Behind the Franchise

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Kristen Pechacek—CEO of MassageLuXe and a digital marketing pioneer—to unpack her journey from launching Facebook pages in the MySpace era to leading one of the fastest-growing wellness franchises in the U.S. Kristen shares how she turned early social media success into a powerful franchising career, with stops at the Minne...

From startup hustle to CMO of a billion-dollar franchise platform, Felicia Reeves brings clarity, courage, and sharp strategy to the ever-evolving world of marketing. In this episode of Behind the Franchise, Felicia opens up about her early entrepreneurial journey, how she empowers franchisees across 10 brands, and why bravery, action, and understanding the P&L are at the heart of effective ma...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, Paul sits down with Lynn Blashford, CMO of White Castle, to talk about the iconic burger brand’s 104-year legacy, its fiercely intentional decision not to franchise, and the creative strategies that keep it relevant across generations. From Valentine’s Day table service to Harold & Kumar’s enduring impact, Lynn shares how White Castle blends tradition w...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, Paul Ehlinger sits down with Andrea Wiita, founder of The Retail Method, to explore how smart retail strategy can supercharge brand loyalty and profitability in franchising. Andrea shares her journey from traditional retail with brands like JCPenney and Neiman Marcus to helping scale Orange Theory’s retail operations during a time of explosive growth. She u...

On this episode of Behind the Franchise , host Paul Ehlinger is joined by franchise strategist and industry veteran Dawn Abbamondi of SMB Franchise Advisors. With a career spanning multi-unit corporate franchises, franchise consulting, and even franchise ownership , Dawn shares practical insights on brand development, innovation, and scaling the right way . She also breaks down how emerging brands...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise , host Paul Ehlinger sits down with franchise operations expert Leigh Welch, founder of Leigh Welch Consulting. With over a decade in the franchising industry, Leigh shares insights on the crucial role of franchisee support, the importance of investing in operational coaching from day one, and why early-stage brands often struggle with profitability. She als...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise , host Paul Ehlinger (CEO of Flamel.ai ) sits down with Jay Kallman, founder of Revvy Marketing , to unpack the beautiful balance between data-driven strategy and human-first branding. With over 15 years in marketing, Jay shares her journey from working with major franchises to launching her own purpose-driven agency. She dives into why foundational marketin...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Kristopher Stuart, Chief Development Officer of Bloomin' Blinds, to discuss his unconventional journey from firefighter to franchise leader. Kris shares how growing up in a family-run business shaped his mindset, why he pursued firefighting alongside entrepreneurship, and how he ultimately discovered franchising as a ve...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger chats with Brooke Budke about her journey as the founder and CEO of Momentum Brands. They explore how she empowers franchisees, shares marketing tips for franchises, and continues to pursue growth both professionally and personally. Highlights of this episode include: Brooke shares how she got into franchising and how her journey led her...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger chats with Michael Sutton about how he is expanding his business Grill Hero from Canada to the U.S., as well as just constantly elevating all aspects of the franchise. Highlights of this episode include: Michael sharing some of his milestones when founding Canadian BBQ Boys and transitioning and rebranding to business to Grill Hero The fu...

Dive into the pool of entrepreneurship with Mark Amery, founder and CEO of Puddle Pool Services! In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger chats with Mark about building a fun, vibrant brand in the home services industry. Highlights: Mark's journey from a single home service brand to multiple successful franchises The importance of maintaining a personal touch as your franchise g...

Welcome to Episode 2 of "Behind the Franchise"! In this episode, we chat with Kyle Kosco, VP of Marketing at ‪Caring Transitions who shares his journey from running a marketing agency to leading the marketing efforts of a thriving franchise. Discover how Caring Transitions supports seniors and their families during life transitions and learn about their unique "Caring for a Cause" initiatives. Fro...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Behind the Franchise" where we dive deep into the strategies that drive franchise brand success. In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger is joined by Jessica Yarmey, CEO of SizzleSociety and former CMO of Club Pilates. Jessica shares her journey from a marketing enthusiast to a franchise brand leader, offering invaluable insights on scaling businesses eff...