Behind the Franchise

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Bennett Maxwell, CEO of Franchise KI. Bennett shares his journey from door-to-door sales to scaling one of the fastest-growing cookie brands in America. From selling 450 franchises in less than two years to navigating lawsuits, he reveals the strategies — and lessons learned — behind building and scaling at lightning speed. Listeners will hear: Ho...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Vanessa Yakobson, CEO and partner of Blo Blow Dry Bar, LashKind, and MYNC. Vanessa shares her journey from nonprofit fundraising to leading one of North America’s largest beauty and wellness franchise systems. From pioneering the blow dry bar category to scaling with customer experience at the core, she reveals how Blo continues to evolve while st...

In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Erika Wilson, CMO at Sound Income Group, a parent company supporting financial advisors through multiple subsidiaries, including a national franchise brand. Erika shares her journey from traditional advertising into the financial services world and how she built a marketing approach that balances creativity with the strict compliance of a regulate...

In this episode, host Paul Elinger sits down with Megan Stewart, partner at The Grow CMO, a marketing consultancy that helps brands in periods of rapid growth or transition. Megan shares how her background in journalism and storytelling informs her approach to marketing, blending data-driven performance with creative brand-building. Listeners will hear: How Megan balances performance marketing wit...

In this episode, host Paul Elinger sits down with Ethan Grob, co-founder and CEO of Another 9, a fully automated, 24/7 indoor golf simulator franchise. Ethan shares how his background in technology, retail, and product development inspired him to reimagine golf as a seamless, tech-driven, and approachable experience. Listeners will hear: How Another 9 blends digital booking and smart access with a...

In this powerhouse episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Adam Contos, former CEO of RE/MAX, to talk about the wild ride from SWAT commander to franchise titan. Adam shares the gritty realities of leadership, the psychology behind overcoming fear, how to navigate challenging franchisee dynamics, and why AI is already reshaping the future of franchising. Whether you'...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dan & Ashley, the husband-and-wife duo behind Pet Bar, the fast-growing pet grooming franchise known as the “Disney World for dogs.” From closing their tanning salons to launching their first Pet Bar in 2015, Dan & Ashley share how a personal grooming need for their schnauzer turned into a booming pet grooming business with over 30 locations. In t...

In this inspiring Behind the Franchise episode, Julie Harrell, President of Cooper’s Scoopers, shares her unlikely journey from healthcare management to building one of the fastest‑growing mobile pet waste removal franchises in the U.S. Julie explains how she discovered a deeper purpose in the “poop business”—educating pet owners about environmental health, supporting franchisees with meaningful s...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Fred Hassen and Alfredo Rivera, the powerhouse duo behind Sit Means Sit, one of the largest dog training franchises in North America. From Fred’s unexpected entry into the dog world at age 40 to building a 170+ location business, they share an unfiltered look at the grit, growth, and guiding principles that built their empi...

In this powerful episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with industry powerhouse Sally Facinelli, CFE, a 29-year veteran in franchising. Sally shares the raw, real, and inspiring journey that’s defined her career — from international expansion in the dot-com era to leading high-growth franchise brands and shaping the future of female leadership in the space. 🔥 Key Topics Co...

Join Paul Ehlinger on Behind the Franchise as he sits down with Tim Vogel of Scenthound to uncover the behind-the-scenes tactics of scaling a data-driven pet care empire. From launching a single grooming van to building a network of 150+ franchise locations, Tim reveals how proprietary AI and longitudinal dog-health data are disrupting the pet wellness industry. Expect candid insights on overcomin...

In this episode of Behind the Franchise , host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Brooke Janousek, current CMO of Garage Experts and founder of The Grow CMO, for a deep dive into the realities of marketing leadership in franchising. Brooke shares her transition from running a thriving fractional CMO consultancy to taking on a full-time executive role—and why she made that move. Learn how she helped impl...

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...