Franchise for Good: Purpose, Growth, and Franchise Opportunities with Dave Keil Artwork

The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast

Welcome to "The Franchise Leaders Forum," the ultimate podcast for entrepreneurs navigating the intricate world of franchising, brought to you by industry veterans Tracy Panase and Shannon Wilburn. This podcast is your go-to resource for franchise leadership insights, practical strategies to build and scale your franchise, and firsthand experiences from those who live and breathe franchising every day.

Leading the conversation is Tracy Panase, the dynamic force behind the Just Between Friends Franchise System. Tracy, who previously excelled as a top franchisee, took over the leadership reins in December 2022. Under her guidance, the brand is reaching new heights, emphasizing a strong culture, supporting franchisees, and ensuring families across the country can say “YES” to everything their kiddos need and want. Her fresh perspective and unwavering commitment to excellence make her a formidable voice in the franchising community.

By her side is Shannon Wilburn, the visionary co-founder of Just Between Friends. Starting from a simple idea in her living room in 1997, Shannon grew the company into a thriving network of over 150 locations. Her decision to pass the leadership to Tracy has infused the company with new energy and direction, and together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the podcast.

In "The Franchise Leaders Forum," Tracy and Shannon dive deep into the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly aspects of franchising. Each episode features candid discussions, expert interviews, and real-life stories from successful franchise leaders who have faced and overcome challenges. Listeners will gain valuable insights into effective leadership, growth strategies, and the nuances of franchise operations.

Whether you're a franchisor, franchisee, or aspiring to enter the franchising world, this podcast addresses the pain points and challenges you face. From understanding franchise dynamics to learning how to support and grow your franchisees, Tracy and Shannon provide actionable advice and inspiration.

Tune in to learn from the experiences of others, gain new perspectives, and equip yourself with the tools to navigate your franchising journey with confidence.

Join us on "The Franchise Leaders Forum" and become part of a community dedicated to leadership, growth, and success in franchising.

This podcast will provide answers to questions and topics like:

Tips for Franchisees, Franchisors and vendor partners
How to scale a franchise business
Why is leadership important in franchising?
How do I grow my franchise business?
What are the trends in franchising?
What is the challenge of franchising?
How do I get involved in a franchise business?
Franchise success stories
Franchise marketing strategies

All Episodes

The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast

Franchise for Good: Purpose, Growth, and Franchise Opportunities with Dave Keil

July 24, 2024 • Franchise Consultant and Franchise Coach - Tracy Panase and Shannon Wilburn • Episode 5

How does one go from working at a Fortune 500 company doing jobs like production supervisor, plant industrial engineer, marketer, finance person and more to running an ice cream franchise business?

Dave first fell in love with the Haagen-Daz Shoppes franchise because of the entrepreneurship and putting people in business. After this first foray into the franchise space Dave never looked back and has continued to forge his way through the franchise space.

Today’s guest, Dave Keil, is president of Franworth, an Ann-Arbor based firm who build, incubate and grow emerging companies via a franchise model. Prior to Franworth, Dave led four franchise companies as CEO: The Lash Lounge, Pure Barre, Honeybaked Ham and Haagen-Daz Shoppes.

In 2020, Dave founded the 501(c)3 company Franchise For Good, and has since partnered with 18 non-profit companies and the University of Notre Dame to help non-profits scale.

Dave shares his experiences in transforming struggling franchises, his role in shaping the growth of Franworth, his emphasis on his three key factors for success - people, purpose and product, and his mission to create opportunities for small business ownership, regardless of financial resources.

So, if you are ready to listen in on Dave’s insights on the expansive potential of franchising as a force for good and how he has paved the way for a future where purpose-driven growth and positive changes are synonymous then it’s time to press play!

Connect with Dave:

Website: www.davekeil.com

Franworth: https://www.franworth.com/

Franchise for Good: https://franchiseforgood.org/

Episode Highlights: