Season 7 MASTERMIND MINUTES - ONE GUEST, ONE QUESTION, ONE EXPERT ANSWER IN MINUTES, NOT HOURS. Today's guest is Ali Kraus, CFE, who is the Chief Marketing Officer at Benetrends Financial, where she leads the company’s marketing and growth strategy. With over a decade in franchising, Ali has built a reputation for creating meaningful connections and driving innovative campaigns that empower entrepreneurs. She also serves as Vice Chair of the International Franchise Association’s Women’s Franchise Committee, helping to champion leadership and inclusivity across the industry. Beyond franchising, Ali is the co-founder of FurryFrans, a nonprofit that collects and distributes stuffed animals to children in crisis. A former NFL cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens, Ali now balances her professional life with family, coaching, and giving back to her community.Contact Ali at: https://www.benetrends.com/Contact Gary at: [email protected]: www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com

Today, we welcome Randy Wyner.Randy is the founder of Chronic Tacos, the Southern California chain of fast-casual Mexican food restaurants. Born and raised in Orange County, Randy draws his inspiration from the distinct Californian food culture. Randy grew up on authentic Mexican food and signature SoCal taquerias. He believed that the tastiest taquerias were small, family-owned shops, which led him to open his first Taco shop using third-generation family recipes he acquired from a close family friend. When Randy was struck with the idea of made-to-order Mexican food that was both fast and fresh, Chronic Tacos was born.Contact Randy:https://www.chronictacos.com/Contact Gary: [email protected]: www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes Note Hours...Welcome to today’s episode featuring Victor Turcanu.Victor is a leading franchise attorney with a distinguished career spanning both Canada and the United States. He currently serves as an Attorney in the Franchising, Distribution & Corporate practice at Tannenbaum Helpern in New York. Prior to this, Victor was with Spadea Lignana Franchise Attorneys, and previously practiced corporate and franchise law at Garfinkle Biderman LLP in Toronto. His legal foundation was built at Loopstra Nixon LLP, where he completed his articling.Victor holds a Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, after earning his Bachelor of Science with Distinction in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Dalhousie University. He is licensed as an Attorney and Counselor-at-Law in New York State and was previously licensed with the Law Society of Ontario.Victor brings a wealth of international franchising experience to the table, having advised franchisors across a wide range of industries—from technology start-ups and home services to food and beverage brands. His expertise lies in guiding both emerging and established franchise systems through the complex regulatory landscapes of North America’s largest markets.Today, we’ll hear from Victor on the critical strategies and legal insights franchisors need to successfully scale while staying compliant and competitive.Contact Victor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-turcanu-a98681b7/Contact Gary: [email protected]: www.frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes Not Hours. Today our guest is Mohaimina (“Mina”) Haque Mina is a trailblazing CEO, attorney, and educator, breaking barriers as the first woman CEO of Tony Roma's in its five-decade history. As she spearheads the global restaurant chain, Mina is also actively engaged in the legal sphere, serving as the founder of the Law Office of Mohaimina Haque, PLLC, based in Washington DC, and as an Adjunct Professor of Law Practice Management at American University Washington College of Law.In her legal practice, Mina's expertise spans various areas, including corporate law, immigration law, and litigation. Notably, her immigration practice has facilitated the successful acquisition of Einstein visas, investor visas, and multinational executive visas for numerous individuals from diverse backgrounds.Beyond her roles in business and law, Mina is a pioneer in law practice management. She educates on building virtual firms and managing remote operations with the latest technological advancements, ensuring her students are equipped for the evolving landscape of legal practice.Mina's commitment to innovation extends to her tenure at Tony Roma's, where she is always at the forefront of testing innovative solutions for an agile and adaptable workforce. Her leadership and vision drive the chain's expansion and innovation, while her ongoing legal practice keeps her abreast of legal developments.An inspiring educator, Mina shares her wealth of knowledge and experience with aspiring legal professionals, mentoring them to excel in their careers.Named one of Women We Admire’s ‘Top Women Leaders of DC for 2025,’ Mina’s remarkable achievements, leadership, and dedication to excellence have firmly established her as a true pioneer in both the legal and business communities.Contact Gary: [email protected]: https://www.tonyromasfranchise.com/

NEW EPISODE: MasterMind Minutes Podcast 🎙️

Topic: Why is Elevating Your Business Mindset is Critical to Your Success as a Franchisor

Success in franchising isn’t just about systems, operations, or growth metrics—it's about mindset.

In this episode of MasterMind Minutes, I sit down with Stéphane Breault—one of Canada’s most respected franchise advisors and leaders—to explore why your mindset as a franchisor can either make or break your brand’s growth.

With more than 20 years as a CEO and over 15 years advising both emerging and global franchise networks, Stéphane brings a refreshing perspective. He’s not just focused on manuals and models—he focuses on elevating CEOs and executive teams into leaders who build genuine, purpose-driven relationships with franchisees.

His client list reads like a who’s who of iconic brands—Petro Canada, Jani-King, 7-Eleven—and his leadership has helped over 100 Canadian and international franchise networks thrive.

We talk about:
✅ The mental shifts franchisors must make to scale effectively
✅ Why mindset alignment inside your executive team is non-negotiable
✅ How to build real, lasting trust with franchisees
✅ The difference between leading with fear and leading with purpose

If you're a founder, franchisor, or franchise executive aiming for long-term success, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes, Not Hours Today my amazing guest is Amy LeClercAmy Leclerc is the Co-Owner and President of Franchising at Sit Still Kids, an innovative children’s salon redefining and modernizing the traditional hair care experience. Widely recognized as “the franchise gal,” Leclerc also played a pivotal role in transforming Barre3 from a boutique fitness studio to a powerhouse with 150 locations nationwide.Contact Amy: [email protected] Gary: [email protected]: www.frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest - One Question - One Expert Answer in Minutes Not HoursToday's guest is Neil Hershman, CEO of 16 HandlesNeil Hershman first joined 16 Handles as a franchisee at the Murray Hill, Manhattan location. He has since acquired and built a New York City dessert empire, operating over a dozen retail locations. In August 2022, Neil acquired 16 Handles from its original founder, Solomon Choi, with plans to lead a national and international growth of the iconic Northeast brand.Neil is an active owner and CEO and leads all strategic decision making for 16 Handles. In order to test ideas and ensure customer experience, you can oftentimes find Neil spending his weekend nights working behind the counter at one of his Manhattan 16 Handles shops.Neil graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in Finance and Astrophysics and spent his early professional career at a NYC- based asset manager specializing in structured credit, where he primarily focused on company profitability and forecast, illiquid investment valuations, and strategic M&A activity.Outside of the office, Neil is a commercial-rated pilot, alpine mountain climber, and ultra-triathlete, with feats such as summiting Mt. Everest and winning a 703- mile-long triathlon.Contact Neil at: [email protected] Gary at: [email protected]: Frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest - One Question - One Expert Answer In Minutes Not Hours.Today's guest is Sean Whitehead.Sean is a Vice President with NewSpring Franchise, a private equity firm focused on investing in and growing innovative franchise and multi-unit concepts in the lower middle market. Sean is responsible for all phases throughout the lifecycle of a deal, leading new deal sourcing, transaction execution, and ongoing operational support to the portfolio companies.Contact Sean: [email protected]: https://newspringcapital.com/funds/franchiseContact Gary: [email protected]: www.frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes – “One Guest – One Question – One Expert Answer in Minutes Not Hours”TM

Today our Guest is Rafael ViaudRafael is the VP of Business Development for Executel.

Executel is a NewYork-based business, reliable in the VOIP industry for over 10 years! What setsus apart from our competitors is not just our cutting edge technology, but alsoour stellar service. 

Rafael has a proven trackrecord of driving growth through strategic networking, go-to-market strategies,and lead generation.

With over 15 years in theindustry, he has successfully led market expansion initiatives, builthigh-performing teams, and achieved significant sales figures in the Finance,Technology, and BPO sectors.

His expertise in strategicleadership, client acquisition, team building, operational excellence, anddata-driven decision making enables him to consistently deliver impressiveresults and drive business growth.

Contact Rafael

Visit: https://executel.com/ 

Contact Gary: [email protected]

Visit: www.frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes- One Guest - One Question - One Answer in Minutes not Hours. Today we have as our guest the Chief Development Officer, Ducklings Early Learning Centers, Kim Collier Kim has been a driving force behind Ducklings Early Learning Centers since 1998 and led the charge to franchise the concept in 2017. As Chief Development Officer, Kim combines decades of experience in early childhood education with a strategic vision for business growth, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to join a trusted brand. Her leadership has been pivotal in expanding Ducklings' footprint while maintaining its core mission of helping more people have awesome days through learning disguised as play.Contact Kim: [email protected]: www.ducklingsfranchise.comContact Gary: [email protected]: www.frangrow.com