1851

Certified management accountant&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-quila/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-former-professor-buys-baytown-sylvan-learning-franchise-to-share-quality-education-with-local-students-2720721" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Andrea Uquillas Quila</a> has always had a passion for education. As a former adjunct professor for a university, she values an excellent education system and knows that every student deserves a chance to succeed in school. So when Uquillas&nbsp;Quila learned about the opportunity to buy the Baytown&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning">Sylvan Learning*</a> center, she couldn’t wait to get started with the brand.Uquillas&nbsp;Quila officially took over ownership on November 1. She’s witnessed firsthand the benefits Sylvan Learning can offer a student after her stepdaughter used the tutoring service. But she wants to expand and grow the brand even further. Not only does Uquillas&nbsp;Quila want to begin contracting Sylvan services with local schools, but she hopes to expand into other territories in the Houston area. She sees a lot of potential for the brand, and as a mother, she knows that she can provide a service other parents would want for their kids.&nbsp;1851 Franchise spoke with Uquillas&nbsp;Quila to learn more about her franchising journey with&nbsp;<a href="https://sylvanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-former-professor-buys-baytown-sylvan-learning-franchise-to-share-quality-education-with-local-students-2720721" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sylvan Learning</a>.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Andrea Uquillas Quila:&nbsp;I’m a certified management accountant with a master’s degree in economics. With that, I consult for finances. I’ve been in this industry for about 10 years. I’ve wanted to be in the education field for a long time. I was an adjunct personal finance professor for a university in Houston on the track to becoming a professor. When I saw this opportunity, I knew I could enjoy the role.&nbsp;I’ve been involved in franchising through owning a UPS store. Franchising is appealing to me because I get support from a brand, and I don’t have to reinvent the wheel to be a business owner. Partnering with a franchise gives you an advantage. There is a lower risk based on the brand’s experience and the training they can give you. Essentially, a franchisor is teaching you how to operate your business most efficiently. I also like that there is a community of other franchise owners that you can lean on.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Uquillas&nbsp;Quila:&nbsp;I’ve always had a pretty good understanding of franchising. That knowledge only grows with time.&nbsp;1851: What makes you stand out as business owners in your local community?Uquillas&nbsp;Quila:&nbsp;Originally, I’m from Ecuador. Now I live in an area where there are a lot of multicultural people. There is a strong Spanish and Italian population here, and I speak both languages. Because of this, I’m able to reach a large group of people. I think I’ll also stand out as a business owner because I live in this community and raise my kids here. I’m involved in the schools that are in the same district as my center. I can relate to the people here because I’m a mom too. As I develop and grow the business, I’ll keep in mind my goal to create a center I would want my own children to utilize.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Uquillas&nbsp;Quila:&nbsp;I believe in every child earning a great education. I think that Sylvan Learning is a great way to give that to students. My stepdaughter used to go to Sylvan, and because of that, she was able to catch up. So I have a personal connection with the brand already. That helped me a lot in making my decision.&nbsp;I’m excited to learn everything Sylvan has to offer through my training. I want to be familiar with not only the business side of Sylvan but the education side. I’m excited to be in the education field. Eventually, I would love to add more language courses because there is a lot of demand for them in this area.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Uquillas&nbsp;Quila:&nbsp;I want to start making contracts with the local schools in the area. This center wasn’t doing a lot of those before, and I think there is a lot of potential for that here. If we can provide tutoring at schools, we can reach so many more students. Because that system hasn’t been developed here yet, I want to start that process as soon as possible. In the future, I would consider expanding into other territories. There are some close to me that I would want to open centers in. We have a great staff, and I can’t wait to learn and grow with them.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Uquillas&nbsp;Quila:&nbsp;You should first understand what a franchise is. Do your research because there can be a learning curve when it comes to franchising. All brands have rules and regulations. That is a good thing, but it can be challenging for some people at first. If you like business and have a passion for education, then Sylvan is a great choice for you.ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING:With more than 40 years of experience and more than 710 points of presence, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K–12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvan’s proven tutoring approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync™ technology on the iPad® for an engaging learning experience. Sylvan also leads the way with Sylvan EDGE — STEM and accelerated courses and Sylvan Prep — college and test prep courses. Sylvan supports families through every stage of the academic journey. Sylvan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franchise Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRG).&nbsp; For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sylvanlearning.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-former-professor-buys-baytown-sylvan-learning-franchise-to-share-quality-education-with-local-students-2720721" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.SylvanLearning.com</a>.

The Great Franchisee | Former Professor Buys Baytown Sylvan Learning Franchise to Share Quality Education With Local Students

1851 Franchise

Andrea Uquillas Quila officially took over as owner of the Sylvan center on November 1.

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

the-great-franchisee-former-professor-buys-baytown-sylvan-learning-franchise-to-share-quality-education-with-local-students

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue Franchisees Champion Fall Prevention To Keep Seniors Safe at Home

trublue-franchisees-champion-fall-prevention-to-keep-seniors-safe-at-home

Pet Wants

FOX Reno: Summer Pet Safety With Pet Wants of Sparks

fox-summer-pet-safety-with-pet-wants-sparks

Workout Anytime

Workout Anytime Teams Up with Viral Baseball Star Kyle “KJ” Jackson to Inspire Fitness Journeys Nationwide

workout-anytime-teams-up-with-viral-baseball-star-kyle-kj-jackson-to-inspire-fitness-journeys-nationwide

Sola Salons

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sola Salons logo

Sola Salons Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sola-salons-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Paris Baguette Canada

image of paris baguette cake and franchise decorations

What Canadian Franchisees Want to Know: Paris Baguette Profit Potential and Franchisee Support

paris-baguette-franchise-canada-profit-support

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

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Keurig Dr Pepper Splits in $18 Billion JDE Peet’s Deal, Creating Global Coffee Giant

keurig-dr-pepper-splits-in-18-billion-jde-peets-deal-creating-global-coffee-giant

McDonald’s Rolls Out Major Value Push To Win Back Customers Amid Inflation

mcdonalds-rolls-out-major-value-push-to-win-back-customers-amid-inflation

Photo of Paris Baguette pastries and beverages 

Paris Baguette Celebrates 250th Café Opening in Frederick, Maryland, Accelerating Expansion and Reviving the Neighborhood Bakery Café

paris-baguette-250th-north-america-cafe

Restaurant Chains Open Their Wallets To Jump-Start Franchise Growth - 1851 Franchise

Restaurant Chains Open Their Wallets To Jump-Start Franchise Growth

restaurant-franchise-incentives-cash-royalty-holidays-fee-reductions

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

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

graphic image of a franchisee spotligh aman kaur of voodoo brewing

How This Trio of Friends Is Brewing Up Community With Voodoo Brewing Co. in Prosper, Texas

voodoo-brewing-franchisee-aman-kaur-prosper-texas

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Dan Ellestad and Seniors Helping Seniors logo

How This Marine Veteran Went From Military Service to Senior Care and Found His Purpose in Franchising

seniors-helping-seniors-dan-ellestad

image of 1851 Franchise usa Ninja Challenge article about djibril coulibaly and rashawna coulibaly

Long-Time Soccer Coach and Music Teacher to Bring USA Ninja Challenge Franchise to Santa Maria, California

usa-ninja-challenge-santa-maria-coulibaly

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

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

The Great Franchisee | Former Professor Buys Baytown Sylvan Learning Franchise to Share Quality Education With Local Students

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS