How Open Lines of Communication and Strong Industry Relationships Are Helping Jeff Panella Move Famous Toastery Forward

Before Jeff Panella ever broke into the franchising industry, he had no interest in being a part of it. But now that he’s involved on the development side of the business, he can’t imagine doing anything else.

Today, Panella works as the chief development officer for Famous Toastery. But this role was far from his first entry into franchising. Before joining the better breakfast brand earlier this year, Panella earned decades of experience in franchise sales. Since 2005, he worked at Wireless Zone, first as vice president of sales and operation and later as the national vice president of business development. And now, he’s using that knowledge to fuel Famous Toastery’s development.

To help Famous Toastery expand on the national level, Panella’s days are filled with organizing and moving on leads. To start each day, Panella first calls the brand’s top priority leads and then follows up with other potential franchisees who have expressed interest in Famous Toastery. And even though those calls have the ability to take up a large portion of his day, Panella says that maintaining contact with those who are a part of the Famous Toastery brand—or are aspiring to be involved—is what ensures its long-term success.

“If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. My day really begins long before it officially starts—I make an active effort to map my weeks out well in advance,” said Panella. “Of course, you still need to be flexible when it comes to your schedule. Franchising moves incredibly fast, so things are always going to be in the works. And franchising never really ends—sometimes, my most effective calls take place at night or over the weekends. In order to be successful in moving a brand forward, you need to make yourself available to your team and potential franchisees.”

Regularly talking to franchisees is now a part of Panella’s daily routine. But before he got involved in the industry, he was skeptical about the benefits that the industry boasts. However, now that he’s become familiar with the ins and outs that make franchising tick, he says he’s more excited about working than he’s ever been before.

“Before I ever got into franchising, I was terrified by it. I didn’t want to break into the industry because I didn’t understand what it was all about. But as soon as I started learning about all that the franchising business model brings to the table, I was thrilled to be a part of it,” said Panella. “Franchising has given me a whole new passion for work. I love being able to help people fulfill their dreams and find the right brand—it’s so important for people to have the opportunity to be successful outside of the traditional corporate world where you’re forced to work in a cube. The franchising model allows people to be in control of their own destiny and run their own businesses.”

Going forward, Panella plans to continue establishing strong relationships with other members of the franchising community. And as Famous Toastery continues to break into new communities across the country, that network will only continue to grow.

“There are so many resources out there that can help you grow your brand and be successful in the long run. But in order to capitalize on their potential, you need to nurture those relationships,” said Panella. “Whether you’re talking to suppliers or prospective candidates, it’s critical for franchisors to stay in touch with their teams. This industry is one that relies on support, and it’s up to brands to make their support systems as strong as possible.”