Training Impact Podcast

Most people assume franchising begins when an entrepreneur signs an agreement or opens their doors, but the real work happens long before that point. In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter talks with Jared Nassiff, Director of Business Development at Business Alliance, Inc., to uncover what truly happens behind the scenes of franchise development. Jared explains how Business A...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast , Jeff Walter sits down with Ed Powers, Director of Operations at Broken Yolk Cafe , to unpack how a beloved San Diego breakfast spot grew from a single Pacific Beach landmark into a multi-state franchise system. Ed’s career journey—from regional operations leader at Chili’s to helping build Broken Yolk’s franchise infrastructure—offers practical insi...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter sits down with Matt Shepanek of the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence to explore how ASE shapes technician competence, shop performance, and customer trust across the automotive service industry. The National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence has long served as the gold standard for technician evaluation, and th...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter speaks with Jolynn Ledgerwood, founder of Elevate Your Talent, to explore how creativity, neuroscience, and tactile learning can reshape the way teams solve problems. Elevate Your Talent helps organizations unlock deeper thinking, strengthen collaboration, and move beyond traditional training methods that rely heavily on lecture-base...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter sits down with Amber Burke, Chief Operating Officer of Burn Boot Camp, to explore how one of America’s fastest growing fitness franchises maintains its signature experience across more than 380 locations. What emerges is a closer look at how consistent training, thoughtful certification, and a philosophy centered on connection fuel both m...

n this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Wyatt Borchetta Platt, Revenue Operations Leader at Design Pickle, to unpack how scalable creative systems and smarter processes help companies grow without sacrificing quality. Wyatt brings a rare blend of experience across sales ops, marketing, and cross-functional leadership. He explains how organizations can use str...

In this episode of the ⁠Training Impact Podcast⁠ , host Jeff Walter sits down with Willie Katinowsky, VP of Franchise Development of ⁠Dumpster Dudez⁠ , to explore how one of the fastest growing junk hauling and dumpster rental franchise systems built its momentum through simple operations, consistent execution, and a strong commitment to franchisee training. Willie explains that Dumpster Dudez did...

🎙️ A Conversation with Emily George of KTA Financial Services 📈 Training Impact Podcast – Hosted by Jeff Walter When it comes to financial services, trust is everything. In this episode, Jeff Walter sits down with Emily George of KTA Financial Services to explore how a client-first philosophy, rigorous internal training, and a culture of transparency are redefining what financial stewardship look...

When BlueStreak Learning President Jennifer DeVries talks about extended-enterprise education, she isn’t talking theory—she’s talking measurable ROI. In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter explores how DeVries built a company that treats learning as a business strategy, not an operational cost. Her philosophy is clear: training should perform like any other investment—del...

The Secret Ingredient in Hungry Howie’s Success: Training That Sticks If you’ve ever walked into Hungry Howie’s whether it’s in Michigan, Florida, or Texas you know exactly what to expect: the smell of buttered crust, the energy of a team that knows its rhythm, and pizza made with the same consistency that’s defined the brand for 50 years. That kind of reliability doesn’t happen by accident. It’s...

When families face the emotional, time-pressured moment of moving a loved one into assisted or memory care, it’s rarely a business decision—it’s a crisis one. In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter, CEO of LatitudeLearning, talks with Mike Lamkin, Director of Business Development at Care Patrol of Northern Indianapolis, about how empathy, education, and franchise-level tr...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter, CEO of LatitudeLearning, sits down with Jake Wharton, Director of Franchise Growth at Bloomin’ Blinds, to unpack what it really takes to scale a franchise system—without losing the craftsmanship and care that made it successful in the first place. Bloomin’ Blinds is a fast-growing home service brand specializing in residential windo...

🎙️ Episode Summary: “Creating Connection Through Content: The Brand Networks Approach” In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter welcomes Josh Gelfat, Vice President of Marketing at Brand Networks, for an insightful conversation on how digital marketing, automation, and education intersect to help businesses of all sizes thrive. Josh brings a unique perspective shaped by an...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host JeffWalter sits down with Patrick Sanchez, Vice President of BrandPartnerships at Franchise Fastlane, to unpack what makes a great franchise system work—not just on paper, but in practice. Patrick’s journey into franchising started on construction sites in Kansas and led to owning 12 nutrition stores across the western United States. That hands-...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with three powerhouse leaders from eLearningDOC—Angela Robbins, Toni DiMella, and Diana Brandon—to unpack how great learning design happens when creativity meets structure. Together, they explore what it takes to turn subject matter expertise, operational chaos, and big ideas into consistent, measurable, and scalable traini...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with two seasoned leaders from Learning Designs, Inc. (LDI): Mary Carter, Founder and President, and Julie Hiatt, Manager of Business Development. Together, they explore how decades of experience in instructional design, workforce development, and corporate training can be applied to today’s biggest challenges—skills gaps,...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Jason Moss, Vice President of Store Development and Training Operations at Batteries Plus, to explore how franchise training can drive business growth, brand consistency, and employee retention. Jason shares his unlikely path into training—beginning as an entrepreneur running a carpet cleaning and disaster recovery bus...

What does it take to truly transform an organization’s customer experience from the inside out? In this powerful episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Ray Miller, Managing Partner of The Training Bank—a globally respected expert in customer experience training and leadership development. With more than 35 years of experience helping organizations embed service exc...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Bill Ryan, the Director of Technical and Clinical Education at Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG, a Swiss-based manufacturer of femtosecond lasers and diagnostic systems used in refractive and therapeutic eye surgeries. From LASIK flap creation to corneal transplants, these devices demand technical mastery—and Bill is the p...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Matt Anderson, a 20-year veteran of LatitudeLearning and head of the delivery team, to tackle a critical topic for any learning leader: the workstreams that take a training program from vision to execution—and keep it thriving. As Jeff puts it, “This is where the rubber hits the road.” While past episodes have focused...

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Sean Morris, a veteran of the restaurant industry and founder of the emerging franchise concept Tickle My Ribs. Together, they explore how deeply embedded, skills-based training can transform franchise operations, reduce turnover, and create a culture of long-term excellence. Sean’s journey began in a family-owned Caro...

In this inspiring episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Susan Demers, Manager of Learning and Development at Academy 4, a Texas-based nonprofit delivering one-on-one mentorship to fourth graders in Title I schools. The conversation redefines what "extended enterprise learning" means—moving beyond franchises and partners to focus on volunteer training in the nonpro...

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Rubens Tilkian—trial lawyer, master coach, mediator, and founder of Vertus Conflict Solutions. With over 70,000 resolved agreements and more than 550 professionals trained, Rubens brings deep experience and personal insight into one of the most overlooked elements of organizational succes...

In this powerful episode of the Training Impact Podcast, we spotlight Jeff Walter, Founder and CEO of LatitudeLearning, and his thought-provoking session at the 2025 IFA World Franchise Show. With over 20 years in Learning and Development, Walter brings clarity and urgency to a message franchisors need to hear: franchise training isn’t just a necessity—it’s a strategic weapon. Walter opens by chal...

In this unique episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter takes listeners on a reflective hike through the woods of Northern Michigan to answer a deceptively simple question: What makes partner training different from employee training? What begins as a casual query from a colleague unfolds into an in-depth comparison that explores the core design, objectives, and administration of two fu...