Franchise Today

As a major credit card company clains, membership has its privileges and the same should be said about membership in the International Franchise Association. Especially at a time when franchising continues to be under attack at local, state and federal levels like never before. This week on Franchise Today co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto are joined by Paul Rocchio, Senior Director of Development and Member Services at the International Franchise Association. Rocchio will share his insight on why it's more important than ever before to be an active member of the IFA, recent leadership changes at the IFA and what members can expect for 2016.

Paul Rocchio joined the IFA staff in March of 1999 as Manager of Grassroots and Political Education, and was promoted in 2001 and again in 2013 to his current position as Senior Director of Development and Member Services. Paul is responsible for the retention and recruitment of new members while creating continued value-added benefits and services to existing members. He staffs the IFA Supplier Forum Advisory Board and assists with the Membership Committee.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

"Love your neighbor as yourself." That is what is defined as the simple mission of Christian Brothers Automotive and one that has helped them drive franchise success since it began franchising in 1996. This week on Franchise Today, Josh Wall, Vice President Franchise and Strategic Development for Christian Brothers will join show co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto to discuss how building upon a culture of faith and "nice differences" has helped the brand become one of America’s fastest growing full service automotive repair franchises with 150 locations in 20 states and another 35 awarded and in development. 

Franchise Today airs LIVE every Wednesday at 11AM CT / 12PM ET. Each show is available on-demand on iTunes. Franchise Today is also on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FranchiseToday.

Ever since he operated a single store in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, Jersey Mike’s founder, Peter Cancro has believed in giving back to the community. His passion for helping others has resonated throughout the Jersey Mike’s system, resulting in an incredible outpouring of local giving and community support from Jersey Mike’s stores across the country. This week on Franchise Today, Brian Sommers, Vice-president of Jersey Mike's Subs shares his perspective about the culture that has catapulted Jersey Mike's Subs into one of America's fastest growing franchise brands. Brian's experience is unique as he has literally grown up in the brand, having started working in his teens at the brand's roots - the original store.

Franchise Today airs LIVE every Wednesday at 11AM CT / 12PM ET. Each show is available on-demand on iTunes. Franchise Today is also on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FranchiseToday.

This week on Franchise Today the topic is culture and who better to discuss with co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto than someone from a franchise organization that lives and breathes culture and everything that are key components to culture. This week's guest fits the bill perfectly and from an organization, The Dwyer Group that epitomizes the right culture in franchising. A returning guest to Franchise Today is Mark Liston, President of Glass Doctor, a brand of The Dwyer Group. In franchising since 1981, Mark has been very involved with the International Franchise Association in a variety of roles and is currently on the Board of Governors for the Certified Franchise Executive Board, having served as Chairman of that Board for two years.  He is also on the Educational Foundations Board of Trustees. Previously he served the VetFran and Marketing and PR Committees.

Franchise Today airs LIVE every Wednesday at 11AM CT / 12PM ET. Each show is available on-demand on iTunes. Franchise Today is also on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FranchiseToday.

This week on Franchise Today, show founder, Paul Segreto welcomes as his co-host, long-time and well-established franchising professional, Stan Friedman. For the past few months, Paul and Stan have been reformatting the show to build upon the success that Franchise Today has already established for the better part of the past six years.

 

With that as a platform, Paul and Stan will use this week's show to discuss their mutual philosophies and how together, they will continue building on this legacy and taking Franchise Today to new levels and heights. As well-networked franchising professionals these guys have their ears to the ground and have a good sense of what you may want and need to hear more about. The co-hosts will discuss their thoughts on sustainable and sensible franchising, and how Franchise Today will focus on the same. To that end, they will talk more about the program’s new format.

This week on Franchise Today the focus is on something that seems to be in the news every day - data breaches! With data breaches more than doubling since 2009 to more than 25,000 incidents in 2013 and with 467 of those breaches occurring in the retail sector, franchises have been affected as well. Our guests this week are Tom Epstein, CEO of Franchise Payment Network and Lee Plave, Partner at the law firm, Plave Koch. Both are active IFA members on the Marketing & Technology Committee and are also some of the leading thought-leaders in franchising on today's topic.

About Our Guests

Lee Plave has extensive experience counseling distributors and franchisors, including drafting and negotiating franchise agreements for complex international and domestic transactions and advising clients on all aspects of franchise and distribution law. He also counsels clients on the application of technology to franchise and distribution systems. Lee focuses his attention on matters such as social networking and social media issues, e-commerce, data use and security policies, cybersquatting and domain name disputes, consumer complaint and cybersmear sites, as well as software and hardware licensing. In addition, he represents clients in matters before the Federal Trade Commission.

In addition to his role as CEO of Franchise Payments Network, Tom Epstein continues works with the IFA, serving on Supplier Forum, The Marketing & Technology Committee, FranPac supporter, host of IFA FBN (Franchise Business Network) in Orlando, has been published in all major Franchise Trades as well a sponsor of countless industry events though out the year. FPN works exclusively in the franchise space, utilizing Tom’s extensive knowledge in retail and payment processing to facilitate the unique needs of franchise systems.

We've chosen this archived segment of Franchise Today for this week's replay as it's about relationships and that's what holidays are all about - relationships! Happy Thanksgiving to all

In the second week of last year's The Franchise Model Series, host, Paul Segreto welcomed as his guest, Mark Liston, President of Glass Doctor. Paul and Mark discussed operations support and franchisee relations best practices with emphasis on the franchise relationship itself.

About Our Guest

Mark Liston is President of Glass Doctor, a brand of the Dwyer Group. In franchising since 1981, Mark is very involved in the International Franchise Association (IFA). He is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives having earned his CFE in 2005. Mark is also on the IFA’s Educational Foundation Board of Trustees. Previously, he was a member of the VetFran Committee and IFA’s Public Relations Committee.

This week on Franchise Today the Doctor is in the house. That's right. The Telephone Doctor, Nancy Friedman will join host, Paul Segreto as they discuss the ins and outs of customer service. After all, when Oprah, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Good Morning Canada and Great Britain, CNN, Fox News, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and other well respected publications need an expert on Customer Service they call on Nancy Friedman.

About Our Guest

Nancy Friedman has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV shows over the years. Her common sense and “down to earth” actionable material provides a great package for any conference or major event.

The author of eight books on communications, sales, and customer service, Nancy will energize, inspire, and motivate you with tips, ideas, skills, and techniques you’ll use the rest of your life. Nancy’s keynote speaker presentations are high-energy, high in content, and best of all, high-results!

This week on Franchise Today the focus is on franchisee satisfaction and validation and how they ultimately combine for franchise success. Host, Paul Segreto welcomes as his guest, Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise BusinessREVIEW as they dive into the pitfalls that franchisors may face that slow down or even prevent growth and brand success. Paul and Michelle also discuss recent reports by Franchise BusinessREVIEW on emerging brands and in celebration of Veterans Day a peak into their recent editorial, Vet Report.

About Our Guest

Michelle Rowan is the president of Franchise Business Review, a market research and consulting company specializing in franchisee and customer satisfaction, as well as franchise relations issues. After working in the hospitality and telecommunications industries, she joined Franchise Business Review in 2005 as the first full-time employee. Over the last nine years, Rowan has worked with over 800 franchise systems. She is an active member of the International Franchise Association and a Certified Franchise Executive. She has facilitated CEO Performance Groups and Executive Networking Groups over the last 2 years within the franchise industry and regularly speaks at industry events.

This week on Franchise Today, Host, Paul Segreto is joined by Mary Ann O'Connell, Founder of FranWise, a full-service franchise-consulting firm, specializing in strategic planning, operations, documentation and compliance. Women in Franchising is the topic of discussion that will parallel Mary Ann's long career in franchising from franchisee to franchise corporate executive to business owner providing guidance and support to the franchise community.

About Our Guest

Mary Ann was introduced to franchising as the first Money Mailer franchise. For 11 years, she and her partner expanded two franchises while she coached other franchisees. She then worked for her franchisor, Money Mailer, Inc., as VP of Franchise Support Services for over 600 franchisees. Mary Ann then joined Great Clips, Inc. and as part of its leadership staff, she launched two major markets and continued to develop two mature markets overseeing all aspects of operations and training.

As a consultant and founder of FranWise® she has worked with major brands, new concepts and the top professionals in the world of franchising.  FranWise® boasts an impressive client list of over 80 brands and maintains strong relationships with its past and present clients. Mary Ann is also an active member of the IFA and serves on many committees and the Supplier Forum Advisory Board.  She is frequently asked to contribute articles and be a speaker for many franchise-related events.