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2022’s Top Franchise Influencers: 155–146

Once again, 1851 Franchise and SeoSamba have teamed up to find the most influential influencers in the franchise world.

By Ben Warren1851 Franchise Managing Editor
Updated 7:07AM • 02/04/22

Franchising is a big world, and it’s only getting bigger. Still, it’s a community, and a fairly close-knit community at that. Franchisors and franchisees across brands are constantly kept abreast of what their colleagues and competitors are up to, eager to implement best practices and leverage the industry’s best ideas. 

That’s why it’s essential for everyone in the industry to know who’s who. Whether you are buying a franchise, franchising your business, growing your franchise or looking for general information on franchising, tapping into the franchise world’s thriving community is vital to your success.

To that end, 1851 Franchise has teamed up with SeoSamba to bring you a list of the most influential people in franchising. 

Publishing throughout the month of February, this list is not a ranking, but a collection of 175 franchise industry professionals we think you should know. To help you connect, we’ve provided links to each professional’s LinkedIn page where available. So read on, and get busy building your network!

Catherine Monson

LinkedIn Bio:

Catherine Monson is the CEO at Propelled Brands. She has a strong background in management and business leadership, as well as more than 25 years of franchising and digital printing experience.

Known for her motivational and accountability-led management style, Catherine believes in consistent communication and a two-way relationship with franchisees. It is with great passion that she leads Propelled Brands, the Corporate Umbrella for FASTSIGNS, NerdsToGo, MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza.

Catherine appeared on the two-time Emmy Award-nominated reality series, “Undercover Boss”, in May of 2012 as the CEO of FASTSIGNS. The show follows high-level corporate executives as they slip anonymously into the rank-and-file of their own company to examine the inner workings of their organization.

A strong advocate for small business enterprise and franchising, Catherine also spends much of her time and energy serving as the Chair for the International Franchise Association (IFA), the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchises worldwide. Through her service with the IFA, Catherine works to help further the IFA’s mission of protecting and promoting franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs.

Cathy Morse

LinkedIn Bio:

With more than 20 years experience in the window covering industry, I've been able to help entrepreneurs all across North America realize their dream of owning and operating their own Made in the Shade Blinds & More franchise. I'm able to draw from not only more than two decades of experience, but also established business partnerships and a reputation of excellent service among my clientele and dealers.

My vision was to teach others how to successfully establish and operate their own window covering business as a home based model. As a result, we created a franchise program that would enable those who were seeking a rewarding business opportunity in the window covering industry to do so at a low, one-time, entry fee. With comprehensive and ongoing training, lifetime support, an outstanding marketing team with a wealth of resources, and a proven business model, we prepare our franchisees for ongoing success.

Our company-owned San Antonio business (both in window coverings and flooring) continues to exceed expectations as a multi-million dollar business and receive rave reviews from hundreds of happy clients. All of our Made in the Shade clients across North America are able to benefit from the most competitive prices because of our national buying power.

Call us at Made in the Shade Blinds & More for name brand, high quality products and the best window covering shopping experience you will ever have. We promise outstanding service way beyond the sale. Our design consultations and estimates are always free and we gladly bring the showroom to you or your client. Along with our residential end user, our client base consists of commercial businesses, Realtors, brokers, builders, architects, designers, mortgage companies, military installations, schools, apartment complexes, office buildings...the list goes on and on.

Find out more (or locate a dealer near you) at: www.madeintheshadeblinds.com, or our franchise web site: www.madeintheshadefranchising.com.

Chad Knudson

Chad Knudson’s Bio:

Chad Knudson and his wife Brooke started one of the first healthy fast food drive-thrus in the US in 2007. Now, 15 years later, they have grown to six units in the Arizona valley, and the brand is ready to grow into additional states with area developers. It's a feel-good brand, offering healthy fast food and drinks to the community as well as healthy wages and tips within a fun atmosphere and plenty of profits for owners.

Chad Zani

LinkedIn Bio:

Passionate and visionary, Chad has created and driven highly successful B2B and DTC businesses for over 20 years, including the founding of multi-million dollar ASX listed Ezeatm Ltd.

Chad has an exceptional ability to identify business and industry opportunities; craft and maintain cutting edge and highly effective sales and marketing strategies; and maintain excellent relationships with B2B customers, suppliers and high-value, loyal staff members.

Most recently in the USA, Chad has applied his knowledge and experience to help transform the Detail Garage retail store netowrk and brand from $2.5M in sales from 4 stores in 2017 to 84 stores and $45M in sales in 2021.

Charles Internicola

LinkedIn Bio:

The Internicola Law Firm is a national franchise only law firm that provides emerging and growing brands with the legal support they need, resources to grow, and strategies to win at franchising.

Charlie Chase

Charlie’s Bio (from FirstService Brands’ website):

Mr. Chase resides in Villanova, PA and he is the President and CEO of FirstService Brands, Inc. Prior to his role as CEO, Mr. Chase served as the President of the Consumer Franchises of The Franchise Company and prior to that he was CEO of CertaPro Group.

Throughout his 29 years with FirstService Brands he has held numerous roles, starting as a Franchise owner in 1982 at College Pro Painters. Believing that there was an opportunity to create a successful and significant full time painting company, in 1992 he became the founding President/CEO of CertaPro Painters. Mr. Chase has a B.A. Honors in Economics from Queens University, Ontario, Canada.

Charlie Morrison

Charlie’s Bio (from Wingstop’s website):

Charlie Morrison has served as our Chief Executive Officer since June 2012, and as Chairman of our board of directors since March 2017. Prior to joining Wingstop, Charlie was Chief Executive Officer of Rave Restaurant Group, a publicly traded international pizza chain, from January 2007 to June 2012. Charlie has also held multiple senior leadership positions during his more than 20 years of restaurant experience, including serving as President of Steak & Ale and The Tavern Restaurants for Metromedia Restaurant Group, as well as various management positions at Kinko’s, Boston Market and Pizza Hut.

Chris Elliot

LinkedIn Bio:

Since my arrival EBITDA has grown 285%. We have implemented extensive menu and marketing enhancements as well as food quality and operational improvements that have driven positive comp sales for 9 of the past 11 years. Our comp growth rates have exceeded both industry and category performance in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021. Average Unit volumes have grown $600,000. We have developed a new Beef O Brady's prototype and new locations are significantly out performing legacy units. In June of 2012, we acquired The Brass Tap ( a Premium Craft Beer Bar) as an additional growth vehicle. We have grown The Brass Tap from 3 locations to 42 and have 64 additional committed openings in the pipeline. We have two exciting concepts to offer potential franchise owners and an excellent management team to support them.

Member of FSC Franchise Co., LLC., (ex member Backyard Burgers LLC,) Board Of Directors and Co-Chair of Strategic planning for Carrollwood Day School Board Of Trustees, Fellow of The Culinary Institute of America.

Craig Dunaway

Nominator’s Rationale:

Being an influential leader is really getting individuals to follow a cause for the greater good of the brand and not simply fulfilling personal goals. In 2021, Craig set out to work closely with franchisees and supplier partners to ensure Penn Station was becoming a leading brand that could provide greater success during COVID for supplier partners and franchisees, and at the same time, give back to the community. Craig’s efforts contributed greatly to all three groups. Craig engages conflict head on and addresses problems as they arise quickly and swiftly. The ability to do this in 2021 cogently and without emotion led the Penn Station brand to a new level of success.

Daniel DeLeon

LinkedIn Bio:

Daniel D. DeLeon is an accomplished entrepreneur with a stellar record of success.

Voted as one of the most Influential Restaurant CEOs in the country by Nation’s Restaurant News 2020 & 2021, Rising Restaurant Stars by FSR Magazine, Power List CEOs by Nation's Restaurant News and Mover & Shaker Of The Year by Jacksonville.com; based on his 14 years of entrepreneurship experience. Daniel excels in franchising, start-ups, business development, management, operations and leadership. He has proudly grown six local and diverse businesses from the ground up. He has owned and operated multiple franchise concepts and has excelled in the restaurant industry. Mr. DeLeon has a strong and diverse history of multi-unit franchise restaurant ownership and operations across multiple concepts. As well as, Franchisor representative experience with Restaurant Brands International. As CEO, DeLeon has developed, perfected and grown Grumpy’s Restaurant to the successful fan favorite it is today. In addition, he has successfully developed and launched Grumpy’s Restaurant Franchise Program. He is a collaborative and visionary leader with a documented record of guiding business development, growth, profitability and overall success by strong operations and continued leadership.

*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.

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