Behind the Franchise

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Roland Ligtenberg, Co-Founder and SVP Growth and Innovation of Housecall Pro. Roland shares how a simple mobile app for scheduling jobs and collecting payments evolved into a platform powering more than 50,000 home service businesses and over 100 million completed jobs. The conversation dives deep into the future of AI, software, franchising, and...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Scott Greenberg, franchise performance expert, keynote speaker, and author of The Wealthy Franchisee and Stop the Shift Show . Scott shares how his experience as a multi-unit Edible Arrangements franchisee shaped his perspective on leadership, franchise success, culture, and the emotional realities of business ownership. From identifying patterns...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Jason D'Rocha, Vice President of Sportball. Jason shares his 20-year journey from part-time coach to franchise leader, revealing how Sportball blends youth sports, child development, and purposeful franchising to create lasting impact for families and communities. From scaling internationally to helping children build confidence through moveme...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Todd Treml, CEO of Touching Hearts at Home. Todd shares his 35-year journey in franchising from helping scale Winmark Corporation from just a few locations to more than 1,200, to leading one of the fastest-growing senior care franchise brands in the country. He opens up about stepping into an 18-year legacy brand, building franchisee-first systems...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Matt Stanton, Chief Development Officer of Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa whose career spans many powerhouse brands. Matt shares what it really takes to scale franchise systems responsibly — from growing brands into the thousands of units to balancing smart expansion with operational excellence. Listeners will hear: How Matt helped grow s...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Angela Johnson, newly appointed CMO of Edible Brands. Angela shares her journey from agency life to leading marketing strategy for one of the most recognized gifting brands in North America. From modernizing a 26-year legacy brand to building agile franchise growth strategies, she reveals how today’s brands must evolve to stay culturally relevant...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Nicole Chaudry, Founder and CEO of WorldKids School. Nicole shares her journey from leaving the corporate world in Europe to building a language immersion concept that began in her living room and grew into a multi-location education brand. From identifying a gap in early childhood language learning to scaling through franchising, she reveals the...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Mark Michael, co-founder and CEO of DevHub. Mark shares his journey from building behind-the-scenes marketing technology for major platforms to stepping into the spotlight and transforming how franchise brands approach their digital presence. From redefining the role of websites in an AI-driven world to challenging outdated marketing tactics, he b...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Karen Wenning of Suttle-Straus, a seasoned expert in franchise marketing and direct mail strategy. Karen shares her journey from agency life to becoming a trusted partner for franchise brands, and dives deep into how modern AI tools for marketing and connected mail are reshaping customer engagement. From blending digital and physical touchpoints t...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Christina Russell, seasoned franchise executive, board member, and private equity expert. Christina shares her journey through 25+ years in franchising, leading brands like the IFA and Scenthound, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how private equity is reshaping the franchise landscape. From the evolution of data-driven decision-making to the...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with John and Tyler Berglund of Tijon Fragrance Lab, a fast-growing fragrance experience franchise that began as a passion project in the French Caribbean. What started as a semi-retirement dream quickly evolved into a booming franchise concept, blending creativity, retail expertise, and unforgettable customer experiences. John and Tyler share their un...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Daniel McCarty, founder and CEO of JunkStart Junk Removal, a brand redefining the junk removal industry with its innovative pay-by-weight model. Daniel shares his journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to creating a franchise brand designed to scale smarter. He dives into the strategy behind launching in a saturated market, the pivot...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Emily Hazard of Fortidia, where she helps grow powerhouse franchise brands like PostNet and AlphaGraphics. Emily shares her journey from being a marketer to stepping into franchise development, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to scale a franchise network successfully. From building strong systems to fostering collaboratio...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Stefan Figley, President of 1-800-Packouts. Stefan shares his journey from global marketing analytics to leading franchise systems and how his experience across marketing, operations, and leadership shaped his approach to scaling service brands. From running analytics across 25 international markets to helping thousands of franchisees grow their b...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Charles Bonfiglio, founder and CEO of Tint World Automotive Styling Centers. Charles shares his journey from growing up in Brooklyn to building one of the most recognizable brands in automotive aftermarket services. From opening his first shop in Florida to acquiring and transforming a small six-location tinting business into a rapidly expanding f...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Stacey Ryan, President of School of Rock, to explore leadership, culture, and franchise growth in a global education brand. Stacey shares her journey from consultant to president, leading a mission-driven organization that impacts tens of thousands of students worldwide. They discuss maintaining intentional culture, scaling franchises internationa...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Sebastien Lagree, founder of the globally recognized Lagree Fitness method. Sebastien shares his journey from aspiring action movie star to building one of the most innovative fitness brands in the world. What began as a necessity-driven pivot into Pilates evolved into a revolutionary workout system — complete with patented machines, international...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Scott Redler, restaurant industry veteran, Co-Founder of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and President of Mokas Coffee & Eatery. Scott shares his 50-year journey from a hotel and restaurant management grad to scaling one of the most recognizable fast-casual brands in the country, and now helping lead Mokas Coffee & Eatery into i...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Gina Schaefer, founder and CEO of Logan Hardware and a trailblazer in the Ace Hardware cooperative system. Gina shares her unlikely journey from the tech industry to opening a hardware store in Washington, DC and how curiosity, grit, and community helped her build a thriving multi-location business. From navigating a male-dominated industry to ser...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with David Smith, Vice President of Digital Marketing at Go Mini’s Franchising, to explore how modern franchise brands are evolving through data, systems, and franchise AI. From shifts in consumer behavior to building a proprietary operating system, David shares what it really takes to modernize franchise marketing without losing trust at the local lev...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Genevieve Coulson, Director of Social Media at Goldfish Swim School. Genevieve shares her decade-plus journey in social media marketing and what it really takes to build authentic, high-performing franchise social strategies in an era shaped by Franchise AI. From balancing national brand consistency with local storytelling to navigating how AI wor...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with franchise attorney Ari Stern, partner of Fox Rothschild LLP, for a deep, practical conversation at the intersection of franchising, dispute resolution, and franchise AI. As the first lawyer to appear on the show, Ari shares how he unexpectedly found his niche in franchise law and why proactive legal strategy matters more than ever as brands adopt...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger welcomes back Adam Contos for his second appearance on Behind the Franchise. Former CEO of RE/MAX and current partner at Area 15 Ventures, Adam brings a seasoned perspective on private equity, leadership, and what it really takes to scale franchise brands without losing the soul of the business. Building on their first conversation around AI and leadership, Paul...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Brian Britton, CEO of Kilwins, to unpack what it really takes to lead an 80-year-old legacy brand into its next era of growth. From private equity transition to modern marketing, Brian shares how Kilwins is scaling thoughtfully without losing the magic that made the brand iconic in the first place. From franchise marketing strategy to embracing mo...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Del Salinas, VP of Franchise Development at Caring Senior Service. Del shares how a 34-year-old brand has grown intentionally and why culture, systems, and people-first leadership have fueled long-term success. From building a robust internal support team to developing proprietary technology, Del explains how Caring Senior Service balances high-te...