1851

Gloria Swardenski&rsquo;s business and teaching background has led her to become a Sylvan Learning* franchisee. 
 
Swardenski work at <a href="http://franchise.sylvanlearning.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-spotlight-gloria-swardenski-of-sylvan-learning-10778" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sylvan Learning Center </a>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&nbsp;adult&nbsp;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&#39;s experience eventually&nbsp;led her to join the corporate team of another franchise organization.

Swardenski ended up&nbsp;in management consulting for a large firm in Chicago, which had&nbsp;a full-time travel schedule, so she traded the cold Midwest weather for sunny skies, relocating to&nbsp;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 <a href="http://sylvanlearning.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-spotlight-gloria-swardenski-of-sylvan-learning-10778" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sylvan Learning</a> 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&rsquo;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. &nbsp;

I began working Sylvan as a tutor as well as fulfilling some of the assistant&nbsp;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&rsquo;s Tutoring. I did that for over 10 years while raising four children of my own. &nbsp;I started my own business thinking it would be a great work life balance but as my own kids were getting older, I didn&rsquo;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.&nbsp; Here, I was able to learn everything from sales and&nbsp;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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 
 
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. &nbsp;I found the opportunity in December, closed the deal in January and have already doubled the center in six weeks.&nbsp;

Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://atourfranchise.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-spotlight-gloria-swardenski-of-sylvan-learning-10778" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Franchise Association&rsquo;s @OurFranchise website</a>&nbsp;for more stories of passionate local franchise owners, employees and their communities.&nbsp;

Franchisee Spotlight: Gloria Swardenski of Sylvan Learning

1851 Franchise

After beginning with the brand as a tutor in Illinois, Gloria has signed on as a franchisee in Florida.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

franchisee-spotlight-gloria-swardenski-of-sylvan-learning

Griswold

Griswold Enters Second Half of 2025 With Strong Growth, New Partnerships and Continued Commitment to Quality Care

griswold-enters-second-half-of-2025-with-strong-growth-new-partnerships-and-continued-commitment-to-quality-care

Workout Anytime

Workout Anytime Accelerates Growth in 2025: New Leadership, NIL Initiatives and Franchise Expansion Signal Strong Midyear Momentum

workout-anytime-accelerates-growth-in-2025-new-leadership-nil-initiatives-and-franchise-expansion-signal-strong-midyear-momentum

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Richard Fitzgerald Reflects on Two Decades of Franchise-Focused Private Equity 

CapitalSpring’s Richard Fitzgerald Reflects on Two Decades of Franchise-Focused Private Equity on Karma School of Business

capitalspring-franchise-private-equity-podcast

Pigtails & Crewcuts

graphic image of wade brannon from pigtails and crewcuts on a podcast called emerging franchise

Emerging Franchise Brands Podcast: How Wade Brannon Scaled Pigtails & Crewcuts Into a National Brand

emerging-franchise-brands-podcast-how-wade-brannon-scaled-pigtails-crewcuts-into-a-national-brand

Pigtails & Crewcuts Sees Positive Midyear Momentum, Builds Toward Strong Finish in 2025

pigtails-crewcuts-sees-positive-midyear-momentum-builds-toward-strong-finish-in-2025

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Subway - John Fitzpatrick Named CEO - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Subway Names Jonathan Fitzpatrick as New CEO, Effective July 28

jonathan-fitzpatrick-subway-ceo-leadership-change

AI Is Reshaping Franchising: $100 Billion Valuations and Hyper-Localized Advertising

ai-is-reshaping-franchising-100-billion-valuations-and-hyper-localized-advertising

Mega Franchisee Sizzling Platter Acquired by Bain Capital

mega-franchisee-sizzling-platter-acquired-by-bain-capital

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Plante Moran: Trusted Financial Advisors to More Than 180 Franchise Brands Nationwide

plante-moran-trusted-financial-advisors-to-more-than-180-franchise-brands-nationwide

Coffee & Analytics graphic with photo of Nick Powills

Franchise Growth Is Messy. Lead Gen Is Uncomfortable. Let’s Fix It.

franchise-lead-generation-insights

Mike Revak - Chief Business Officer - Sky Zone - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Mike Revak — President and Chief Business Officer, Sky Zone

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-mike-revak-chief-business-officer-sky-zone

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Blending Tech, Hospitality and Health Care: How Three Women From Different Worlds Came Together to Build a Paris Baguette Franchise

Franchisee Spotlight: Gloria Swardenski of Sylvan Learning

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS