FBR’s 2022 Franchise Rock Stars

fbr rock star

What makes a franchise owner great? It’s not easily defined as each franchisee brings unique abilities and skills to the brand. But this we do know: The most successful franchisees tend to share an incredibly strong work ethic along with a deep passion for their business. Here are this year’s Franchise Rock Stars.

For the Franchise Rock Star Awards, brands must have conducted a recent franchise survey to have their nominees considered. This year, Franchise Business Review reviewed over 273 nominations from franchisors in eight categories, including Top Performers, Multi-Unit Owners, Veteran-Owned and Family-Owned, and then narrowed the search by selecting 60 franchisees that we believe define what it really means to be a Rock Star. Twelve Rock Star franchise owners are featured below.

 

Bill and Chad Glendening, Golden Chick

2022 Family-Owned Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

What do you like most about your franchise organization today?

“While the pandemic shook up our restaurants, we never felt unearthed because we knew we had a solid foundation with Golden Chick. We truly felt like we were able to meet these challenges and changes head-on. With the menu being focused on serving fresh, delicious chicken but broad enough to offer a variety of items, we were able to appeal to not just one consumer audience. The menu welcomed traditional fast-food customers as well as families because of additional options like Boneless Wings, Golden Roast chicken, multiple sandwiches, chicken salad, and regular salads. Our sales surged during the pandemic because of our menu and our proximity to neighborhoods.”

Read the Complete Interview →

 

Kevan Wright, Huntington Learning Center

2022 Millennials Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

How have you raised the bar for your business and your franchise system?

What was your work history before you entered franchising? How did you apply those skills to your franchise?

“My wife used to work for her father on his shrimp farm in Ecuador. She said they hardly ever had a day off on that job, something new franchisees can anticipate in their first year too if our experience has taught us anything! That work ethic made it an easy transition for her as she’s thrown her passion and dedication into our center. I had a decade of teaching experience under my belt before becoming part of the Huntington family. So I came in with a very good understanding of the importance of being both prepared and direct when talking to a parent about their child’s education.”

Read the Complete Interview →

 

Eric Cross, HomeVestors of America

2022 Freshman Franchise Rock Star Award Winners

If you could start all over again, which mistake(s) would you avoid? What were your best decisions?

“If I had to do it again I would have become a HomeVestors of America (HVA) franchisee sooner.  I was flipping houses on my own, and I only had a few deals a year with very little income. I even lost money on one particular job. Since joining HVA I have closed so many more deals than I ever before and I have so much more support. Joining HVA was the best decision for me and my family.”

Read the Complete Interview →

 

Jordan Wuest, JPAR Real Estate

2022 Millennials Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

What do you like most about your franchise organization today?

“We have leadership and owners who are unequivocally fanatical about the success of our organization, and more importantly, the success of each other. Collectively, we continue to collaborate, elevate and innovate in our space. It is so fun to be a part of this like-minded group of leaders and owners!”

Read the Complete Interview →

Kim Prica and Sharon Konieczko, Junk King

2022 Women Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

If you could start all over again, which mistake(s) would you avoid? What were your best decisions?

“Our first mistake was choosing our location. We initially got an industrial warehouse, which did not work for our operations, so we needed to relocate early on. We also could have learned the best process for scrapping a lot better and a lot faster in the early days, but it took us a few years to learn. Our best decision was deciding to grow. We got a bigger warehouse and truck, and we work hard every day to continue expanding our business. We are involved in the business every day. We don’t wait around for opportunities. We go out to get our own jobs. We usually host lots of events and network to build our presence in the community.”

Read the Complete Interview→

 

George Hamilton, Snap-on Tools

2022 Veteran Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome as a business owner?

“The biggest challenge I have had to overcome is finding life balance. My life balance is still a work in progress. As a family, we have set time limits on business work outside of business hours. I have made a point to take time away from the business with family so I do not lose sight of why I am in this business in the first place. Since finding life balance for myself is important, I have made business decisions that help ensure my employees enjoy work/life balance as well. I have found employees who have work/life balance are more productive during their working hours which has helped my business grow.”

Read the Complete Interview →

 

JoBen and Amanda Barkey, Soccer Shots

2022 Giving Back Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

Why is giving back important to you? What role does giving back play in your life and your business?

“JoBen grew up in a 3rd world country surrounded by opportunities to give back. We intentionally built this organization as a giving organization, committed to donating 50% of our profits to sponsor thousands of children and many projects internationally.

Some of those projects include sponsoring 15 soccer academies in Africa and South America, including building and donating an artificial turf soccer complex in Peru where JoBen grew up. Our organization has paid for cancer treatments for a widow with 4 children and no health insurance, for funerals of eight children killed in civil war conflicts, and we recently covered the costs of a family’s emigration from Ukraine to Canada. In Cameroon specifically, we have paid for all the education costs of two refugee teens and fully financed the startup of three family-run and owned small businesses as well as one in Peru. And we aren’t done yet!”

Read the Complete Interview →

 

Erick Hilger, The Glass Guru

2022 Top Performer Franchise Rock Star Award Winners

What is your proudest achievement in your franchising career so far?

“There are many. To be continually receiving recognition for our store from our corporate office at conventions and conferences. Also just looking back from where we started to where we are today is a really cool thing. I also sit on the group of franchisees that meet with corporate monthly and I consider that a big honor. I had a medical issue this winter and was completely out of work and unable to help by phone or email. This was a surprise and our team was able to get us through it and that is a very big deal to me. Lastly, this FBR Rockstar Award is a huge achievement and very much a surprise to receive!”

Read the Complete Interview→

 

Matt Lockhart, The Human Bean

2022 Freshman Franchise Rock Star Award Winners

Is there a book or podcast that has helped you in starting or building your business?

“I’ve enjoyed the podcast How I Built This by Guy Raz for years. He interviews successful business owners that you’d recognize, and goes through their trials and tribulations of building their business from scratch up to the current day. The main point each person has always put across is that you just can’t ever give up. If you get knocked down eight times, you get up nine times. Giving up isn’t a strategy that I endorse. I read once that if you quit something, you’ll never accomplish anything more difficult than what you just quit… So I’ve taken that to heart. Never ever give up.”

Read the Complete Interview →

 

Michael Lally, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

2022 Multi-Unit Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

How did you build a winning team for your business?

“This is nearly an impossible question to answer without writing a book. Short and sweet? One day, and one person, at a time. Lose the bad apples immediately; realize that their home is simply elsewhere. And build around those that yearn for achievement, excellence, team, chemistry, goodness, etc. When you do this, the ride becomes a lot of fun and very gratifying.”

Read the Complete Interview →

Duran Lawson, Zaxby’s

2022 Freshman Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

Did the pandemic and recession impact your business? What were the lessons learned from the experience?

“Covid 19 hit us seven months after we opened our first location. But being a part of a great brand, which was able to be flexible and adapt quickly, is one of the reasons we were able to have success during the pandemic. We learned how important culture played a role in being able to keep our location staffed.”

Read the Complete Article →

Nick Lambie, Ziebart

2022 Veterans Franchise Rock Star Award Winner

How do you think your military experience has helped you as a business owner?

“The leadership techniques that I learned in the military have helped me create a high-performing team. I don’t think I’m where I’m at today without it. We take care of each other. We reward every chance we can. We truly value everyone, and everyone’s input. We communicate often, and we are always looking for ways to be better.”

Read the Complete Article →


Congratulations to all of this year’s Franchise Rock Stars!

Family-Owned

  • Jordan Raper, Bixby, OK, Aire Serv
  • Mark Warm, Inland Empire, CA, CarePatrol
  • Bruce Keehn, Northeast and Northern NJ regions, Checker’s & Rally’s
  • John, McIntosh, FRSTeam by Apple Cleaners, FRSTeam
  • Michael Silva-Nash, Molly Maid of Greater Little Rock, Molly Maid
  • Scot & Amy Hecht, Boise, ID, Our Town America (also referred to as Our Town America of the Treasure Valley)
  • Tammi & Sam Cole, Mandeville, LA, Pinch A Penny
  • Chris & Marianne Peters, Holland, OH, SafeSplash + SwimLabs
  • Toya Evans, MD and VA, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Hand & Stone

Freshman (owned 2 years or less)

  • Natalie Hutchings, NewFoundland, 30 Minute Hit
  • Marcee & Dominic “Nick” Locke, Wichita, KS, Any Lab Test Now
  • Flor Paulino, Willis Ave, Bronx, NY, ATAX
  • Brian Mullins, Akron, OH, Critter Control
  • Jeanna & Troy Leek, Galveston, TX, Discovery Map
  • Jane Banke & Leslie Bottesch, Rockledge, FL, Hounds Town USA
  • Don Courtney, Beaverton, OR, Motto Mortgage
  • Dameon Hunt, Orlando, FL, NEXTAFF
  • Sharan Karrha, Brentwood, CA, Nurse Next Door Home Care Services
  • Dallas Embry, The Lash Lounge Memphis – White Station, The Lash Lounge
  • Jim Bess, Winston-Salem + Asheboro/Greensboro, NC, Truly Nolen

Giving Back

Millennials

Multi-Unit

  • Antonio McBroom, NC, GA, TN, TX, IL, MO, Ben & Jerry’s
  • Tim & Kelly Paslawski, Savannah, Pooler, & Statesboro, GA, Bluffton, SC, Chicken Salad Chick
  • Amy O’Malley, Fort Myers/Naples, FL, Creative World School
  • Saravanan Chockalingam & Chetan Patel, Waterford, Algonac, East China & Port Huron, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers
  • Frank Byers, OH, Go Mini’s
  • Tyler Fuss, Boulder & Ft.Collins, CO, San Diego, CA, LIME Painting
  • Charles Heinzelman, Austin TX, Network In Action
  • Mike & Angie Chrisitanson, Billings, Butte, Fargo, Grand Forks, Helena, Casper, Minot, Pizza Ranch
  • Deepash & Shital Patel, Cromwell, Fairfield, Glastonbury, New Haven, South Windsor, The Learning Experience
  • Johnny Horton, Longview & Canton, TX, United Country | H5 Auction and Realty
  • Matt & Devin Ford, Somerset, KY, Richmond, KY, London, KY, Russell Springs, KY, Mount Vernon, KY, Monticello, KY, Weichert Real Estate

Top Performers

Veterans

Womens

  • Natalie Watts, Little Rock, AR, A Place At Home
  • Nora Farhat, Detroit, MI, British Swim School
  • Sue Bennett, Des Moines, IA, Complete Weddings + Events
  • Erin Ramlackhan, Fulton County, GA, CompuChild
  • Melissa Cohn, Dix Hills, NY, Dream Vacations
  • Charrisa Shirley, Meridian, MS, Home Instead
  • Stephanie Moseley, VA, Marco’s Pizza
  • Allison Williams, Twain Harte & San Andreas, CA, Pizza Factory Inc.
  • Kyra Sam, Pearland, TX (South Houston, TX), PJ’s Coffee
  • Alana Nicol, Detroit, MI, Sandler Training; GWA Associates
  • Linda Cale, Carolinas, Senior Care Authority
  • Helen Martin, FL, TX, & NC, Stretch Zone
  • Wendy Dalpez, Washington, The Entrepreneur’s Source

Includes owner satisfaction report
out of 100

Kona Ice

Investment: $149,995 - $189,300 Cash Required: $20,000
Includes owner satisfaction report
out of 100

Snap-on Tools

Industry: Automotive, Services
Investment: $217,505 - $481,554 Cash Required: $45,088
Cruise ship on water city lights
Includes owner satisfaction report
out of 100

Cruise Planners

Investment: $2,295 - $23,465 Cash Required: $10,995