top spot at the company and in becoming one of the franchise industry’s most respected leaders. Monson says she is driven to make – and keep – FASTSIGNS the nation’s best franchise, and she has worked tirelessly to cultivate a culture that fosters an exceptional work environment.
As she navigated life and career challenges to the top spot at FASTSIGNS, Monson says she learned early, at least for herself, that although women may have been told they can have it all, they really can’t. “I don’t believe anyone can have it all,” Monson says. “Vince Lombardi said, ‘To achieve success, whatever the job, we must pay the price.’ I believe there is a cost to becoming an excellent CEO. I believe there is a price to be paid.” That opinion may be controversial, but Monson looks at business and her career as “a professional meritocracy.” Much like sports, she says, you must stay laser-focused, build muscle strength, and push-push-push every day, “always perfecting your game.”
“Although I had a tough childhood that was marked by hardship and some tragedy, I found a way to have self-discipline and to think about all the things I have to be grateful for. I chose not to be a victim of a bad childhood. The ability to discipline the mind and develop a positive mental attitude is a learned skill that everyone can develop.”
Monson sees herself as an educator as well as a leader. “I love teaching people how to set and achieve goals. Self-motivation is key. You don’t have to do twice as much as anybody else. You just have to do 2% more, 5% more. You develop the discipline to learn how to make yourself do one more thing each day. I developed the habit of deciding, ‘OK, I’m going do one more thing before I leave today.’ It’s about learning to stretch yourself.”
Perseverance also has been crucial to her success, she says. “Never give up. Don’t give in. If it is important to you, keep trying. You must surround yourself with positivity. At FASTSIGNS Corporate, we created a hallway that envelops you in positivity as you walk through. We call it Inspiration Hall. It is filled with over 150 quotes on positive mental attitude, goal-directed behavior, self-motivation, perseverance, and never stopping learning.” Monson says. “It helps all team member fill their minds with positive and motivating messages. It’s part of our culture.”
Another element of that culture is empowering male and female franchisees alike. “Women, just as men, can do anything they put their minds to. FASTSIGNS has many female franchisees that are single moms, married with a family, all kinds of women who are very successful franchise owners.
We also have a great deal of women who are sales professionals working for our franchisees. None of them would say being a female is a detriment,” Monson insists. “What they would say is, ‘As long as I am smart and as good as or better than my competition, it doesn’t matter at all that I am a woman.’ The truth is, if you’re not bringing the most value, you won’t succeed the most.”
The company’s respected brand is a big help to all of its franchisees, she says. “The brand has created a proven, successful, winning business model. FASTSIGNS teaches our franchisees our proven method of doing business, right on down to how to make signs that happen to be higher quality and dot it more efficiently than other ways to make signs. We have created a certain way that our centers look, and we have a customer-focused approach that is unbeatable. We have built a proven model for success, and our franchisees benefit from that.”
FASTSIGNS franchise owners can still flex their individuality, though. “Our franchisees create their work environment based on their personality. Our franchisees contribute to their local communities in the way that fulfills themselves. Our franchisees put their own personal stamp on their business in the context of looking and acting like a FASTSIGNS franchise that is recognizable for its superb quality and customer service. We give our franchisees the tools to fulfill our brand promise to ensure the consumer knows what they’re getting.”
To learn more: https://www.fastsigns.com
CEO of FASTSIGNS® outlines the must-have ingredients for business success
by Rose Mango
Catherine Monson
FASTSIGNS
FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson leads one of the country’s largest franchise companies. She tapped her education and tenacity to overcome many obstacles in reaching the top spot at the company and in becoming one of the franchise industry’s most respected leaders. Monson says she is driven to make – and keep – FASTSIGNS the nation’s best franchise, and she has worked tirelessly to cultivate a culture that fosters an exceptional work environment.
As she navigated life and career challenges to the top spot at FASTSIGNS, Monson says she learned early, at least for herself, that although women may have been told they can have it all, they really can’t. “I don’t believe anyone can have it all,” Monson says. “Vince Lombardi said, ‘To achieve success, whatever the job, we must pay the price.’ I believe there is a cost to becoming an excellent CEO. I believe there is a price to be paid.” That opinion may be controversial, but Monson looks at business and her career as “a professional meritocracy.” Much like sports, she says, you must stay laser-focused, build muscle strength, and push-push-push every day, “always perfecting your game.”
“Although I had a tough childhood that was marked by hardship and some tragedy, I found a way to have self-discipline and to think about all the things I have to be grateful for. I chose not to be a victim of a bad childhood. The ability to discipline the mind and develop a positive mental attitude is a learned skill that everyone can develop.”
Monson sees herself as an educator as well as a leader. “I love teaching people how to set and achieve goals. Self-motivation is key. You don’t have to do twice as much as anybody else. You just have to do 2% more, 5% more. You develop the discipline to learn how to make yourself do one more thing each day. I developed the habit of deciding, ‘OK, I’m going do one more thing before I leave today.’ It’s about learning to stretch yourself.”
Perseverance also has been crucial to her success, she says. “Never give up. Don’t give in. If it is important to you, keep trying. You must surround yourself with positivity. At FASTSIGNS Corporate, we created a hallway that envelops you in positivity as you walk through. We call it Inspiration Hall. It is filled with over 150 quotes on positive mental attitude, goal-directed behavior, self-motivation, perseverance, and never stopping learning.” Monson says. “It helps all team member fill their minds with positive and motivating messages. It’s part of our culture.”
Another element of that culture is empowering male and female franchisees alike. “Women, just as men, can do anything they put their minds to. FASTSIGNS has many female franchisees that are single moms, married with a family, all kinds of women who are very successful franchise owners.
We also have a great deal of women who are sales professionals working for our franchisees. None of them would say being a female is a detriment,” Monson insists. “What they would say is, ‘As long as I am smart and as good as or better than my competition, it doesn’t matter at all that I am a woman.’ The truth is, if you’re not bringing the most value, you won’t succeed the most.”
The company’s respected brand is a big help to all of its franchisees, she says. “The brand has created a proven, successful, winning business model. FASTSIGNS teaches our franchisees our proven method of doing business, right on down to how to make signs that happen to be higher quality and dot it more efficiently than other ways to make signs. We have created a certain way that our centers look, and we have a customer-focused approach that is unbeatable. We have built a proven model for success, and our franchisees benefit from that.”
FASTSIGNS franchise owners can still flex their individuality, though. “Our franchisees create their work environment based on their personality. Our franchisees contribute to their local communities in the way that fulfills themselves. Our franchisees put their own personal stamp on their business in the context of looking and acting like a FASTSIGNS franchise that is recognizable for its superb quality and customer service. We give our franchisees the tools to fulfill our brand promise to ensure the consumer knows what they’re getting.”
To learn more: https://www.fastsigns.com
by Jill Abrahamsen
Stephanie Basile-Drileck and her husband Chuck did their due diligence before finally investing in a FASTSIGNS® business. The San Antonio couple looked at opportunities in every area of franchising—from food to fitness—and then weighed the pros and cons to each industry. Finally, they decided that drawing on their advertising and marketing backgrounds was the way to go.
“While we didn’t know anything about creating or installing signs, we did know how to help people market their businesses. Our advertising experience helps us help our customers. Collaborating comes naturally for both of us,” Chuck says. The couple ultimately chose FASTSIGNS above other brands because of franchisees’ comments about the company. “FASTSIGNS gave us a list of all their current store owners, not just the ones they wanted us to talk to,” Stephanie says. “Across the board, everyone we spoke to had great things to say.”
For Chuck and Stephanie, the process of looking and deciding took a couple of years. “This was a big investment for us and we wanted to make the right choice,” Chuck explains. “The FASTSIGNS brand is very strong and has a great reputation.”
Once the couple signed the agreement, the corporate team guided them through every step. “The support is amazing,” Stephanie says. “There are more than 120 people working in the corporate office to guarantee our success. That’s a great feeling.”
Besides wanting to invest in a solid business, another must-have for the Drilecks was a franchise that let them contribute to their community. “We get to do that with FASTSIGNS. We never turn down an opportunity to help people,” Stephanie says. They work regularly with the Petco Foundation and the Fisher House, providing signage for events and helping raise money. “It feels good to give back,” she adds.
The Drilecks love that they can customize the business to their market and to their strengths as business owners. “We can add on services as we wish, but don’t have to offer everything FASTSIGNS produces,” Chuck says. “We are able to scale the business at our own pace.” In fact, the Drilecks plan to open another location and will bring their daughter on board to help.
The Drilecks are thrilled with their decision to go with FASTSIGNS. “We get great joy from what we’re doing now. I only wish we had done this 20 years ago,” Chuck says.
For more information, visit www.fastsigns.com or call 214-346-5679.
Share this story
by Jill Abrahamsen
Stephanie Basile-Drileck and her husband Chuck did their due diligence before finally investing in a FASTSIGNS® business. The San Antonio couple looked at opportunities in every area of franchising—from food to fitness—and then weighed the pros and cons to each industry. Finally, they decided that drawing on their advertising and marketing backgrounds was the way to go.
“While we didn’t know anything about creating or installing signs, we did know how to help people market their businesses. Our advertising experience helps us help our customers. Collaborating comes naturally for both of us,” Chuck says. The couple ultimately chose FASTSIGNS above other brands because of franchisees’ comments about the company. “FASTSIGNS gave us a list of all their current store owners, not just the ones they wanted us to talk to,” Stephanie says. “Across the board, everyone we spoke to had great things to say.”
For Chuck and Stephanie, the process of looking and deciding took a couple of years. “This was a big investment for us and we wanted to make the right choice,” Chuck explains. “The FASTSIGNS brand is very strong and has a great reputation.”
Once the couple signed the agreement, the corporate team guided them through every step. “The support is amazing,” Stephanie says. “There are more than 120 people working in the corporate office to guarantee our success. That’s a great feeling.”
Besides wanting to invest in a solid business, another must-have for the Drilecks was a franchise that let them contribute to their community. “We get to do that with FASTSIGNS. We never turn down an opportunity to help people,” Stephanie says. They work regularly with the Petco Foundation and the Fisher House, providing signage for events and helping raise money. “It feels good to give back,” she adds.
The Drilecks love that they can customize the business to their market and to their strengths as business owners. “We can add on services as we wish, but don’t have to offer everything FASTSIGNS produces,” Chuck says. “We are able to scale the business at our own pace.” In fact, the Drilecks plan to open another location and will bring their daughter on board to help.
The Drilecks are thrilled with their decision to go with FASTSIGNS. “We get great joy from what we’re doing now. I only wish we had done this 20 years ago,” Chuck says.
For more information, visit www.fastsigns.com or call 214-346-5679.
Share this story
