Women in Franchising National Appreciation Day
Join us in honoring the strides made by women in franchising and inspiring future generations to seize the opportunities it offers for independence and success.
In recognition of the outstanding accomplishments of women in entrepreneurship and to foster further empowerment, United Franchise Group™ (UFG) introduced the inaugural National Women in Franchising Appreciation Day, marked by a special presentation and proclamation at the UFG World Headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on October 14th, 2022.
Aligned with National Women’s Small Business Month and preceding National Business Women’s Week, this historic day celebrated women’s contributions to business. With women-owned business franchises increasing by almost 40 percent in a decade, as revealed by a survey by the Small Business Trends Alliance and Guidant Financial, UFG’s creation of this day stems from the belief in franchising as a catalyst for women-owned business success. Supported by the City of West Palm Beach, this event stands as a testament to honoring and empowering women in the franchising realm.
Women in Franchising Spotlights
Beth Powers, Signarama (Novi, MI)
Kicking off our countdown to National Women in Franchising Appreciation Day (observed Oct. 14) is the first feature in our spotlight series – Beth Powers, the owner of a Signarama franchise in Novi, Michigan which she acquired in 2017. Beth was drawn to the proven success model and 24/7 support that franchise opportunities offer to aspiring entrepreneurs. Joining a franchise family also gifted her the benefit of having an instant peer group, several impactful mentors and a group of like-minded friends all in one. The most fulfilling part of her job is seeing her team bring projects to life that positively impact local businesses and the community. When asked about the difference women are making, she noted that women are making significant strides in all parts of the industry from traditional female roles like design and customer service all the way to nontraditional roles like installation, fabrication and ownership.
Carla Jackson, Cannoli Kitchen Pizza (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Next up in our countdown to National Women in Franchising Appreciation Day (observed Oct. 14) is the second feature in our spotlight series – Carla Jackson, the owner of a Cannoli Kitchen Pizza franchise in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Carla and her husband dreamed of owning their own business and found the franchising industry to be very appealing because of all the support it provides for new owners. They took over the Fort Lauderdale location earlier this year and they are eager to help people in the community not only by providing delicious food but also a place of employment for those seeking job opportunities and growth in the restaurant industry. Carla shared that she believes women are making a huge impact on the franchise industry because of their strong leadership abilities. Her mentors, many of whom are women, impacted her journey by having faith in her ability to provide excellent leadership and support to employees and customers alike. One day, Carla hopes to mentor culinary students in their quest to grow their skills and knowledge surrounding food preparation and culinary arts.
Diane Hartz Warsoff, Exit Factor (Lehi, UT)
Next up in our countdown to National Women in Franchising Appreciation Day (observed Oct. 14) is the third feature in our spotlight series – Diane Hartz Warsoff, the owner of a Transworld Business Advisor (TBA) franchise and an Exit Factor franchise in Lehi, Utah. Prior to franchising, Diane’s career was in male-dominated industries in the corporate world. As a woman, she has always struggled with being heard in those industries but has come to learn that women get stuff DONE. Diane and her husband decided to venture out on their own and pursued franchising because it provided the backing of a tested system, as well as a network of peers – the most impactful being the franchisors who paved the way. They purchased TBA in 2016 and she has played a critical role in growing their franchise these past seven years. Fast forward to this year, and they opened their first Exit Factor franchise. Diane noted that it has been quite the ride, but that they love being “accidental entrepreneurs”! Diane loves working directly with business owners, listening to their concerns, and coming up with solutions that make their lives better – whether it is growing their business, looking to sell, or even helping aspiring entrepreneurs find the right business for them!
Elena Karaivanova, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill
Next up in our countdown to National Women in Franchising Appreciation Day (observed Oct. 14) is the fourth feature in our spotlight series – Elena Karaivanova, Director of Business Operations of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. Elena started her journey with The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill in January of 2018 in Las Vegas, as a FOH manager at the original locations of the brand. In 2022, she was transferred to serve as the Director of Operations of Charleston franchise units (one of which is the most successful franchise unit in the nation right now with a platinum award for sales of 2023). She’s enjoyed the rapid national expansion, which promotes great opportunities for career growth and personal development. In her latest role, she noted she enjoys building their network and connections in the community, training upper management and building new restaurant teams, creating tools for more efficiency and growing the catering network. As an immigrant, a mother of two kids and woman in franchising, growing up in this industry gave her the most valuable experience. She attributes her success to her mentors with greater experiences and remarkable resumes. The most important of them, Mr. Scott Willis, who trusted her with running and representing all his franchisee units and gave her many opportunities for visibility within the community she served. Today, she is surrounded by amazing women on the management and executive team, who inspire her daily. Elena believes women are making a cultural impact in this industry, influencing society’s beliefs, values and behaviors by overcoming stereotypes and balancing family responsibilities, all of which is possible thanks to the flexibility of franchising. As a multi-unit operator, her vision and hope for the future is to become a multi-brand operator and entrepreneur.
Luteesa Ford, Graze Craze (Buckhead-Midtown, GA)
Next up in our countdown to National Women in Franchising Appreciation Day (observed Oct. 14) is the fifth feature in our spotlight series – Luteesa Ford, the owner of the Graze Craze franchise in Buckhead-Midtown, Georgia which she opened nearly a year and a half ago. She was attracted to franchising because of the opportunity to work with likeminded teammates, the support of a wide network and team, as well as the ability to learn from experts in the industry. The most rewarding part of her role as an owner is being a part of her community’s life moments – moments no matter how big or small that matter. She finds it fulfilling to learn that customers are referred to her location and continue to come back for the exceptional product and service. She says she gets her greatest strength and courage from her customers, not only because they love the product but because they also want to support her business. Luteesa says women have made a tremendous impact in the franchise industry and believes women in franchising help build a sense of culture and community, elevate customer service experience and inspire passion for their industry.
Mary Jo Kurtz, United Franchise Group
Next up in our countdown to National Women in Franchising Appreciation Day (observed Oct. 14) is the sixth feature in our spotlight series – Mary Jo Kurtz, the Dream Coach and Director of Employee Development for United Franchise Group. Mary Jo is new to franchising and will celebrate her one-year anniversary with the company this year. Mary Jo feels fulfilled in her line of work because UFG allows her to combine her love for helping others be successful and become better versions of themselves with the excitement of working in a dynamic, supportive, and impactful industry that also empowers individuals to realize their dreams. Getting to witness others achieve their goals and celebrate milestones is her main highlight especially if the joy of someone succeeding is because of the work she did to support them. In addition to coaching employees to set and achieve goals she also develops programs to support employees and franchisees even more. This opportunity to help others and create innovative programs is an example of how limitless the franchising world is, and she acknowledges that several opportunities exist for women. Mary Jo believes that women help to bring diverse perspectives and approaches to business management and leadership which can lead to innovation and new strategies. When women serve as role models and mentors, they help inspire other women to pursue entrepreneurship and the world of franchising.
Jo-Anne Reeger – Fully Promoted (Conroe, TX)
Next up in our countdown to National Women in Franchising Appreciation Day (observed Oct. 14) is the seventh feature in our spotlight series – Jo-Anne Reeger, the owner of a Fully Promoted franchise in Conroe, Texas. Jo-Anne had always been intrigued by entrepreneurship but the idea of starting from scratch felt overwhelming, so when she decided to make the leap, she knew franchising would be the best choice because of all of its benefits. She was drawn to the industry because of the proven business model, 24/7 support and mentorship. There were challenges early on, but those challenges became her greatest teachers. The experience has been a blend of hard work, resilience and a lot of learning along the way, but it’s led to growth that she could never have imagined when she first started. This October, Jo-Anne will celebrate 21 years in franchising. Her favorite part about being in franchising is meeting people and building relationships within the Fully Promoted franchise brand and within her community. Jo-Anne believes that women help create an inclusive and innovative business environment and they provide jobs for other women who may need flexible work environments.
Hollie Choe – Transworld Business Advisors (Oregon Central)
Meet Hollie Choe, franchise owner of Transworld Business Advisors in Oregon Central!
Hollie started in franchising almost five years ago and was drawn to the industry for the freedom of owning a business along with the support of a recognized brand. She appreciates the collaborative nature of working together with franchisees and franchisors to grow the business.
Her favorite part of her job is making a real difference in people’s lives and helping her clients reach their goals, whether it’s selling their business to start a new chapter or helping new entrepreneurs begin their own journey. Hollie feels women are making a big impact in franchising by introducing new ideas and leadership styles, mentoring others, and promoting work-life balance in different business models.
She’s appreciative of the incredible women who paved the way for her to become a successful leader in the industry.
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