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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
Turning Scrappy Beginnings into a Franchise Powerhouse w/ Jeff Dudan
What if the secret to scaling a successful franchise wasn’t just about systems and sales but about mindset, discipline, and speaking a bold vision into existence?
In this episode, Jeff Dudan, Founder and CEO of Homefront Brands and former founder of AdvantaClean, shares how scrappy beginnings and servant leadership shaped his journey from painting apartments in college to leading a multi-brand franchise platform projected to generate more than $100 million in sales this year. Jeff’s story is a masterclass in resilience, clarity, and purpose-driven growth.
He reveals how lessons from athletics such as consistency, coaching, and repetition translate directly into franchise success, and why he believes every leader should train like a “business athlete.” You’ll hear how he scaled AdvantaClean to 220+ locations, the mindset shift behind his Homefront Brands platform, and the one exercise that helps leaders communicate their vision so powerfully, people can’t help but follow it.
Jeff also dives into the power of relational leadership, how trust, empathy, and specificity create unbreakable franchise systems and why great founders don’t just manage transactions; they build movements. So, whether you’re an emerging brand or a seasoned franchisor, this conversation will challenge how you lead, coach, and grow.
Connect with Jeff:
Homefront Brands: https://homefrontbrands.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdudan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffdudan/
Podcast: Unemployable with Jeff Dudan
Book: Discernment: The Business Athlete’s Regimen for a Great Life Through Better Decisions (Free copy via Linktree on Instagram)
Watch: Jeff’s Undercover Boss episode (free Vimeo link available in his LinkedIn video carousel)
Episode Highlights:
- From scrappy beginnings to national franchise growth
- The story behind building and selling AdvantaClean
- How Hurricane Andrew changed Jeff’s path to franchising
- Servant leadership vs. transactional leadership
- Why values-based hiring is the cornerstone of great brands
- The “business athlete” mindset for franchise success
- Building Homefront Brands and scaling across multiple verticals
- How to speak a bold and powerful future into existence
- The primacy-recency principle for leadership impact
- Balancing empathy, accountability, and outcomes
- Why specificity drives consistency in franchise systems
- Lessons from selling to private equity and scaling again
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
Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/
Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com