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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
The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast
Franchise Growth Strategies with Clarissa Bradstock
What does it really take to build a franchise brand rooted in excellence, innovation, and world-class customer experience?
Clarissa Bradstock, CEO of Any Lab Test Now, shares a combination of strategies to really grow a franchise.
It starts with placing franchisees within 1 of 4 quadrants which helps you understand where they are in their business and their mindset. As well as listening to feedback, even when it’s tough to hear. And why true franchise success hinges on fostering close relationships, genuine engagement, and encouraging continual improvement through meaningful recognition rather than monetary rewards.
Clarissa has served as a Vice President of Client Services, COO, Vice President of Operations and CEO of both private and publicly held organizations. She has extensive experience with healthcare related organizations focused on physicians, insurance carriers, nursing professionals and dental practices.
Clarissa served as COO for Any Test Franchising from 2007 to 2014 and was appointed to the position of CEO in April 2014. In August 2024 she became a CRESSO Brands board member, the parent company of Any Test Franchising. Clarissa is involved in the franchise community as Chair Emeritus for the Southeast Franchise Forum, and on the Leadership Committee for the IFA Women Franchise Network, Atlanta Chapter. In 2021 Clarissa was awarded the Crystal Compass Award for Leadership by the IFA Women’s Franchise Committee.
So, if you are ready to discover how Clarissa prioritizes customer experience, authentic relationships and meaningful engagement to build franchises then this episode is for you!
Connect with Clarissa
Email - cwbradstock@anylabtestnow.com
Resources
Navigating Change and Growth in Franchising with Mary Kennedy Thompson - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369319/episodes/15380562-navigating-change-and-growth-in-franchising-with-mary-kennedy-thompson
Building Franchise Success Through a Growth Mindset with Jerry Akers - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369319/episodes/17039440-building-franchise-success-through-a-growth-mindset-with-jerry-akers
Episode Highlights:
- Differences between traditional vendor-client relationships and franchisor-franchisee relationships
- The importance of building long-term, partnership-based relationships with franchisees
- Building Effective Franchisor-Franchisee Relationships
- Characteristics of Top-Performing Franchisees
- Managing Franchisee Requests and Implementing Change
- Measuring Franchisee and Employee Satisfactio
Franchise Directory - https://www.sba.gov/document/support-sba-franchise-directory
Franchise Registry - https://www.franchiseregistry.com/
Current SBA SOP - https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs
Connect with Tracy
Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/
JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale
JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/
Email: podcast@jbfsale.com
Connect with Shannon
Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/
JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale