Franchise Rock Stars: 2025 Wrap Up

Today on the most popular franchise podcast, we’re wrapping up 2025 with the Franchise Rock Stars. What did we learn this year? What worked? What did NOT work?  Today's Franchise Rock Star Panel: Derrick Ableman, Scott Greenberg, Kristen Pechacek, and Danielle Wright joining host Jack Monson. We’re missing Ali Kraus today --  see you in January! Thanks to all of our sponsors for 2025: Citrin Cooperman, Northeast Color, WSI, Hughes, Vendasta, Franzy, Promotex, and Thunderly. Special Guests: Danielle Wright, Derrick Ableman, Kristen Pechacek, and Scott Greenberg.

We talk a lot about Multi-Unit Owners and Legacy Brands in franchising. But the life blood for the future of franchising and small business ownership is the Emerging Brand. Today on the most popular franchise podcast, we’re live at the SMB Franchise Summit hearing from new Emerging Franchisors about how they’re growing in 2026! Thanks for joining us: Marc Howland of Breadless Dominique Sandu of D. Sierra Lash Co. Fabienne Van Buchem and Aditya Jain of Beambar Steve Moore of Epoxy Depot Courtney Del Vecchio of Sweatfluence Tamika Franklyn of Precision Franchise And thanks to Steve Beagelman, Dawn Abbamondi and the SMB Franchise Advisors (https://smbfranchising.com) crew for hosting us. Thanks to Citrin Cooperman (https://www.citrincooperman.com/Industries/Franchise), Northeast Color, (https://www.northeastcolor.com/), Hughes (https://www.hughes.com/who-we-serve/by-business-type/franchise), and Thunderly (https://thunderlymarketing.com/)

The Franchise News Podcast with Jack Monson for November 26, 2025 Thanks to Thunderly (https://thunderlymarketing.com/) and Hughes (http://hughes.com/franchise).

We're back live at Franchise Expo Austin! In Part Two, host Jack Monson is chatting with more franchise development leaders and CEOs of some the top brands in franchising. We’ll find out about their goals and plans for 2026. Joining today's show: Scott McIntosh, Mr Gatti's Pizza Marcus Fuller, Beef-A-Roo Bruce Granger, NaturaLawn of America Ty Brewster, FranReal Randolph Clarito, 1 Heart Caregiver Services Josh Kerns, Conquest Padel Club Chris Wellbaum, Level Up Leak Detection John Doty, Freshslice Pizza Jack Stewart, SMB Franchise Advisors Rodney Frank, Yonutz And we wrap up the event with Martin Joksimovic, President of MFV Expositions, who gives us a preview of the franchise expos in 2026 in great cities like Fort Lauderdale, New York, Dallas, Cincinnati, and Phoenix.  Thanks to the whole MFV Expositions sales & marketing team for a fantastic year: Linda Thompson, Justin Wood, Frank Fazio, Simone Smith, Rafael Arango. Thanks to Citrin Cooperman (https://www.citrincooperman.com/Industries/Franchise), Northeast Color (https://www.northeastcolor.com/), Hughes (https://www.hughes.com/who-we-serve/by-business-type/franchise), and Thunderly (https://thunderlymarketing.com/)

Today we are live at Franchise Expo Austin! Host Jack Monson is chatting with the franchise development leaders and CEOs of some the top brands in franchising. We’ll find out about their goals and plans for 2026! Joining today's show: Kyla Dufresne, Foxy Box Jack Hall, Cicis Pizza Blaine Young, NaturaLawn of America Kevin Brickner, The Goddard School Rhea Lana, Rhea Lana's Franchise Systems Jenepher Toups, Zoomin Groomin Clay Carson, Twisted Egg Shack Red Boswell, IFPG Thanks to Citrin Cooperman (https://www.citrincooperman.com/Industries/Franchise), Northeast Color (https://www.northeastcolor.com/), Hughes (https://www.hughes.com/who-we-serve/by-business-type/franchise), and Thunderly (https://thunderlymarketing.com/)

It doesn’t matter what you do with AI. There…I said it. Come and get me, snake oil salesman. What DOES matter is what your candidates and customers do with AI and how they’re finding you. It’s the Marketing & Innovation Update for October on the most popular franchise podcast, Social Geek! Patti Rother, Founder and CEO of Root + Rise, is here to help Fran Dev pros feed the Large Language Models with answers for their brands. We’ll cover: Why Reddit is now so important and how you can get started Using Wikipedia as your guide to sharing your facts and data Other places to share your brand’s unified messaging to gain authority How video content is currently feeding answers Why PR and earned media are more critical than ever Shout outs to our all-star team members Jacqui Blair, Islam Tawfik, Willem van Daalen, Madison Leavy, Grace Gorman, and Jason Weaver. Next, I’ll chat with Jeffrey Leach of Vendasta to dive into AI for local franchisee marketing. Jeff shares the results from Vendasta’s new study of 20 franchise brands looking at their franchisees’ local AI marketing services. There are some amazing conversions via web chats, SMS conversations, and booking services. Connect with Jeff to learn more about the survey results. Thanks to Northeast Color (https://www.northeastcolor.com/), Hughes (http://hughes.com/franchise), and Thunderly (https://thunderlymarketing.com/) ⚡ Special Guests: Jeff Leach and Patti Rother.

What do brands really need from their partners and vendors? And how can suppliers best manage those relationships? It’s Episode 1200 of Social Geek! The Franchise Rock Stars are back on the most popular podcast in franchising: Kristen Pechacek, Ali Kraus, Derrick Abelman, and Danielle Wright. We’re diving deep into the three-legged stool of Franchisors, Franchisees, and Suppliers to discuss: *Monthly check-ins versus monthly challenge *Using your suppliers and partners to get stronger and better *Saying NO and making it okay to say no *Are relationships in franchising getting better? Are they getting harder? *What are CEOs of brands really looking for now? *What are the signs of a client quietly quitting? Thanks also to today’s sponsors: Citrin Cooperman (https://www.citrincooperman.com/Franchising), Northeast Color (https://www.northeastcolor.com/), Hughes (http://hughes.com/franchise), and Thunderly (https://thunderlymarketing.com/). Special Guests: Ali Kraus, Danielle Wright, Derrick Ableman, and Kristen Pechacek.

Where are your best new leads coming from? What’s your go-to source for the best candidates who will make the best franchisees? Franchise Development Marketing is the focus on today’s show with some of my favorite franchise brand leaders recorded LIVE at Franchise Expo West in LA. You’ll hear from: Robert Bhagwandat, Checkers & Rally’s Megan Birkey, McDonald’s Mark Treptow, Gong Cha Jimmy Weeks, Internet Strategy Labs Matt Sawicki, Black Sheep Coffee Carlo Verdugo, Juice It Up! Plus, Michael Seid of MSA discusses several hot Franchising topics for this fall and Kim Gusman of CEA / California Employers Association shares why California is still a great place to develop franchises! Thanks to Northeast Color, (https://www.northeastcolor.com/), Hughes (http://hughes.com/franchise), Citrin Cooperman (https://www.citrincooperman.com/Franchising), and Thunderly (https://thunderlymarketing.com/).

It’s the Franchise Marketing Fall Preview on Social Geek! Matt Haller, CEO of The International Franchise Association gives a preview of this year’s IFA Advocacy Summit in DC and the association’s view on top issues for small business. Ali Kraus of Benetrends and Bloomin’ Blinds’ Kristopher Stuart discuss the launch of Furry Frans, the franchise community’s exciting new non-profit project. Ford Saeks, keynote speaker and author, shares the topics that his audiences are asking about the most this year. Brent Greenwood of Sport Clips gives us an update on the Multi-Unit side of franchise and the growth he’s seeing for his brand and sector. And Shawn Caric of Smoothie King wraps up the show with a discussion about the 2025 Franchise Leadership & Development Conference. Shawn is this year’s FLDC Chair and gives a sneak peek at this year’s content. And all of today’s guests share their take the hottest Franchise Development and Franchise Marketing trends including: GEO / AEO / SEO impacting franchise lead generation LLM seeding for fran dev A confident outlook on franchise growth for 2025/2026! Thanks to Citrin Cooperman, Northeast Color, Hughes, and Thunderly. Special Guests: Ali Kraus, Brent Greenwood, Ford Saeks, Kris Stuart, Matt Haller, and Shawn Caric.

Recorded live at IFE 2025 in New York with MFV Expositions! It's the final chapter in our 4 part series of conversations with founders, CEOs, and Franchise Development leaders including: Richard Snow of Brooklyn Robot Foundry Rochelle Castiglione of Merry Maids Ben Woodruff of WOOPS! Collin Benyo of The Melting Pot Giles Brake of Alliott Global Alliance Thanks to Northeast Color, Franzy, Hughes, and Furry Frans.