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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-keeler-944728187/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-darren-keeler-vp-of-marketing-and-creative-at-shuckin-shack-2716825" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Darren Keeler</a> was spinning records as a nighttime Top 40 DJ before switching careers to the franchising industry in 2019. Living in Carolina Beach put him right next to the original <a href="https://shuckinshackfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-darren-keeler-vp-of-marketing-and-creative-at-shuckin-shack-2716825" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Shuckin’ Shack</a>, a family friendly seafood franchise and a place he was already pretty familiar with.&nbsp;A friend of co-founders <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-piccinin-5702ba96/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-darren-keeler-vp-of-marketing-and-creative-at-shuckin-shack-2716825" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Piccinin</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-cook-92b74891/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-darren-keeler-vp-of-marketing-and-creative-at-shuckin-shack-2716825" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sean Cook</a>, Keeler took a job in the Shuckin’ Shack main office, working his way up with innovative marketing strategies. He’s now the vice president of marketing and creative for Shuckin’ Shack Franchising.&nbsp;“I saw myself in this team,” Keeler said. “We all have the same goals, characters and personalities. I saw myself fitting very well into this team, and I just took a dive.”When it comes to the franchising industry’s resilience during the pandemic, Keeler said he’s impressed.&nbsp;“The industry is innovating itself,” he said. “We thought during the pandemic things were going to be at a standstill, but that’s just not the case. Innovations have happened really quickly in the last two years.”Watch the full interview with Keeler above, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onn0XIOh_00&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-darren-keeler-vp-of-marketing-and-creative-at-shuckin-shack-2716825" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here to watch it on YouTube</a>.

Young Ones to Watch: Darren Keeler, VP of Marketing and Creative at Shuckin’ Shack

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Keeler offers this advice to anyone thinking about getting into franchising: “Operate your business like a speedboat instead of a barge. If you’re going down the water in a barge, it takes you a while to turn. If you’re operating like a speedboat, you can turn on a dime.”

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Young Ones to Watch: Darren Keeler, VP of Marketing and Creative at Shuckin’ Shack

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