Fresh Coat Painters, the national residential and commercial painting franchise under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, is excited to welcome Lisa Hudson as its new Executive Vice President. 

Hudson's career trajectory includes a 26-year tenure with Macy's, where she led stores from $10M to $72M, spearheaded national and regional leadership initiatives and honed her skills in team coaching and executive leadership. 

This experience proved invaluable when she embraced a new chapter with The Growth Coach, the business coaching franchise also under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, in 2015. Initially starting as a franchise owner, Hudson eventually took on a role with the corporate team as the President of Franchise Development, where she led franchisees through the tumultuous times of COVID-19. Returning to Indiana in 2021, Hudson further diversified her expertise with a role at Lysse New York, a women's fashion brand. 

“Throughout my entire career, one common thread is that I’ve always been a servant leader — I’m always asking about the journey of the customer and putting myself in the franchisees’ shoes,” Hudson said. “It's not about what we want as a franchisor, it’s about helping franchisees grow their businesses.”

Now, Hudson’s journey has come full circle as she returns to the Strategic Franchising System family, this time as the Executive Vice President of Fresh Coat Painters.

“Fresh Coat has always been one of the strongest brands within the SFS system,” said Hudson. “I knew they were a great organization from my time with the company. I’m excited about the opportunity to help franchisees scale their business and with Fresh Coat, you are selling a product that enhances people's lives. Whether it be a new house, a new nursery for the baby or a new remodel, painting represents important moments in our lives. That is what really drew me to this brand.”

As the Executive Vice President, Hudson will lead a 27-person team, focusing on vision, processes and accountability. As someone who has been a franchisee herself, she understands the nuances of this role and is dedicated to guiding her team with empathy and strategic insight. Her expertise as a franchisee will be instrumental in developing strategies that resonate with franchise owners, ensuring the brand's continued growth and success.

“You buy a franchise because you want to invest in a system,” she said. “We support the franchise journey and keep them on track in following the system through coaching times and both regional and national conferences.  I have been a franchisee, so I understand what they need to succeed and drive profitability.”

Hudson aims to foster a sense of community among franchise owners, encouraging collaboration and mutual support. Charitable initiatives like Fresh Coat Cares exemplify this ethos, she says, showcasing the brand’s commitment to giving back to the community.

“The most important thing we can do is listen and help franchisees overcome any fears or challenges they are facing,” said Hudson. “This might mean some tough love — step back, look in the mirror and identify what you can do to drive your business. Problems are like rainbows: At the end of them, there is gold. When you find something that needs to be improved, that’s a win because it's a way to move forward.” 

With Hudson at the helm, Fresh Coat is set to strengthen its network, enhance its services and continue making a positive impact in the lives of its customers and franchise owners alike.

The team is looking to help more passionate and qualified entrepreneurs to achieve their goals while expanding the brand’s footprint across the country. Target markets include Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont.

For more information about Fresh Coat Painters, visit: https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info