1851

<p>When the previous owner of Springfield’s <a href="https://sylvanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-vanessa-and-phillip-ross-sylvan-learning-springfield-il-2714579" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u><span class="brand-highlight">Sylvan Learning*</span></u></a> passed away, the owner’s husband considered closing the center’s doors for good. But the Foppe-Ross family, who have grown to love the brand after sending their son there, stepped in to ensure every student had access to the educational support they needed amid virtual learning obstacles.&nbsp;</p><p>Phillip and Vanessa Ross, along with Vanessa’s mother, Donna Foppe, didn’t want to accept that the center might have to close its doors after all the progress their son — and many other students — had made. Together, they decided to save their local <a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning"><u>Sylvan</u></a> center by taking over ownership.</p><h4>1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?</h4><p>Vanessa Ross: Prior to getting involved with Sylvan Learning, I worked —and currently still work — as a project manager at AT&amp;T building cell sites. My mother, Donna Foppe, is the third co-owner and center director at Sylvan in Springfield, Illinois. She previously worked as a teacher and in the call center space.</p><p>Phillip Ross: I also still work at AT&amp;T as an engineer and am in charge of monitoring the performance of the cellular network in Illinois.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: How did you initially find out about franchising?&nbsp;</h4><p>Phillip and Vanessa: Our son has been attending the Springfield Sylvan Learning location since March, right when COVID-19 hit. At the time, Donna received a raise and part of the raise allowed our seven-year-old son to attend Sylvan for free. Two months later, the previous owner passed away, and her husband was thinking of closing up shop. We saw the value that Sylvan Learning provided to our son and others and didn’t want to let that happen, so we submitted an inquiry to corporate. We didn’t know anything about franchising until this opportunity presented itself. However, we were passionate about the brand and saw its success with our son as he progressed a whole grade level since starting at Sylvan due to the fantastic teachers’ help.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: Why did you choose franchising over starting your own business?</h4><p>Phillip and Vanessa: Starting our own business never really crossed our minds. The opportunity presented itself, so we quickly learned the ins and the outs of franchising with Sylvan to prepare for ownership.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: What other types of brands did you look at?</h4><p>Phillip and Vanessa: We didn’t look at any other brands to start a franchise with, but we did search for other tutoring services for our son about a year and a half prior to choosing Sylvan. We looked at Kumon and other competitors, and nothing really stood out to us. Had we known about Sylvan Learning earlier, we would’ve enrolled our son much sooner.</p><h4>1851: Why did you choose Sylvan Learning? What excited you most about the potential?</h4><p>Phillip and Vanessa: Based on the historical numbers we’ve seen, the business has been doing well while helping a lot of students. We see a lot of potential in expanding the business and helping these kids who are currently struggling with virtual learning. Presently, we have at least four school districts represented at our location in addition to some private school students we are serving as well.</p><h4>1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?</h4><p>Phillip and Vanessa: We are looking into eventually owning the Champaign location as well. We’re definitely on board for expanding in the future once we are settled with the Springfield location and can find someone we trust, like Donna, to be the center director and run the center independently.</p><h4>1851: What value do you see your business providing to Springfield, especially now during COVID-19?</h4><p>Phillip and Vanessa: Right now, we’re exclusively offering virtual assistance for students. Our teachers prioritize helping students with their current homework assignments at school first, and then, if there’s time left in the session, they’ll cover the Sylvan curriculum as well. Instead of the 3:1 student to teacher ratio, we’re now offering a 2:1 ratio in order to support students and give them the undivided attention they need. We’ve seen the success in providing students with additional virtual assistance and hope to open our doors for in-person assistance in the near future.</p><h4>1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?</h4><p>Phillip and Vanessa: We went from zero locations to owning our own rather quickly. We recommend potential franchisees do their homework and allow enough time to get everything set up. There’s a lot that goes into assuming ownership, so making sure you can budget your time is key.</p><h4>1851: What do you do in your personal time?</h4><p>Phillip and Vanessa: Before the pandemic, we loved traveling and would go on four trips a year with our seven-year-old and two-year-old sons. We often visit Kansas City, as we have some family out there. For now, we love getting out and exploring as much as we can. From pumpkin patches to farms, we just love getting out and spending time together.</p><h4>&nbsp;</h4><h4>ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING, LLC</h4><p>With more than 40 years of experience and more than 750 points of presence throughout North America, 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. For more information, visit www.SylvanLearning.com or <a href="http://sylvanlearning.com/blog.?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-vanessa-and-phillip-ross-sylvan-learning-springfield-il-2714579" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>SylvanLearning.com/blog.</u></a></p>

The Great Franchisee: Vanessa and Phillip Ross, Sylvan Learning, Springfield, IL

1851 Franchise

How the new franchisees saved their local Sylvan Learning center.

the-great-franchisee-vanessa-and-phillip-ross-sylvan-learning-springfield-il

Mainland

Mainland Secures Nearly $10 Million in Media Value for Franchise Clients in Early 2025

mainland-secures-nearly-10-million-in-media-value-for-franchise-clients-in-early-2025

Mathnasium

How These Arizona Mathnasium Learning Centers Franchisees Expanded to 10 Locations 

how-these-arizona-mathnasium-learning-centers-franchisees-expanded-to-10-locations

BoConcept

BoConcept - Home Furnishing Franchise Agg - Santiago Sideboard - 1851 Franchise

Home Furnishings Business: BoConcept Introduces Santiago Sideboard by Morten Georgsen

home-furnishings-business-boconcept-introduces-santiago-sideboard-by-morten-georgsen

BooXkeeping

BooXkeeping Franchise Expands to Seminole County, Florida, with New Franchisee Ross Duhaime

booxkeeping-franchise-expands-to-seminole-county-florida-with-new-franchisee-ross-duhaime

Sylvan Learning

How Sylvan Learning Positions Franchisees for Institutional Partnership Success

how-sylvan-learning-positions-franchisees-for-institutional-partnership-success

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 Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

Login

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Hooters - Bankruptcy Chapter 11 - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Prepares for Bankruptcy Amid Financial Struggles

hooters-prepares-for-bankruptcy-amid-financial-struggles

Burger King’s Parent Company Restructures Operations in China and the U.S. To Drive Growth

burger-kings-parent-company-restructures-operations-in-china-and-the-us-to-drive-growth

Papa Johns Faces Potential Takeover as Turnaround Efforts Continue

papa-johns-faces-potential-takeover-as-turnaround-efforts-continue

1851 Agg - McDonald's Sales Decline Expansion Continues - 1851 Franchise

McDonald’s Franchisees Feel the Pressure as Sales Decline and Expansion Continues

mcdonalds-franchisees-feel-the-pressure-as-sales-decline-and-expansion-continues

Restaurant Industry Set to Hit $1.5 Trillion in Sales in 2025 Despite Economic Pressures

restaurant-industry-set-to-hit-15-trillion-in-sales-in-2025-despite-economic-pressures

Franchisee spotlight featuring Ian and Dick Rydholm with gradient blue background and Sylvan logo

Ian and Dick Rydholm Celebrate 30 Years of Transforming Lives Through Sylvan Learning in El Paso, Texas

ian-and-dick-rydholm-celebrate-30-years-of-transforming-lives-through-sylvan

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Domonique Downing - Big Frog Franchise - Fayetteville, GA - 1851 Franchise

Coca-Cola Scientist Finds Path to Autonomy with Big Frog Franchise in Fayetteville, Georgia

big-frog-franchise-fayetteville-georgia

Health Care Professional in the Non-Profit Space Brings TruBlue to North Pittsburgh

health-care-professional-in-the-non-profit-space-brings-trublue-to-north-pittsburgh

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

DOJ FTC Antitrust Guidelines - Franchise News - 1851 Franchise

DOJ and FTC Issue New Antitrust Guidelines with Implications for Franchising

doj-and-ftc-issue-new-antitrust-guidelines-with-implications-for-franchising

The Great Franchisee: Vanessa and Phillip Ross, Sylvan Learning, Springfield, IL

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS