Behind the Franchise

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Amy Byrne, Marketing Director for BELFOR Franchise Group. Amy shares her unconventional journey from the music industry and life on the road to leading marketing strategy across a portfolio of franchise brands. Together, they explore what it takes to balance analytics with creativity, empower franchise owners, and adapt marketing strategies in an...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Brian Gross, President of Bach to Rock. Brian shares how a summer rock band program evolved into one of the nation's leading music education franchises and explains why music is about much more than learning an instrument. From building proprietary technology and embracing AI to navigating private equity investment and preserving company cultu...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Amy Freeman, Co-Founder and CEO of The Spice & Tea Exchange. Amy shares how she built a niche retail concept into a thriving 100+ location franchise by combining curiosity, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to quality. From sourcing spices and teas around the world to navigating supply chain disruptions, COVID, and rapid franchise gr...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Tom Mirabella, founder and CEO of Wingman Planning. Tom shares how he left corporate America to build a marketing agency from the ground up, eventually growing it into a team of more than 25 employees before expanding into franchising. From learning every role in the business himself to creating systems that help entrepreneurs succeed, he explains...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Bryan Vohsing, Franchise Marketing Manager at Oh Deer. Bryan shares how he unexpectedly found his way into franchising and grew from marketing coordinator to leading both local and national marketing initiatives for one of the fastest-growing all-natural deer, tick, and mosquito control brands. From building scalable marketing systems to balancing...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Paul Redman, President of Contractor Commerce. Paul shares how Contractor Commerce evolved from an online storefront for HVAC contractors into an AI-powered commerce platform that's reshaping how homeowners research, shop for, and purchase home services. From staying disciplined through years of product evolution to making bold bets on agentic...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Doug Roberto, owner and design consultant of Gotcha Covered Los Feliz. Doug shares his journey from decades in corporate medical sales to becoming a first-time franchise owner. He opens up about why he left corporate America, how franchising gave him the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship, and the lessons he's learned during his first year...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Jimmy Speyer, Founder and CEO of GlassHouse. Jimmy shares his journey from hospitality and SaaS leadership to launching a technology company that helps home service businesses generate demand through digital door knocking. Along the way, he explains why he and his wife bought a Pink's Window franchise while building Glasshouse, and how becomin...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Jesse McBain, Chief Operating Officer of Pvolve. With more than 30 years of franchise leadership experience spanning brands like Papa John's and The Joint Chiropractic, Jesse shares how Pvolve is redefining fitness through clinically backed movement, premium brand experiences, and operational excellence. He dives into what it takes to scale a...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Tony Hulbert, Managing Director at HorsePower Brands. Tony shares his unconventional journey through different franchising roles, explaining how a foundation in finance evolved into a passion for growth, leadership, and helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses. Listeners will hear: How Tony went from public accounting to leading growth in...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Rob Flanagan, CEO & Cultural Co Founder of Hounds Town USA. Rob shares his unconventional journey into franchising and the leadership philosophies that have helped guide Hounds Town past the 100-unit milestone. From building culture as a measurable system to using economic theory and predictive analytics to stay ahead of market shifts, Rob off...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Ron Silberstein, partner of Bud’s Place Franchising, to explore one of the most unique concepts emerging in franchising today, cannabis consumption lounges. Ron shares his journey from CPA and franchise executive in the golf industry to building a hospitality-focused cannabis lounge franchise designed to serve a rapidly growing market. From naviga...

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...