MasterMind Minutes by Franchise Growth Solutions

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest - One Question - One Expert Answer in Minutes, not Hours. Today's guest is Jackie SecorJackie joined Taco John’s in June 2025, bringing more than 25 years of restaurant industry experience to the role. She began her career on the front lines at Auntie Anne’s and rose through the ranks to become SVP of Operations and Training at GoTo Foods. Known for her data-driven approach and deep operational expertise, Jackie has a proven track record of leading high-performing teams and driving strategic growth. At Taco John’s, she oversees restaurant operations, technology, and training. Jackie is passionate about empowering teams, supporting franchisees, and delivering consistent, high-quality guest experiences.Contact Jackie at: https://tacojohnsfranchise.com/leadership/Contact Gary at: info@frangrow.com

Season 7 MASTERMIND MINUTES - ONE GUEST, ONE QUESTION, ONE EXPERT ANSWER IN MINUTES, NOT HOURS. Today's guest is Ali Kraus, CFE, who is the Chief Marketing Officer at Benetrends Financial, where she leads the company’s marketing and growth strategy. With over a decade in franchising, Ali has built a reputation for creating meaningful connections and driving innovative campaigns that empower entrepreneurs. She also serves as Vice Chair of the International Franchise Association’s Women’s Franchise Committee, helping to champion leadership and inclusivity across the industry. Beyond franchising, Ali is the co-founder of FurryFrans, a nonprofit that collects and distributes stuffed animals to children in crisis. A former NFL cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens, Ali now balances her professional life with family, coaching, and giving back to her community.Contact Ali at: https://www.benetrends.com/Contact Gary at: info@frangrow.comVisit: www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes Note Hours...Welcome to today’s episode featuring Victor Turcanu.Victor is a leading franchise attorney with a distinguished career spanning both Canada and the United States. He currently serves as an Attorney in the Franchising, Distribution & Corporate practice at Tannenbaum Helpern in New York. Prior to this, Victor was with Spadea Lignana Franchise Attorneys, and previously practiced corporate and franchise law at Garfinkle Biderman LLP in Toronto. His legal foundation was built at Loopstra Nixon LLP, where he completed his articling.Victor holds a Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, after earning his Bachelor of Science with Distinction in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Dalhousie University. He is licensed as an Attorney and Counselor-at-Law in New York State and was previously licensed with the Law Society of Ontario.Victor brings a wealth of international franchising experience to the table, having advised franchisors across a wide range of industries—from technology start-ups and home services to food and beverage brands. His expertise lies in guiding both emerging and established franchise systems through the complex regulatory landscapes of North America’s largest markets.Today, we’ll hear from Victor on the critical strategies and legal insights franchisors need to successfully scale while staying compliant and competitive.Contact Victor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-turcanu-a98681b7/Contact Gary: info@frangrow.comVisit: www.frangrow.com

NEW EPISODE: MasterMind Minutes Podcast 🎙️Topic: Why is Elevating Your Business Mindset is Critical to Your Success as a FranchisorSuccess in franchising isn’t just about systems, operations, or growth metrics—it's about mindset.In this episode of MasterMind Minutes, I sit down with Stéphane Breault—one of Canada’s most respected franchise advisors and leaders—to explore why your mindset as a franchisor can either make or break your brand’s growth.With more than 20 years as a CEO and over 15 years advising both emerging and global franchise networks, Stéphane brings a refreshing perspective. He’s not just focused on manuals and models—he focuses on elevating CEOs and executive teams into leaders who build genuine, purpose-driven relationships with franchisees.His client list reads like a who’s who of iconic brands—Petro Canada, Jani-King, 7-Eleven—and his leadership has helped over 100 Canadian and international franchise networks thrive.We talk about:✅ The mental shifts franchisors must make to scale effectively✅ Why mindset alignment inside your executive team is non-negotiable✅ How to build real, lasting trust with franchisees✅ The difference between leading with fear and leading with purposeIf you're a founder, franchisor, or franchise executive aiming for long-term success, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.🎧 Listen now on Spotify

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest - One Question - One Expert Answer in Minutes Not HoursToday's guest is Neil Hershman, CEO of 16 HandlesNeil Hershman first joined 16 Handles as a franchisee at the Murray Hill, Manhattan location. He has since acquired and built a New York City dessert empire, operating over a dozen retail locations. In August 2022, Neil acquired 16 Handles from its original founder, Solomon Choi, with plans to lead a national and international growth of the iconic Northeast brand.Neil is an active owner and CEO and leads all strategic decision making for 16 Handles. In order to test ideas and ensure customer experience, you can oftentimes find Neil spending his weekend nights working behind the counter at one of his Manhattan 16 Handles shops.Neil graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in Finance and Astrophysics and spent his early professional career at a NYC- based asset manager specializing in structured credit, where he primarily focused on company profitability and forecast, illiquid investment valuations, and strategic M&A activity.Outside of the office, Neil is a commercial-rated pilot, alpine mountain climber, and ultra-triathlete, with feats such as summiting Mt. Everest and winning a 703- mile-long triathlon.Contact Neil at: neil@16handles.comContact Gary at: info@frangrow.comVisit: Frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes – “One Guest – One Question – One Expert Answer in Minutes Not Hours”TMToday our Guest is Rafael ViaudRafael is the VP of Business Development for Executel. Executel is a NewYork-based business, reliable in the VOIP industry for over 10 years! What setsus apart from our competitors is not just our cutting edge technology, but alsoour stellar service. Rafael has a proven trackrecord of driving growth through strategic networking, go-to-market strategies,and lead generation. With over 15 years in theindustry, he has successfully led market expansion initiatives, builthigh-performing teams, and achieved significant sales figures in the Finance,Technology, and BPO sectors. His expertise in strategicleadership, client acquisition, team building, operational excellence, anddata-driven decision making enables him to consistently deliver impressiveresults and drive business growth. Contact RafaelVisit: https://executel.com/ Contact Gary: info@frangrow.comVisit: www.frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest - One Topic - One Expert Answer In Minutes Not Hours Our Guest Today is: Robert Tobias As the leader of Elite Franchise Capital, Robert has cultivated a successful career spanning two decades, specializing in strategic investments within emerging franchise brands. Under Rob's guidance, the company has pioneered a distinctive approach to franchise development, combining intellectual capital with strategic funding to foster growth and synergy. Robert's experience at Vista Massage LLC further underscores their expertise in brand expansion. Their successful establishment of two spas showcases their ability to execute innovative franchise management strategies. Reach out to Rob at: https://elitefranchisecapital.com/contact/ Contact gary at: info@frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest - One Question - One Expert Answer in Minutes not Hours Introducing Chad Jenkins, a lifelong entrepreneur and visionary known for reshaping businesses to deliver remarkable returns. With three groundbreaking methods and boundless curiosity, he serves as a catalyst for business growth. Collaborating with leaders across industries, he uncovers hidden opportunities, achieving exponential enterprise value growth. Chad’s track record includes 40+ high-growth companies and numerous successful Growth Partnerships. Now, he empowers others through Growth Collaboration Partnerships and the SeedSpark Growth Academy. His new book Just Add A Zero is a guide to outperforming competitors and achieving exponential growth through collaboration. Contact Chad: https://seedspark.com/ Contact Gary: info@frangrow.com Visit: www.frangrow.com.

MasterMind Minutes. One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes Not Hours. Our guest today is Doug Smith... He is the COO of America’s Best Restaurants which is a digital marketing agency that works with restaurants around the world. ABR generates trackable ROI using their unique ROI engine platform. Doug is 27 year veteran of the radio, sales and marketing Contact Doug:doug@americasbestrestaurants.com Contact Gary: info@frangrow.com Visit: www.frangrow.com Visit:https://www.americasbestrestaurants.com/

🎙️ MasterMind Minutes: One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes, Not Hours! 🔥 Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Tom Scarda, franchise advisor, coach, and bestselling author of Franchise Savvy! Tom’s unique journey, from Franchisee of the Year to learning from failure, makes him a true authority in franchising. He hosts The Franchise Academy Podcast and has helped over 1,800 people navigate the world of franchising since 2005. Don’t miss his expert insights! 🔗 Connect with Tom: https://tomscarda.com/contact📧 Contact Gary: info@frangrow.com🌐 Visit: www.frangrow.com

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes Not Hours Alicia Miller is the Founder and Managing Director of Emergent Growth Advisors, a boutique strategic advisory firm working at the intersection of franchising and private equity. She supports founders and franchise management teams facing growth, disruption, or transformation challenges, and helps them accelerate their businesses. She also advises private capital firms pre- and post-transaction on strategy and value creation initiatives and co-invests alongside her partners. As a former multi-unit franchisee, she brings a franchisee’s perspective and operating experience into every engagement. Ms. Miller is a recognized thought leader in franchising and the author of "Big Money in Franchising: Scaling Your Enterprise in the Era of Private Equity." She is also a monthly columnist for Franchise Times and has been published in Entrepreneur and Forbes. Together she has published more than 80 articles about franchising and private equity. She currently serves as an independent director for Elevated Ventures Group, a private equity-backed multi-unit franchisee of Urban Air Adventure Parks. She also serves as an advisor to the International Franchise Association’s certification program (CFE), promoting franchising best practices and regulatory compliance. Ms. Miller earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science (MS) from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Smith College. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Franchise Management from Georgetown University as well as a Graduate Certificate in Administration & Management from Harvard University. She is a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor™ (CM&AA), a Certified Franchise Executive™ (CFE), and is Directorship Certified™ by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD.CD). Contact Alicia linkedin.com/in/milleralicia Website emergentgrowthadvisors.com

MasterMind Minutes - One Guest, One Question - One Expert Answer in Minutes Not Hours. Today our guest is the incredible John Francis, or Johnny Franchise as he's known in the Franchise Business. John Francis is an enthusiastic, engaging, and entertaining public speaker, advisor and coach because he speaks from experience and he speaks from the heart. Franchising is in his blood, and his parents were true pioneers in the industry, turning their family haircutting business into a 1,000-salon franchise empire. He has been a franchisee and a franchisor, and has a deep understanding of the issues both face. Engage with John and you and your franchisees will learn how to look at your business in new, positive, and profitable ways. Contact John at: https://www.johnnyfranchise.com/contact Learn More: https://www.johnnyfranchise.com/ Contact Gary at: info@frangrow.com Grow Faster & Better: www.frangrow.com