Franchise Spotlight with Katherine LeBlanc Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/franchise-spotlight Conversations with the leaders who are actually building franchising - from the executive suite to the field. Each season explores what success looks like right now, what franchise leaders should be paying attention to, and how the best brands are delivering real returns for their franchisees. Because at the end of the day, franchisee profitability isn't just a metric; it's the whole point. Your host, Katherine LeBlanc, brings 13 years inside franchise systems, having led marketing across six brands spanning food, wellness, beauty, and experience. She's been in the room where these decisions get made. These conversations reflect that: direct, practitioner-level, and built for franchise leaders who don't have time for surface-level takes. 2026 Apollo CMO 85076a32-cbee-5337-99ce-0c37f3a2e680 yes en Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:53:59 -0500 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:54:15 -0500 https://www.mypodcasthost.com/franchise-leader-spotlight https://img.transistorcdn.com/tg_yMfGPwiDRwf7-LIbGhO-Y4_G9LrQYoI7UeiSczkI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lYjQ3/ZGJkNDZkNTJlMWYx/ODkzMjdjZGE4OGI4/YmI1ZC5wbmc.jpg Franchise Spotlight with Katherine LeBlanc https://www.mypodcasthost.com/franchise-leader-spotlight episodic Katherine LeBlanc Conversations with the leaders who are actually building franchising - from the executive suite to the field. Each season explores what success looks like right now, what franchise leaders should be paying attention to, and how the best brands are delivering real returns for their franchisees. Because at the end of the day, franchisee profitability isn't just a metric; it's the whole point. Your host, Katherine LeBlanc, brings 13 years inside franchise systems, having led marketing across six brands spanning food, wellness, beauty, and experience. She's been in the room where these decisions get made. These conversations reflect that: direct, practitioner-level, and built for franchise leaders who don't have time for surface-level takes. Conversations with the leaders who are actually building franchising - from the executive suite to the field. franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth Katherine LeBlanc No No How Kim Gubera Keeps Excellence in Focus | PIRTEK, President & CEO 1 1 14 14 How Kim Gubera Keeps Excellence in Focus | PIRTEK, President & CEO full c359ebec-592c-4c09-836b-5f25431f716f https://share.transistor.fm/s/221213e0 Kim Gubera, President & CEO of PIRTEK, stepped into her role in 2019 and did something almost no leader does — she visited every single franchisee before changing anything. In this conversation, she shares how that decision built the cultural foundation that drove a record-breaking 2025, and how PIRTEK maintains a standard of excellence — including through moments that were anything but easy. This is a straight-talking episode about what franchise leadership actually looks like when the values aren't just on the wall.

In this episode:

  • How PIRTEK recruits for franchisee-first thinking at every level of the home office
  • Why radical transparency — including disclosing an internal integrity issue at their franchise conference — is the only way to build real trust
  • What it takes to sustain franchisee support and culture through rapid unit growth

Guest: Kim Gubera, President & CEO, PIRTEK 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Kim Gubera, President & CEO of PIRTEK, stepped into her role in 2019 and did something almost no leader does — she visited every single franchisee before changing anything. In this conversation, she shares how that decision built the cultural foundation that drove a record-breaking 2025, and how PIRTEK maintains a standard of excellence — including through moments that were anything but easy. This is a straight-talking episode about what franchise leadership actually looks like when the values aren't just on the wall.

In this episode:

  • How PIRTEK recruits for franchisee-first thinking at every level of the home office
  • Why radical transparency — including disclosing an internal integrity issue at their franchise conference — is the only way to build real trust
  • What it takes to sustain franchisee support and culture through rapid unit growth

Guest: Kim Gubera, President & CEO, PIRTEK 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Mon, 25 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 968 Kim Gubera, President & CEO of PIRTEK, stepped into her role in 2019 and did something almost no leader does — she visited every single franchisee before changing anything. In this conversation, she shares how that decision built the cultural foundation that drove a record-breaking 2025, and how PIRTEK maintains a standard of excellence — including through moments that were anything but easy. This is a straight-talking episode about what franchise leadership actually looks like when the values aren't just on the wall.

In this episode:

  • How PIRTEK recruits for franchisee-first thinking at every level of the home office
  • Why radical transparency — including disclosing an internal integrity issue at their franchise conference — is the only way to build real trust
  • What it takes to sustain franchisee support and culture through rapid unit growth

Guest: Kim Gubera, President & CEO, PIRTEK 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How K9 Resorts Turned Discipline Into a 50-Location Pet Care Empire | Steve and Jason Parker, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs 1 1 13 13 How K9 Resorts Turned Discipline Into a 50-Location Pet Care Empire | Steve and Jason Parker, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs full 0c5d55be-97ee-43e5-bd78-230b63e50fd4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9e5dfa12 Steven and Jason Parker have been in the pet care industry since 1999 and franchising K9 Resorts since 2011. In this conversation, they walk Katherine through the disciplined, long-view philosophy that's gotten them to 50 open locations — and what it actually means to award franchises instead of selling them.

In this episode:

  • Why they turned down one of their earliest franchise candidates — and how it shaped their development process
  • The leadership model they use as co-CEO brothers, and how they built a C-suite that complements rather than replicates
  • The pet care industry's next evolution: mental enrichment, smaller group sizes, and what "humanization" looks like in 2026

Guest: Steven and Jason Parker, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, K9 Resorts 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Steven and Jason Parker have been in the pet care industry since 1999 and franchising K9 Resorts since 2011. In this conversation, they walk Katherine through the disciplined, long-view philosophy that's gotten them to 50 open locations — and what it actually means to award franchises instead of selling them.

In this episode:

  • Why they turned down one of their earliest franchise candidates — and how it shaped their development process
  • The leadership model they use as co-CEO brothers, and how they built a C-suite that complements rather than replicates
  • The pet care industry's next evolution: mental enrichment, smaller group sizes, and what "humanization" looks like in 2026

Guest: Steven and Jason Parker, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, K9 Resorts 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1374 Steven and Jason Parker have been in the pet care industry since 1999 and franchising K9 Resorts since 2011. In this conversation, they walk Katherine through the disciplined, long-view philosophy that's gotten them to 50 open locations — and what it actually means to award franchises instead of selling them.

In this episode:

  • Why they turned down one of their earliest franchise candidates — and how it shaped their development process
  • The leadership model they use as co-CEO brothers, and how they built a C-suite that complements rather than replicates
  • The pet care industry's next evolution: mental enrichment, smaller group sizes, and what "humanization" looks like in 2026

Guest: Steven and Jason Parker, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, K9 Resorts 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Josh Lyon Is Scaling to 600 Units | ScentHound COO 1 1 11 11 How Josh Lyon Is Scaling to 600 Units | ScentHound COO full d708127d-aa02-47f8-9d3b-06100f55b3a7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/de97e1b4 Josh Lyon has been building ScentHound as their COO from seven units to 157 - and he's not slowing down. In this conversation, he gets into what it actually takes to scale a franchise brand with operational discipline intact: the team transitions nobody talks about, the franchisee adoption gap that compounds every time you add complexity, and why simplicity isn't a nice-to-have - it's the differentiator that separates the brands that win from the ones that don't.

In this episode:

  • Building and rebuilding your team through three inflection points
  • Why franchisees need to be treated like owners, not employees — and what changes when you do
  • How ScentHound maps the five-stage journey of franchisees, team members, and customers to create simplicity at every level

Guest: Josh Lyon, Chief Operating Officer, ScentHound 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Josh Lyon has been building ScentHound as their COO from seven units to 157 - and he's not slowing down. In this conversation, he gets into what it actually takes to scale a franchise brand with operational discipline intact: the team transitions nobody talks about, the franchisee adoption gap that compounds every time you add complexity, and why simplicity isn't a nice-to-have - it's the differentiator that separates the brands that win from the ones that don't.

In this episode:

  • Building and rebuilding your team through three inflection points
  • Why franchisees need to be treated like owners, not employees — and what changes when you do
  • How ScentHound maps the five-stage journey of franchisees, team members, and customers to create simplicity at every level

Guest: Josh Lyon, Chief Operating Officer, ScentHound 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1870 Josh Lyon has been building ScentHound as their COO from seven units to 157 - and he's not slowing down. In this conversation, he gets into what it actually takes to scale a franchise brand with operational discipline intact: the team transitions nobody talks about, the franchisee adoption gap that compounds every time you add complexity, and why simplicity isn't a nice-to-have - it's the differentiator that separates the brands that win from the ones that don't.

In this episode:

  • Building and rebuilding your team through three inflection points
  • Why franchisees need to be treated like owners, not employees — and what changes when you do
  • How ScentHound maps the five-stage journey of franchisees, team members, and customers to create simplicity at every level

Guest: Josh Lyon, Chief Operating Officer, ScentHound 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Doug Flaig Stops the Shiny Object Trap | Stratus Clean CEO 1 1 11 11 How Doug Flaig Stops the Shiny Object Trap | Stratus Clean CEO full 0c15789a-9f73-43de-a926-1e4e0574cb81 https://share.transistor.fm/s/85f3b937 Doug Flaig, CEO of Stratus Clean, is in the middle of one of the harder things a franchise leader can navigate - a full brand transformation - and he's doing it with a three-tier franchisee network watching every move. In this conversation, Doug gets into why answering the "why" before the "what" is the only change management that actually works, how he uses EOS and tier-based communication groups to keep a diverse franchisee base aligned, and what a career that ran through 7-Eleven, Burger King, and Dunkin Donuts before landing at a smaller company taught him about what it means to really lead. One takeaway that lands hard: nature abhors a vacuum - and if you're not filling it with communication, your franchisees are filling it with speculation.

In this episode:

  • Tier-based franchisee communication and why one message doesn't fit every operator
  • Unit economics as the north star — and what happens to brands that lose sight of it
  • Servant leadership, the hedgehog principle, and what it actually means to lead through change

Guest: Doug Flaig, CEO, Stratus Building Solutions 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Doug Flaig, CEO of Stratus Clean, is in the middle of one of the harder things a franchise leader can navigate - a full brand transformation - and he's doing it with a three-tier franchisee network watching every move. In this conversation, Doug gets into why answering the "why" before the "what" is the only change management that actually works, how he uses EOS and tier-based communication groups to keep a diverse franchisee base aligned, and what a career that ran through 7-Eleven, Burger King, and Dunkin Donuts before landing at a smaller company taught him about what it means to really lead. One takeaway that lands hard: nature abhors a vacuum - and if you're not filling it with communication, your franchisees are filling it with speculation.

In this episode:

  • Tier-based franchisee communication and why one message doesn't fit every operator
  • Unit economics as the north star — and what happens to brands that lose sight of it
  • Servant leadership, the hedgehog principle, and what it actually means to lead through change

Guest: Doug Flaig, CEO, Stratus Building Solutions 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1697 Doug Flaig, CEO of Stratus Clean, is in the middle of one of the harder things a franchise leader can navigate - a full brand transformation - and he's doing it with a three-tier franchisee network watching every move. In this conversation, Doug gets into why answering the "why" before the "what" is the only change management that actually works, how he uses EOS and tier-based communication groups to keep a diverse franchisee base aligned, and what a career that ran through 7-Eleven, Burger King, and Dunkin Donuts before landing at a smaller company taught him about what it means to really lead. One takeaway that lands hard: nature abhors a vacuum - and if you're not filling it with communication, your franchisees are filling it with speculation.

In this episode:

  • Tier-based franchisee communication and why one message doesn't fit every operator
  • Unit economics as the north star — and what happens to brands that lose sight of it
  • Servant leadership, the hedgehog principle, and what it actually means to lead through change

Guest: Doug Flaig, CEO, Stratus Building Solutions 
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Alex and Myriam Guerrero Built Trust, Culture, and a Tint World Empire in El Paso | Tint World Franchisees 1 1 10 10 How Alex and Myriam Guerrero Built Trust, Culture, and a Tint World Empire in El Paso | Tint World Franchisees full 9e0d7efb-4e00-4f3f-9e07-ef1be6f1b90d https://share.transistor.fm/s/85eb601a Alex and Myriam Guerrero didn't plan on becoming franchise owners — Alex stumbled into it at a USO transition event when a franchise broker showed up and offered a presentation. Four years later, they're running a Tint World location in El Paso, scaling to three stores, and building the kind of franchisee-franchisor trust that most brands spend years trying to manufacture. This conversation gets into what it really takes to build a business with your spouse, what the franchising industry is still getting wrong with veterans, and why legacy franchisees don't need another broadcast — they need a direct conversation.

In this episode:

  • What Alex learned about veterans and the franchising knowledge gap — and what he's doing about it
  • How he and Myriam built a grow-from-within culture they can protect as they scale
  • Why their relationship with their franchisor works — and what it would take to replicate that across a network

Guest: Alex and Myriam Guerrero, Franchisees, Tint World Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Alex and Myriam Guerrero didn't plan on becoming franchise owners — Alex stumbled into it at a USO transition event when a franchise broker showed up and offered a presentation. Four years later, they're running a Tint World location in El Paso, scaling to three stores, and building the kind of franchisee-franchisor trust that most brands spend years trying to manufacture. This conversation gets into what it really takes to build a business with your spouse, what the franchising industry is still getting wrong with veterans, and why legacy franchisees don't need another broadcast — they need a direct conversation.

In this episode:

  • What Alex learned about veterans and the franchising knowledge gap — and what he's doing about it
  • How he and Myriam built a grow-from-within culture they can protect as they scale
  • Why their relationship with their franchisor works — and what it would take to replicate that across a network

Guest: Alex and Myriam Guerrero, Franchisees, Tint World Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1602 Alex and Myriam Guerrero didn't plan on becoming franchise owners — Alex stumbled into it at a USO transition event when a franchise broker showed up and offered a presentation. Four years later, they're running a Tint World location in El Paso, scaling to three stores, and building the kind of franchisee-franchisor trust that most brands spend years trying to manufacture. This conversation gets into what it really takes to build a business with your spouse, what the franchising industry is still getting wrong with veterans, and why legacy franchisees don't need another broadcast — they need a direct conversation.

In this episode:

  • What Alex learned about veterans and the franchising knowledge gap — and what he's doing about it
  • How he and Myriam built a grow-from-within culture they can protect as they scale
  • Why their relationship with their franchisor works — and what it would take to replicate that across a network

Guest: Alex and Myriam Guerrero, Franchisees, Tint World Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Alex Pericchi Is Cutting the Noise & Driving Franchise Adoption | PuroClean | VP of Marketing 1 1 9 9 How Alex Pericchi Is Cutting the Noise & Driving Franchise Adoption | PuroClean | VP of Marketing full 3a09aa9d-949c-494d-8261-6c76edd4e959 https://share.transistor.fm/s/08d640a2 Alex Pericchi has spent 12 years as VP of Marketing at PuroClean watching what actually drives franchisee adoption — and what quietly kills it. His answer this year is radical simplification: fewer activities, clearer direction, and a message repeated from every corner of the organization until it lands. If you've ever wondered why franchisees aren't executing on your marketing programs, this conversation will reframe the question entirely.

In this episode:

  • Why PuroClean is doing less marketing this year — on purpose
  • The 80/20 framework Alex uses to cut noise and drive real adoption
  • How asking franchisees about their exit plan on day one changes everything

Guest: Alex Pericchi, VP of Marketing, PuroClean Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Alex Pericchi has spent 12 years as VP of Marketing at PuroClean watching what actually drives franchisee adoption — and what quietly kills it. His answer this year is radical simplification: fewer activities, clearer direction, and a message repeated from every corner of the organization until it lands. If you've ever wondered why franchisees aren't executing on your marketing programs, this conversation will reframe the question entirely.

In this episode:

  • Why PuroClean is doing less marketing this year — on purpose
  • The 80/20 framework Alex uses to cut noise and drive real adoption
  • How asking franchisees about their exit plan on day one changes everything

Guest: Alex Pericchi, VP of Marketing, PuroClean Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1573 Alex Pericchi has spent 12 years as VP of Marketing at PuroClean watching what actually drives franchisee adoption — and what quietly kills it. His answer this year is radical simplification: fewer activities, clearer direction, and a message repeated from every corner of the organization until it lands. If you've ever wondered why franchisees aren't executing on your marketing programs, this conversation will reframe the question entirely.

In this episode:

  • Why PuroClean is doing less marketing this year — on purpose
  • The 80/20 framework Alex uses to cut noise and drive real adoption
  • How asking franchisees about their exit plan on day one changes everything

Guest: Alex Pericchi, VP of Marketing, PuroClean Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO

Are you a franchise brand leader working on a growth challenge? Katherine works with franchise brands as a Fractional CMO. Learn more at apollocmo.com

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Jon Sica Builds the Foundation Everyone Else Skipped | President Batteries Plus 1 1 8 8 How Jon Sica Builds the Foundation Everyone Else Skipped | President Batteries Plus full 88b925d7-0f2f-48f1-85e7-3ad7f92c5a48 https://share.transistor.fm/s/dee7f702 Jon Sica, President of Batteries Plus, joins Katherine LeBlanc at IFA 2026 for one of the most practical episodes of Franchise Leader Spotlight yet. Jon breaks down why the brand standards conversation lands completely differently when you lead with exit strategy — and how Batteries Plus has been building that into their franchise development process for five years through their Full Circuit program. They also get into the AI infrastructure Batteries Plus is building right now, what raising net worth requirements actually did to their candidate pipeline, and why trust is the only thing that makes any of the tactics work.

If you run a franchise brand or support franchisee development, this one is worth the full listen.

]]> Jon Sica, President of Batteries Plus, joins Katherine LeBlanc at IFA 2026 for one of the most practical episodes of Franchise Leader Spotlight yet. Jon breaks down why the brand standards conversation lands completely differently when you lead with exit strategy — and how Batteries Plus has been building that into their franchise development process for five years through their Full Circuit program. They also get into the AI infrastructure Batteries Plus is building right now, what raising net worth requirements actually did to their candidate pipeline, and why trust is the only thing that makes any of the tactics work.

If you run a franchise brand or support franchisee development, this one is worth the full listen.

]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1745 Jon Sica, President of Batteries Plus, joins Katherine LeBlanc at IFA 2026 for one of the most practical episodes of Franchise Leader Spotlight yet. Jon breaks down why the brand standards conversation lands completely differently when you lead with exit strategy — and how Batteries Plus has been building that into their franchise development process for five years through their Full Circuit program. They also get into the AI infrastructure Batteries Plus is building right now, what raising net worth requirements actually did to their candidate pipeline, and why trust is the only thing that makes any of the tactics work.

If you run a franchise brand or support franchisee development, this one is worth the full listen.

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Kathy George Outpaced the Industry | President, Spherion Staffing & Recruiting 1 1 7 7 How Kathy George Outpaced the Industry | President, Spherion Staffing & Recruiting full 0ca0d26f-ff6e-477b-8f95-a2f06db1dbc6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b0a8100c Kathy George, President of Spherion Staffing and Recruiting, joins Katherine LeBlanc at IFA to talk about the leadership framework that helped an 80-year-old staffing franchise outpace its competitors and its parent company in a year the industry was forecasted to contract.

Kathy walks through the 20 Mile March - the collective two-year goal structure she set the night before getting on stage at national convention - and the weekly, monthly, and quarterly communication stack that turned a shared goal into franchisee-to-franchisee accountability. She also gets candid about radical transparency as a real operating principle, the succession challenge building inside multi-generational franchise systems, and why she's had to say no to protect the brand she stewards.

If you lead a franchise brand and the gap between what HQ knows and what franchisees feel is wider than you'd like - this one is for you.

]]> Kathy George, President of Spherion Staffing and Recruiting, joins Katherine LeBlanc at IFA to talk about the leadership framework that helped an 80-year-old staffing franchise outpace its competitors and its parent company in a year the industry was forecasted to contract.

Kathy walks through the 20 Mile March - the collective two-year goal structure she set the night before getting on stage at national convention - and the weekly, monthly, and quarterly communication stack that turned a shared goal into franchisee-to-franchisee accountability. She also gets candid about radical transparency as a real operating principle, the succession challenge building inside multi-generational franchise systems, and why she's had to say no to protect the brand she stewards.

If you lead a franchise brand and the gap between what HQ knows and what franchisees feel is wider than you'd like - this one is for you.

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1667 Kathy George, President of Spherion Staffing and Recruiting, joins Katherine LeBlanc at IFA to talk about the leadership framework that helped an 80-year-old staffing franchise outpace its competitors and its parent company in a year the industry was forecasted to contract.

Kathy walks through the 20 Mile March - the collective two-year goal structure she set the night before getting on stage at national convention - and the weekly, monthly, and quarterly communication stack that turned a shared goal into franchisee-to-franchisee accountability. She also gets candid about radical transparency as a real operating principle, the succession challenge building inside multi-generational franchise systems, and why she's had to say no to protect the brand she stewards.

If you lead a franchise brand and the gap between what HQ knows and what franchisees feel is wider than you'd like - this one is for you.

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Jennifer Durham Lets the Numbers Lead | Potbelly SVP of Franchise & Development 1 1 6 6 How Jennifer Durham Lets the Numbers Lead | Potbelly SVP of Franchise & Development full 53aceb8f-8022-40a0-9b7d-b6a1f5eb84ea https://share.transistor.fm/s/56ecbff2 Jennifer Durham has scaled franchise brands across restaurants, hospitality, and wellness - from Checkers & Rally's to Cooper's Hawk, Hand & Stone, and now Potbelly, where she's leading the brand's push from 467 shops to 2,000 locations. She's also a CPA, which means when she talks about unit economics, she means it.

In this conversation at IFA 2026, Jennifer makes the case that franchising has been measuring and marketing to the wrong number. New unit count looks great on a banner. But it doesn't tell a prospect how long it takes to get open, how long it takes to get profitable, or how the existing network is actually performing. Those are the questions serious candidates are starting to ask - and the brands that can answer them honestly will win the development race.

We also get into Potbelly's approach to preserving struggling locations rather than closing them, why the scarcity mindset that drives a franchise sale can damage the franchisee relationship post-close, and what Jennifer thinks franchising needs more of and less of right now.

What we cover:

  • Why new unit count may be the wrong development headline
  • The metrics that actually tell the franchise story: time to open, ramp to profitability, same-store sales growth
  • How Potbelly gets creative to keep struggling shops alive
  • The scarcity mindset problem in franchise development
  • Jennifer's take on Item 19 standardization
  • A leadership lesson about leading through other people's expertise
  • The future of franchising — and what Jennifer is optimistic about

Guest: Jennifer Durham, SVP Franchise & Development, Potbelly
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Founder, Apollo CMO & MyPodcastHost
Recorded: IFA Annual Convention 2026

The Franchise Leader Spotlight Podcast is part of the ⁠My Podcast Host ⁠Franchise Podcast Network.


]]> Jennifer Durham has scaled franchise brands across restaurants, hospitality, and wellness - from Checkers & Rally's to Cooper's Hawk, Hand & Stone, and now Potbelly, where she's leading the brand's push from 467 shops to 2,000 locations. She's also a CPA, which means when she talks about unit economics, she means it.

In this conversation at IFA 2026, Jennifer makes the case that franchising has been measuring and marketing to the wrong number. New unit count looks great on a banner. But it doesn't tell a prospect how long it takes to get open, how long it takes to get profitable, or how the existing network is actually performing. Those are the questions serious candidates are starting to ask - and the brands that can answer them honestly will win the development race.

We also get into Potbelly's approach to preserving struggling locations rather than closing them, why the scarcity mindset that drives a franchise sale can damage the franchisee relationship post-close, and what Jennifer thinks franchising needs more of and less of right now.

What we cover:

  • Why new unit count may be the wrong development headline
  • The metrics that actually tell the franchise story: time to open, ramp to profitability, same-store sales growth
  • How Potbelly gets creative to keep struggling shops alive
  • The scarcity mindset problem in franchise development
  • Jennifer's take on Item 19 standardization
  • A leadership lesson about leading through other people's expertise
  • The future of franchising — and what Jennifer is optimistic about

Guest: Jennifer Durham, SVP Franchise & Development, Potbelly
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Founder, Apollo CMO & MyPodcastHost
Recorded: IFA Annual Convention 2026

The Franchise Leader Spotlight Podcast is part of the ⁠My Podcast Host ⁠Franchise Podcast Network.


]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1671 Jennifer Durham has scaled franchise brands across restaurants, hospitality, and wellness - from Checkers & Rally's to Cooper's Hawk, Hand & Stone, and now Potbelly, where she's leading the brand's push from 467 shops to 2,000 locations. She's also a CPA, which means when she talks about unit economics, she means it.

In this conversation at IFA 2026, Jennifer makes the case that franchising has been measuring and marketing to the wrong number. New unit count looks great on a banner. But it doesn't tell a prospect how long it takes to get open, how long it takes to get profitable, or how the existing network is actually performing. Those are the questions serious candidates are starting to ask - and the brands that can answer them honestly will win the development race.

We also get into Potbelly's approach to preserving struggling locations rather than closing them, why the scarcity mindset that drives a franchise sale can damage the franchisee relationship post-close, and what Jennifer thinks franchising needs more of and less of right now.

What we cover:

  • Why new unit count may be the wrong development headline
  • The metrics that actually tell the franchise story: time to open, ramp to profitability, same-store sales growth
  • How Potbelly gets creative to keep struggling shops alive
  • The scarcity mindset problem in franchise development
  • Jennifer's take on Item 19 standardization
  • A leadership lesson about leading through other people's expertise
  • The future of franchising — and what Jennifer is optimistic about

Guest: Jennifer Durham, SVP Franchise & Development, Potbelly
Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Founder, Apollo CMO & MyPodcastHost
Recorded: IFA Annual Convention 2026

The Franchise Leader Spotlight Podcast is part of the ⁠My Podcast Host ⁠Franchise Podcast Network.


]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Kevin King Builds Systems That Free People to Lead | Donatos Pizza, President & CEO | Franchise Leader Spotlight 1 1 5 5 How Kevin King Builds Systems That Free People to Lead | Donatos Pizza, President & CEO | Franchise Leader Spotlight full d75ad377-4ee7-4af4-b806-a300e31f06c8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e8c90f7a Kevin King didn't become President and CEO of Donatos Pizza by staying in his lane. In this conversation, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Kevin at IFA to talk about what it actually takes to build a franchise brand that scales and what separates the leaders who get there from the ones who don't.

They get into how Donatos is using automation and AI not to replace people, but to free them up for the moments that matter. Why understanding how the business makes money is the career skill nobody teaches. And the leadership lesson Kevin brought back from a visit to Chick-fil-A that reframed how he thinks about every title, every role, and every person on his team.

If you're running a franchise brand or building toward a leadership seat, this one's worth your full attention.

]]> Kevin King didn't become President and CEO of Donatos Pizza by staying in his lane. In this conversation, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Kevin at IFA to talk about what it actually takes to build a franchise brand that scales and what separates the leaders who get there from the ones who don't.

They get into how Donatos is using automation and AI not to replace people, but to free them up for the moments that matter. Why understanding how the business makes money is the career skill nobody teaches. And the leadership lesson Kevin brought back from a visit to Chick-fil-A that reframed how he thinks about every title, every role, and every person on his team.

If you're running a franchise brand or building toward a leadership seat, this one's worth your full attention.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1863 Kevin King didn't become President and CEO of Donatos Pizza by staying in his lane. In this conversation, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Kevin at IFA to talk about what it actually takes to build a franchise brand that scales and what separates the leaders who get there from the ones who don't.

They get into how Donatos is using automation and AI not to replace people, but to free them up for the moments that matter. Why understanding how the business makes money is the career skill nobody teaches. And the leadership lesson Kevin brought back from a visit to Chick-fil-A that reframed how he thinks about every title, every role, and every person on his team.

If you're running a franchise brand or building toward a leadership seat, this one's worth your full attention.

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Chris Walls Drives Behavior Change | Go Mini's President & CEO | Franchise Leader Spotlight 1 1 4 4 How Chris Walls Drives Behavior Change | Go Mini's President & CEO | Franchise Leader Spotlight full 7d8a615c-c295-4bc7-8967-a985906e0478 https://share.transistor.fm/s/fceed414 Leads are up at Go Mini's. Revenue didn't keep pace. Chris Walls, President & CEO, knows exactly why - and he's not blaming the marketing.

In this episode of the Franchise Leader Spotlight, Chris sits down with host Katherine LeBlanc to talk about the conversion-first mindset Go Mini's is building across its franchise network in 2026. From closing rate as a core KPI to franchisee adoption of new tools, from a B2B pivot into restoration companies to the slow, deliberate work of building trust with franchisees - this is a candid look at what it actually takes to lead a franchise brand through rapid change.

Chris also reflects on his journey from trial lawyer to franchise CEO, what he learned about leadership the hard way, and why AI is both the most exciting and most anxiety-inducing thing heading toward franchising right now.

If you're a franchise brand leader thinking about how to get more out of what you already have - this one's for you.

The Franchise Leader Spotlight Podcast is hosted by Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO.

]]> Leads are up at Go Mini's. Revenue didn't keep pace. Chris Walls, President & CEO, knows exactly why - and he's not blaming the marketing.

In this episode of the Franchise Leader Spotlight, Chris sits down with host Katherine LeBlanc to talk about the conversion-first mindset Go Mini's is building across its franchise network in 2026. From closing rate as a core KPI to franchisee adoption of new tools, from a B2B pivot into restoration companies to the slow, deliberate work of building trust with franchisees - this is a candid look at what it actually takes to lead a franchise brand through rapid change.

Chris also reflects on his journey from trial lawyer to franchise CEO, what he learned about leadership the hard way, and why AI is both the most exciting and most anxiety-inducing thing heading toward franchising right now.

If you're a franchise brand leader thinking about how to get more out of what you already have - this one's for you.

The Franchise Leader Spotlight Podcast is hosted by Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO.

]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1691 Leads are up at Go Mini's. Revenue didn't keep pace. Chris Walls, President & CEO, knows exactly why - and he's not blaming the marketing.

In this episode of the Franchise Leader Spotlight, Chris sits down with host Katherine LeBlanc to talk about the conversion-first mindset Go Mini's is building across its franchise network in 2026. From closing rate as a core KPI to franchisee adoption of new tools, from a B2B pivot into restoration companies to the slow, deliberate work of building trust with franchisees - this is a candid look at what it actually takes to lead a franchise brand through rapid change.

Chris also reflects on his journey from trial lawyer to franchise CEO, what he learned about leadership the hard way, and why AI is both the most exciting and most anxiety-inducing thing heading toward franchising right now.

If you're a franchise brand leader thinking about how to get more out of what you already have - this one's for you.

The Franchise Leader Spotlight Podcast is hosted by Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO.

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Paul Pickett Grows Sustainably Through Care | Wild Birds Unlimited | Franchise Leader Spotlight 1 1 3 3 How Paul Pickett Grows Sustainably Through Care | Wild Birds Unlimited | Franchise Leader Spotlight full 4eb511a2-c6f3-4921-98a3-30784f83a61a https://share.transistor.fm/s/55aad1ac What does it look like to grow a franchise brand without compromising your values?

In this episode of Franchise Leader Spotlight, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Paul Pickett of Wild Birds Unlimited to explore how sustainable growth is built through care, discipline, and long-term thinking.

Paul shares why protecting brand integrity sometimes means saying no to the wrong franchisee fit, how leadership shapes culture across a system, and why care isn’t soft - it’s strategic. In a franchising environment often focused on speed, this conversation centers on building the right way and creating a legacy that lasts.

]]> What does it look like to grow a franchise brand without compromising your values?

In this episode of Franchise Leader Spotlight, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Paul Pickett of Wild Birds Unlimited to explore how sustainable growth is built through care, discipline, and long-term thinking.

Paul shares why protecting brand integrity sometimes means saying no to the wrong franchisee fit, how leadership shapes culture across a system, and why care isn’t soft - it’s strategic. In a franchising environment often focused on speed, this conversation centers on building the right way and creating a legacy that lasts.

]]> Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1752 What does it look like to grow a franchise brand without compromising your values?

In this episode of Franchise Leader Spotlight, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Paul Pickett of Wild Birds Unlimited to explore how sustainable growth is built through care, discipline, and long-term thinking.

Paul shares why protecting brand integrity sometimes means saying no to the wrong franchisee fit, how leadership shapes culture across a system, and why care isn’t soft - it’s strategic. In a franchising environment often focused on speed, this conversation centers on building the right way and creating a legacy that lasts.

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Quinn Newhall Leads with Franchisee-First Mindset | Clean Eatz COO | Franchise Leader Spotlight 1 1 2 2 How Quinn Newhall Leads with Franchisee-First Mindset | Clean Eatz COO | Franchise Leader Spotlight full 859c2ec6-2ed4-44a1-8850-16cdf97492ad https://share.transistor.fm/s/80e212ae In this episode of Franchise Leader Spotlight, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Quinn Newhall, Chief Operating Officer of Clean Eatz, to discuss what it means to lead with a franchisee-first mindset.

As a former operator turned executive, Quinn shares how his experience in the field shapes his leadership approach, why local store marketing is the backbone of sustainable growth, and what franchisees need most from brand leadership in today’s competitive restaurant environment.

This conversation is equal parts practical and encouraging - a steady perspective for operators focused on long-term success.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠My Podcast Host⁠, helping franchise systems bring their most important messages to life through internal podcasting.

]]> In this episode of Franchise Leader Spotlight, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Quinn Newhall, Chief Operating Officer of Clean Eatz, to discuss what it means to lead with a franchisee-first mindset.

As a former operator turned executive, Quinn shares how his experience in the field shapes his leadership approach, why local store marketing is the backbone of sustainable growth, and what franchisees need most from brand leadership in today’s competitive restaurant environment.

This conversation is equal parts practical and encouraging - a steady perspective for operators focused on long-term success.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠My Podcast Host⁠, helping franchise systems bring their most important messages to life through internal podcasting.

]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0600 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 2119 In this episode of Franchise Leader Spotlight, Katherine LeBlanc sits down with Quinn Newhall, Chief Operating Officer of Clean Eatz, to discuss what it means to lead with a franchisee-first mindset.

As a former operator turned executive, Quinn shares how his experience in the field shapes his leadership approach, why local store marketing is the backbone of sustainable growth, and what franchisees need most from brand leadership in today’s competitive restaurant environment.

This conversation is equal parts practical and encouraging - a steady perspective for operators focused on long-term success.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠My Podcast Host⁠, helping franchise systems bring their most important messages to life through internal podcasting.

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No How Mitch Cohen Defines a Great Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Operator | Franchise Leadership Spotlight 1 1 1 1 How Mitch Cohen Defines a Great Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Operator | Franchise Leadership Spotlight full 55c8be59-5b8e-4ea8-97b4-2af3d9860d51 https://share.transistor.fm/s/99fb3748 What does it really take to become a successful multi-unit, multi-brand operator?

In this episode of Franchise Leadership Spotlight, Mitch Cohen shares his journey from entering franchising to building the infrastructure required to scale across multiple brands and locations.

We discuss:

  • How he evaluates franchise opportunities
  • The systems and leadership structure required to grow beyond a single unit
  • What franchisors often misunderstand about attracting serious multi-unit operators
  • The mindset shift required to move from operator to empire-builder

This is a must-listen for franchisors looking to attract high-quality MUMBOs — and for franchisees who aspire to scale beyond one location.

Real experience. Practical insight. A candid look at what growth actually requires.

Produced by My Podcast Host. Subscribe to stay connected to the leaders shaping the future of franchising.

]]> What does it really take to become a successful multi-unit, multi-brand operator?

In this episode of Franchise Leadership Spotlight, Mitch Cohen shares his journey from entering franchising to building the infrastructure required to scale across multiple brands and locations.

We discuss:

  • How he evaluates franchise opportunities
  • The systems and leadership structure required to grow beyond a single unit
  • What franchisors often misunderstand about attracting serious multi-unit operators
  • The mindset shift required to move from operator to empire-builder

This is a must-listen for franchisors looking to attract high-quality MUMBOs — and for franchisees who aspire to scale beyond one location.

Real experience. Practical insight. A candid look at what growth actually requires.

Produced by My Podcast Host. Subscribe to stay connected to the leaders shaping the future of franchising.

]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0600 Katherine LeBlanc Katherine LeBlanc 1633 What does it really take to become a successful multi-unit, multi-brand operator?

In this episode of Franchise Leadership Spotlight, Mitch Cohen shares his journey from entering franchising to building the infrastructure required to scale across multiple brands and locations.

We discuss:

  • How he evaluates franchise opportunities
  • The systems and leadership structure required to grow beyond a single unit
  • What franchisors often misunderstand about attracting serious multi-unit operators
  • The mindset shift required to move from operator to empire-builder

This is a must-listen for franchisors looking to attract high-quality MUMBOs — and for franchisees who aspire to scale beyond one location.

Real experience. Practical insight. A candid look at what growth actually requires.

Produced by My Podcast Host. Subscribe to stay connected to the leaders shaping the future of franchising.

]]> franchise leadership franchise marketing franchising franchise growth franchise operations franchisee communication franchise CMO franchise brand strategy franchise development fractional CMO franchise executive franchise podcast franchisor franchise system small business growth No