Franchisor Hot Seat

Meet Dave Wood, Founder of Mahana Fresh. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-wood-9975a38/ What is Mahana Fresh? In the tropics, Mahana means “like the sun,” embodying warmth, endless possibilities, and boundless energy. For Mahana Fresh, freshness is more than a word—it's a commitment to creating good moods through good food, where everyone is welcome. They cater to individual tast...

Meet Rick Mayo, CEO at Alloy Personal Training. https://www.linkedin.com/in/teamalloy/ What is Alloy Personal Training? The Alloy Personal Training franchise offers a proven business model providing customized personal training services rooted in cutting-edge science to meet the increasing demand for high-quality health and fitness options. With over 30 years of experience, Alloy's fitness platfor...

Meet John L Pentera, VP of Development, and Scott Thompson, CDO. Discover the compelling reasons why Sola Salons is the hottest investment opportunity in the franchise industry! Learn how Sola Salons has become the nation's leading salon suite franchise, boasting over 730 locations and a community of 20,000+ beauty professionals. Understand the stability and profitability of Sola's recession-proof...

Meet Stan Glander, President/CEO at Kono's Northshore. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-glander-bb21254/ What is Kono's Northshore? Kono's Northshore offers a fresh take on delicious Hawaiian cuisine in a casual and fun setting. Founded in Haleiwa, Hawaii in 2002, Kono's Northshore is known for its "Extra Aloha Service" and a menu featuring items like the Kalua Pig Nachos and the Pupukea Breakfast...

Meet Howard Picker, Sr. Vice President Franchise Development of Floyd's 99 Barbershop. https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardpicker-smiles-business/ What is Floyd's 99 Barbershop? Founded in 1999 by three brothers, Floyd's 99 Barbershop identified an underserved market between discount barbershops and high-end salons. They created a barbershop franchise that blends premium services with affordable pri...

Meet Sarah Jameson ( linkedin.com/in/sarah-jameson-08526b79 ), National Director of Franchise of Freshslice Pizza. What is Freshslice Pizza? Based in BC, Canada, Freshslice Pizza is a unique pizza chain with 153 units, now expanding into the US. Known for its culture of Partnership, Productivity, and Efficiency, Freshslice offers franchise partners 100% Opportunity with 0% Royalty, 0% Ad Fees, and...

Meet Tom Sacco (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasasacco/), CEO of Happy Joe's. What is Happy Joe's? Born in 1972, Happy Joe's Pizza is a place where fun meets family and fantastic food. Known for their specialty pizzas, ice cream, and memorable birthday parties featuring their mascot Happy the Dog, they've been creating joyful experiences for over 50 years. With nearly 50 locations nationwide, Ha...

Meet Brian Shultz ( linkedin.com/in/brian-shultz-210a4313 ), Chief Information Officer of Cruise Planners. What is Cruise Planners? Cruise Planners is the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network, established in 1994. They are a top-producing agency partnering with all major cruise lines, tour operators, and land vacation companies, known for quality service and competitive prici...

Meet Martin Balcaitis, President of Lindora. What is Lindora? Lindora, part of the Xponential Fitness family, is revolutionizing metabolic health and wellness through medically guided weight management programs. They offer a proven franchise model, empowering owners to build impactful businesses with comprehensive support. Discover how Lindora's personalized care plans and expanding nationwide pre...

Meet Diana Simmons ( linkedin.com/in/diana-simmons-cfe-9630b570 ), Owner of SIMPLY CABINETRY. What is SIMPLY CABINETRY? Simply Cabinetry offers a vast selection of factory-direct cabinetry, streamlining the process for both DIY enthusiasts and professionals. As a leading distributor, they pride themselves on simplifying selection and service, saving clients and partners valuable time and money. Wi...

Meet Emmanuelle Hardy ( linkedin.com/in/emmanuellehardy ), Vice President of Franchise Development of Ellie Mental Health. What is Ellie Mental Health? Founded in 2015, Ellie Mental Health started with a single clinic and has rapidly expanded to over 250 franchise locations nationwide. Their core mission? To break down the barriers surrounding mental health and make support more accessible –...

Join franchisor expert Nick Powills and Karen Garrett, Director of Franchise Development at Radiance Holdings, as they share the story behind the Woodhouse Spas franchise. Discover how this established brand, now part of the Radiance Holdings network, supports its franchisees and the potential it offers individuals looking to build a business in the wellness space. Learn about the real experiences...

In this insightful episode, 1851 Publisher Nick Powills connects with Darren Tipton, CEO, and Nick Scaccio, COO, of Paris Baguette to explore the compelling story behind their explosive growth in the North American bakery franchise sector. Darren and Nick share the strategic vision and leadership principles that have propelled the brand to record-breaking success, including 16 straight quarters of...

Meet Matt & Megin Sharp ( / mattsharp321go , ( / megin-sharp-a5b3bb13a ) Founders of KidStrong. What is KidStrong? KidStrong is Athletic Play—a unique concept that uses science-based fitness games to build confidence, character, and family connection. Our 45-minute classes, led by expert coaches, blend fitness and fun to help kids unlock their superpowers across three key pillars: Charac...

Meet DeNita Carini ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/denitacarani/ ), Brand President of Pet Wants. What is Pet Wants? Pet Wants is a pet health and wellness company that strives to improve the nutrition, health, vitality, and well-being of pets. Founded in 2010, the brand's specially crafted, private-label pet food formulas are made in small batches with fresh, natural ingredients complete with vitam...

Meet Ray Walsh (linkedin.com/in/walshray ), CEO of Barmetrix. What is Barmetrix? Barmetrix is a company known for providing consulting services to the hospitality industry, specifically targeting bars, pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs. Their franchise brand is built around offering expertise and solutions to help these businesses maximize profits, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experien...

Meet Osiris Hoil ( linkedin.com/in/osiris-hoil-91224887 ), Co-founder and CEO of District Taco. What is District Taco? In 2009, Osiris Hoil and his neighbor, Marc Wallace, got together over some homemade chips, salsa, and guacamole and decided to launch the District Taco food cart in Rosslyn, Virginia. Over a decade later, District Taco is operating multiple restaurants across Washington, D.C., Vi...

Meet Larry Sutton ( linkedin.com/in/larrydsutton ), Founder/CEO of RNR Tire Express. Meet Adam Sutton ( linkedin.com/in/adambsutton ), President of RNR Tire Express. What is RNR Tire Express? RNR Tire Express is a leading retailer and installer of quality tires, custom wheels, and related services. With 20+ years of experience and over 180 locations across the country, RNR Tire Express has the pro...

Meet Rob Lancit ( linkedin.com/in/roblancit ) Vice President of Franchise Development of Stratus Building Solutions. What is Stratus Building Solutions? Stratus Building Solutions provides environmentally friendly commercial cleaning services driven by small business owners and regional support centers across North America. Stratus Building Solutions is the industry-leading franchise in green comm...

Meet Ben Osmow ( linkedin.com/in/benosmow ), CEO & Head of Franchising at Osmow's Inc. What is Osmow's Inc.? Osmow's is one of North America's fastest growing quick-service restaurant chains, boasting more than 150 outlets. Its modern take on classic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes has proven a hit with its ever-expanding customer base. Serving the best Shawarmas in North America, Osmo...

Meet Dan Feltman ( linkedin.com/in/daniel-feltman-10724a141 ), VP of The Garage Floor Company. What is The Garage Floor Company? The Garage Floor Company business first started in Nebraska as a garage flooring installer. In 2011 we expanded our business to the Phoenix area. Now we are serving Indianapolis and surrounding areas. With over 10 years of experience as a company, it gives us the utmost...

Meet Michael Leitner ( linkedin.com/in/mjleitner ), Owner & CEO of Marvin's Mailers. What is Marvin's Mailers? InfoCard Marketing was created in the western suburbs of Chicago in 2003 with the goal of helping businesses stay relevant with their clients. For the past 19 years, InfoCard Marketing has served the greater Chicagoland area with customers in 42 states and Puerto Rico. We are proud to...

Meet Wes Fox ( linkedin.com/in/wes-fox-4a8a01158 ), CEO/Chief Weapons and Tactics Instructor of United Defense Tactical. What is United Defense Tactical? United Defense Tactical's proprietary firearms and self-defense curriculum is for civilians and professionals alike. From fundamentals to active shooter training, members will learn how to respond to threats that could arise in actual combat situ...

Meet Casey Cooley ( linkedin.com/in/casey-cooley-b706a544 ), Director of Franchise Development & Real Estate of Jeremiah's Italian Ice. What is Jeremiah's Italian Ice.? At Jeremiah's Italian Ice, we've been scooping up our tasty frozen treats since 1996. Our Italian Ice is a decadent, refreshing treat with flavors spanning the taste spectrum, from the every day to the exquisite and the eccentr...

Meet Dan Kaplan ( linkedin.com/in/dan-kaplan-8aba1523 ), President/CEO of Surface Specialists Systems Inc. What is Surface Specialists Systems Inc.? At Surface Specialists we are guided by a simple philosophy: Provide quality bathtub repair and refinishing products and services to our customers in a prompt, professional manner. Since entering the tub refinishing and repair industry in 1981, we hav...