1851

<div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">Ask Melanie Bergeron how she got into franchising and she&#8217;ll probably tell you that she was born to be in the business with <a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melanie-bergeron-from-two-men-and-a-truck-franchisee-to-chairwoman-of-the-international-franchise-association-3901" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="brand-highlight">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK*</span>&#174;</a>.</span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">&#8220;It all started out as an idea for an after school business,&#8221; said Bergeron, chair of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&#174;. &#8220;With a hand drawn logo by my mother and an advertisement in a local paper, it just grew from there. I officially joined the family business in 1989 after being awarded the first TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&#174; franchise in Atlanta, Georgia.&#8221;  </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">It wasn&#8217;t long thereafter that Bergeron joined the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&#174; home office in Lansing, Michigan where she assumed the role of president in 1994. Eventually she became the chief operating officer, then the chief executive officer. Now, she holds the position of chair of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&#174;&#8217;s board of directors. </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">Under her leadership, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&#174; has grown both domestically and internationally to more than 330 locations worldwide &#8212; all supported by a strong system of nearly 8,000 employees.    </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">Last year, Bergeron took another step forward in franchising after she assumed the role of chairwoman of the <a href="http://www.franchise.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melanie-bergeron-from-two-men-and-a-truck-franchisee-to-chairwoman-of-the-international-franchise-association-3901" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Franchise Association</a> (IFA). </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">&#8220;The first IFA Convention I ever attended was 20 years ago, and it was overwhelming and exhilarating all at the same time,&#8221; said Bergeron. &#8220;I remember meeting this man as we were walking out of the elevator and he asked me all these questions about my business, our model and how we were growing. After talking for a short time, I realized I forgot to ask him his name. He said, &#8216;I&#8217;m Fred DeLuca with Subway.&#8217; And that was the start of a lasting friendship.&#8221; </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">According to Bergeron, that&#8217;s one of the most special things about being a member of the IFA. There is a genuine connection between all members, whether they&#8217;re titans of industry like Fred DeLuca was, or an emerging concept or supplier. Each member, regardless of their size, should always work toward protecting, enhancing and promoting the franchise business model.</span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">&#8220;Over the past few years, there have been a lot of internal and external pressures put on the business of franchising due to the false notions of the relationship between franchisors and franchisees, such as the joint-employer issue,&#8221; said Bergeron. &#8220;Collectively, everyone involved in the business of franchising has to become an ambassador for the business model so we can change the narrative about the industry.&#8221;</span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">While Bergeron worked tirelessly to defend and promote the business model during her tenure as chairwoman of the IFA, she is equally excited about the voice that incoming Chairman Aziz Hashim, managing partner of <a href="http://www.nrdcapital.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melanie-bergeron-from-two-men-and-a-truck-franchisee-to-chairwoman-of-the-international-franchise-association-3901" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NRD Capital</a>, will lend to the issues facing the franchising industry. </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">&#8220;One of the most critical issues facing franchising is that there is a fundamental lack of knowledge and understanding of the business model itself,&#8221; said Bergeron. &#8220;The idea of local franchisee ownership has been overshadowed by the more than 50 years of our industry delivering a seamless customer experience. I&#8217;m excited that Aziz and the IFA&#8217;s leadership is ready to tackle this issue head on. Together, we must redefine our collective voice and explain to the public and elected officials, in easy to understand terms, what the true nature of franchising really is.&#8221; </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">With her role as IFA Chairwoman behind her, Bergeron is excited to refocus her energy back into the reason why she got into franchising in the first place &#8212; TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&#174;. On the heels of a 14.61 percent year-over-year revenue increase in 2015, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&#174; is poised for continued growth this year. The brand has its sights set on growing in top markets such as California, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey and throughout the Northeast U.S., and plans to sign 30 new locations by the end of the year.  </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">For more information about franchising with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK&#174;, <a href="http://twomenandatruck.1851franchise.com/index.php?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melanie-bergeron-from-two-men-and-a-truck-franchisee-to-chairwoman-of-the-international-franchise-association-3901" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span></div><div style="  font-style: normal; normal;  normal;"></div>

1851 Franchise

Melanie Bergeron has seen it all when it comes to franchising – from operating a single unit to rallying elected officials in the halls of Congress


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

Melanie Bergeron: From TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Franchisee to Chairwoman of the International Franchise Association  

melanie-bergeron-from-two-men-and-a-truck-franchisee-to-chairwoman-of-the-international-franchise-association

Lawn Doctor

Design with photo of John Perry and Lawn Doctor logo

How a 20-Year Industry Veteran Tripled His Sales With a Lawn Doctor Franchise

lawn-doctor-franchise-success-story-john-perry

Fitness Premier

The Secret to Fitness Franchise Success? It's Not Just the Workouts

fitness-premier-franchise-marketing-support

Fresh Coat

Photo of Fresh Coat vehicle with ladders on top

The Rise of Home Improvement Franchises: Why Now Is the Time to Invest

why-invest-home-improvement-franchise-fresh-coat

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Photo of HomeTeam inspector in red polo and khaki pants, walking by branded vehicle

Real Estate Today: Behind the Drywall: The Truth About Home Inspections

purpose-of-home-inspection

Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite Franchise - DTE - National Service Dog Month - 1851 Franchise

Celebrating Service Dogs: Why Proper Training Changes Lives — And How Dog Training Elite Is Leading the Way

dog-training-elite-national-service-dog-month

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

Design with American and Federal Reserve flags against light blue background

Federal Reserve Expected To Cut Rates by Quarter Point, a Move That Could Boost Franchise Growth

fed-rate-cut-boosts-franchise-growth

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

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

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Cathy Chavenet — Chief Marketing Officer, Paris Baguette

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-cathy-chavenet-chief-marketing-officer-paris-baguette

BooXkeeping: Making Bookkeeping Cool for Franchisors, Franchisees, and Small Business Owners

booxkeeping-making-bookkeeping-cool-for-franchisors-franchisees-and-small-business-owners

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

Melanie Bergeron: From TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Franchisee to Chairwoman of the International Franchise Association

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS