Franchisee Spotlight: Gloria Swardenski of Sylvan Learning

Gloria Swardenski’s business and teaching background has led her to become a Sylvan Learning franchisee.

Swardenski work at Sylvan Learning Center in Peoria, Illinois before leaving the brand to start her own tutoring business specializing in upper level math. After 10 years and raising her four adult children, she sold her business and focused on sharpening her business skills. Through working in the family business of manufacturing to becoming a life/business coach, Swardenski's experience eventually led her to join the corporate team of another franchise organization.

Swardenski ended up in management consulting for a large firm in Chicago, which had a full-time travel schedule, so she traded the cold Midwest weather for sunny skies, relocating to Pensacola, Florida.

Within a matter of weeks, Swardenski learned that the local Sylvan Learning was up for sale and saw a great opportunity to combine her business and teaching experience. This past February, Swardenski joined the Sylvan Learning family again, but this time as a franchisee.

What were you doing before partnering with Sylvan Learning?
My life has really come full circle. I went Trinity College and got my bachelor’s degree in education. After finishing school, I taught in a nontraditional position before moving to the Midwest to start a family of my own.

I began working Sylvan as a tutor as well as fulfilling some of the assistant director responsibilities for a little over a year. Sylvan Learning was something that was practically new to the industry at the time. I specialized in more upper level math and decided to leave Sylvan to start my own tutoring center in Peoria, IL called Gloria Jean’s Tutoring. I did that for over 10 years while raising four children of my own.  I started my own business thinking it would be a great work life balance but as my own kids were getting older, I didn’t get to see them as much as I thought I would.

When my youngest went off to kindergarten, I sold my tutoring business and started working in the family manufacturing business with my father, who is an entrepreneur to the hilt.  Here, I was able to learn everything from sales and accounting to marketing. When I felt, I was ready to move on, I started doing some life and business coaching and worked with many self-starters on how to operate a successful business.  I also worked on the corporate side of Corvus in the franchising world and then moved onto a career in business consulting with a large firm in Chicago.

How did you learn about Sylvan Learning, and what made you ultimately decide to commit?
I was familiar with the brand as I worked with Sylvan Learning before I started my own tutoring business years ago.

After moving to Pensacola, I was in a brand-new area and wanted to do things my way. I started researching businesses and found the listing for Sylvan. With the confidence of my business background and the Sylvan location up for sale and 15 minutes away from house, I decided to sign on as the new franchisee.  I found the opportunity in December, closed the deal in January and have already doubled the center in six weeks.

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