The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast

Franchise Consultant and Franchise Coach - Tracy Panase and Shannon Wilburn
  • 5.0 (32)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to "The Franchise Leaders Forum," the ultimate podcast for entrepreneurs navigating the intricate world of franchising, brought to you by industry veterans Tracy Panase and Shannon Wilburn. This podcast is your go-to resource for franchise leadership insights, practical strategies to build and scale your franchise, and firsthand experiences from those who live and breathe franchising every day. Leading the conversation is Tracy Panase, the dynamic force behind the Just Between Friends Franchise System. Tracy, who previously excelled as a top franchisee, took over the leadership reins in December 2022. Under her guidance, the brand is reaching new heights, emphasizing a strong culture, supporting franchisees, and ensuring families across the country can say “YES” to everything their kiddos need and want. Her fresh perspective and unwavering commitment to excellence make her a formidable voice in the franchising community. By her side is Shannon Wilburn, the visionary co-founder of Just Between Friends. Starting from a simple idea in her living room in 1997, Shannon grew the company into a thriving network of over 150 locations. Her decision to pass the leadership to Tracy has infused the company with new energy and direction, and together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the podcast. In "The Franchise Leaders Forum," Tracy and Shannon dive deep into the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly aspects of franchising. Each episode features candid discussions, expert interviews, and real-life stories from successful franchise leaders who have faced and overcome challenges. Listeners will gain valuable insights into effective leadership, growth strategies, and the nuances of franchise operations. Whether you're a franchisor, franchisee, or aspiring to enter the franchising world, this podcast addresses the pain points and challenges you face. From understanding franchise dynamics to learning how to support and grow your franchisees, Tracy and Shannon provide actionable advice and inspiration.  Tune in to learn from the experiences of others, gain new perspectives, and equip yourself with the tools to navigate your franchising journey with confidence. Join us on "The Franchise Leaders Forum" and become part of a community dedicated to leadership, growth, and success in franchising. This podcast will provide answers to questions and topics like:  Tips for Franchisees, Franchisors and vendor partnersHow to scale a franchise businessWhy is leadership important in franchising?How do I grow my franchise business?What are the trends in franchising?What is the challenge of franchising?How do I get involved in a franchise business?Franchise success storiesFranchise marketing strategies

  1. 3d ago

    How to Grow a Franchise Without Losing Franchisee Trust w/ Kim Gubera

    Franchise growth isn’t sustainable if your franchisees don’t trust the people leading it. As a franchise grows, maintaining that trust becomes more complicated. Leaders have to navigate difficult feedback, changing expectations and sometimes major transitions without losing the confidence of the franchise owners they’re asking to grow alongside them. In this episode, Kim Gubera shares how listening to franchisees, following through on promises and consistently communicating have helped strengthen trust across the PIRTEK system. She also takes us behind the scenes of leading franchisees through a major ownership transition, why strong culture matters for sustainable growth and what she believes really makes a successful franchise owner. Kim brings more than 20 years of franchising experience to her role as President and CEO of PIRTEK USA. She joined PIRTEK in 2016 and stepped into the CEO role in 2019. Under her leadership, PIRTEK has grown its unit count by more than 92% in the past five years while building a culture centered on mutual trust and respect.  Connect with Kim:  PIRTEK USA: https://www.pirtekusa.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-gubera-12850513/ Resources: A CEO Only Does Three Things by Trey Taylor Episode Highlights: Kim’s path from accounting and finance to franchise CEOThe role mentorship played in her franchise careerLeading a technical franchise without being the technical expertWhat really makes a successful franchise ownerUsing franchisee feedback to strengthen cultureBuilding mutual trust and respect with franchiseesWhy following through on promises mattersMaintaining franchisee confidence through an ownership transitionWhy culture is essential for sustainable franchise growthWomen succeeding in a traditionally male-dominated industry  Connect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/        JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

  2. Sep 16

    How to Build a Franchise That Gets Stronger as It Grows w/ Meg Roberts

    Growth doesn't automatically make a franchise stronger. What you build behind that growth does. After more than two decades in franchising, Meg Roberts has seen what it takes to grow brands at every stage. Today, as CEO of Head to Toe Brands, she leads a multi-brand beauty platform with more than 200 locations. In this episode, Meg shares why strong franchisee relationships, the right support systems, and a team you can trust become even more important as a brand grows. She also gets candid about the realities emerging franchisors often underestimate, from the time and capital required to scale to the increasing demands placed on leadership. Meg also takes us behind the scenes of multi-brand growth and explains why adding brands only works when franchisees can see and feel the value. Sustainable franchise growth isn't just about adding more locations. It's about building an organization that can support them. Connect with Meg: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megroberts73/ Email: meg.roberts@httbrands.com Head to Toes: https://httbrands.com/ Resources: Know Your Value by Mika Brzezinski  How Radical Transparency Turned a Franchise Around w/ Dustin Hansen -  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369319/episodes/16165725-how-radical-transparency-turned-a-franchise-around-w-dustin-hansen Episode Highlights: Building a franchise that gets stronger as it growsWhy people and relationships drive franchise successCreating the right balance between franchisee input and leadershipWhen and how to establish a franchise advisory councilThe realities emerging franchisors often underestimateBuilding a team that can support franchise growthScaling from a single brand to a multi-brand platformDelivering real value as a franchise organization growsLeading with confidence through growth and change Connect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/        JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

  3. Sep 2

    What It Really Takes to Lead a Fast-Growing Franchise w/ Doug Flaig

    Growing a franchise quickly is one thing. Leading it through that growth is another.  Doug Flaig knows what rapid franchise growth looks like. As CEO of Stratus Clean, he has helped lead the brand through record-breaking expansion, growing to more than 5,000 unit franchisees and earning recognition as Entrepreneur’s fastest-growing franchise for four consecutive years. But as Doug shares in this episode, scaling a franchise successfully takes much more than selling more units. Doug joins Tracy and Shannon to talk about the franchise leadership behind that growth, from choosing the right franchisees and building scalable systems to strengthening communication and supporting franchisee success. He also shares why great franchise leaders need to lead through influence rather than authority, how Stratus knows when it’s time to tap the brakes on growth, and the lessons more than 30 years in franchising have taught him about building a strong franchise system.  Connect with Doug: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougflaig/ Website: https://www.stratusclean.com/ Resource: Leadership and Self-Deception - The Arbinger Institute Episode Highlights: Leading through rapid franchise growthWhy influence matters in franchise leadershipThe Stratus Clean three-tier franchise modelChoosing the right franchisees for your systemSales training and technology at scaleBuilding systems that support franchise growthCommunication and transparency with franchiseesKnowing when to slow down growthPeer-to-peer learning and franchisee mentorshipThe importance of mentorship in franchising Connect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/        JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

  4. Aug 19

    Your Franchise Is Making Money. But Is It Profitable? w/ Rod Bristol

    You can have money in the bank and still have no idea whether your franchise is actually profitable. For many franchise owners, financial literacy isn't something they learned before going into business or during onboarding. They may know their revenue, watch their bank balance, and have a bookkeeper handling the numbers, but that doesn't necessarily mean they understand what their P&L is telling them or how to use that information to spot problems early instead of reacting after it's too late.  In this episode, leading financial educator and Certified Franchise Executive, and creator of the Profitability Playbook, Rod Bristol shares what he's learned from decades of helping franchise owners understand the numbers behind their businesses. Rod explains why making money doesn't always mean your business is profitable, the four ways every business can improve profitability, and why understanding concepts like break-even and contribution margin, alongside healthy cash flow management, can completely change the way an owner operates their business. Rod also shares why financial education should begin during franchisee onboarding, what franchisors can learn by looking closely at unit-level profitability, and the simple monthly habit he sees among the most profitable business owners. You'll also hear the story of franchisees who went from struggling with profitability to operating five million-dollar locations, and why Rod believes understanding your numbers gives you the ability to make better decisions, grow intentionally, and build a more valuable business. Connect with Rod: Email: Rodbristol@icloud.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-bristol-cfe-a72167163/ Text/Call: 206-742-3443 Rod’s Book Recommendations: The Martian by Andy Weir Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Episode Highlights: Why revenue doesn't always equal profitabilityUnderstanding your P&L and financial statementsWhy financial literacy should start during onboardingThe importance of franchisee unit economicsWhen poor profitability signals a broken franchise modelThe four ways to improve profitabilityUsing break-even and contribution margin to make decisionsWhy franchisors need to focus beyond the top lineThe monthly financial habit of profitable ownersMaking proactive decisions before financial problems grow  Resources: Leadership Lessons from Jo Kirchner on Perfection, Progress & Community - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369319/episodes/15909664-leadership-lessons-from-jo-kirchner-on-perfection-progress-and-community Leading with Passion, Purpose & Loyalty w/ Paul Pickett - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369319/episodes/17267486-leading-with-passion-purpose-loyalty-w-paul-pickett          Connect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/        JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

  5. Aug 5

    Why Engaged Franchisees Outperform Everyone Else w/ Barb Moran

    What separates the highest-performing franchisees from everyone else? Barb Moran believes it starts with something many leaders don't measure closely enough: franchisee engagement.  Many franchisors focus on growing their systems, but long-term success depends on something far less obvious: building franchisees who are fully engaged in the business and invested in the success of the entire brand. In this episode, Barb Moran, CEO of Moran Family of Brands, shares why engagement has become one of the strongest predictors of profitability inside her organization and how intentionally building the right culture helps franchisees embrace change, collaborate with one another, and build stronger businesses. Barb also reflects on her journey from being told she would never lead her family's company because she was a woman to ultimately becoming CEO and expanding the business into Canada. Along the way, she shares practical lessons on succession planning, building core values that shape everyday decisions, creating meaningful collaboration between franchisees, and helping owners become active contributors to the success of the entire system. Whether you're launching a franchise brand or leading an established system, this conversation offers practical strategies for building stronger franchise relationships, increasing engagement, and creating sustainable, long-term growth. Connect with Barb: Email: BMoran@moranbrands.com Website: https://moranfamilyofbrands.com/ Episode Highlights: Why franchisee engagement drives profitabilityMeasuring franchisee engagement and accountabilityBuilding a franchise culture around the DRIVE core valuesCreating collaboration through peer groups and town hallsGrowing up in the family business and becoming CEOBuying the family business and navigating successionEmbracing AI and technology as opportunities for growthExpanding Moran Family of Brands into CanadaPreserving culture during acquisitions and growthLeadership advice for both franchisors and franchisees Connect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/        JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

  6. Jul 22

    Why Franchisee Success Should Come Before Franchise Growth w/ Amrit Dhaliwal

    Every franchisor dreams of selling more territories. Few stop to ask whether they're building a franchise system their franchisees can actually succeed in. Every emerging franchisor wants to grow their brand, expand into new markets, and welcome new franchisees. But growth without the right systems, support, and profitability can create problems that are much harder to fix later. In this episode, Amrit Dhaliwal shares why he's intentionally choosing slower, more sustainable growth while building a rapidly growing home care franchise brand in the UK. After starting as a franchisee with no industry experience, he learned firsthand how mentorship, strong systems, and putting franchisees first can make all the difference. You'll also hear why franchisee profitability should come before franchise growth, how a learner's mindset has shaped his leadership, and why the strongest franchise brands measure success by the impact they create, not simply the number of locations they open. Amrit Dhaliwal is CEO and founder of Walfinch, one of the UK’s fastest-growing home care franchise networks with 30+ territories nationwide. A former franchisee turned franchisor, he’s the author of Time to Thrive: The Home Care Revolution and host of the Walking With Walfinch podcast. Amrit has been named in the Social Care Top 30 and recognised as Emerging Franchisor of the Year. So, if you're ready to build a stronger franchise by putting franchisee success before franchise growth, this episode is for you. Connect with Amrit:  Franchise opportunities: https://walfinchfranchising.com Home care services: https://walfinch.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/amrit-dhaliwal-a436445b Episode Highlights: Why franchisee success should come before franchise growthBuilding a sustainable franchise through intentional growthLessons learned from becoming a franchisee with no industry experienceHow mentorship shaped Amrit's leadership journeyMeasuring franchise success by impact, not unit count Why curiosity and continuous learning make better franchise leadersBalancing entrepreneurship, family, and long-term successThe power of putting people before profits Connect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/        JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

  7. Jul 8

    How to Scale Without Losing Your Brand Identity w/ Shana Krisan

    What happens when your franchise grows faster than the systems designed to support it? Many brands dream about expansion, but growth creates a new challenge: maintaining the consistency, culture, and customer experience that made people fall in love with the brand in the first place. As locations multiply, leaders must find ways to support franchisees, protect the brand, and adapt to changing customer expectations without losing what made the business successful. In this episode, Goldfish Swim School Chief Marketing Officer Shana Krisan shares what she's learned helping grow the brand from just 12 locations to more than 200 across the United States and Canada. She explains how strong systems, clear brand standards, local marketing support, and franchisee collaboration have helped Goldfish scale while staying true to its mission and customer experience. Shana also opens up about leadership, hiring, authenticity, franchisee relationships, and the mission-driven culture that has helped Goldfish continue to grow while staying true to its purpose. She shares why building the right team is often more important than finding the latest marketing tactic and how strong partnerships, collaboration, and a clear mission have helped the brand scale without losing what makes it special.  Whether you're leading a franchise system, growing a multi-location business, or building a team that can scale with you, this conversation offers practical insights on growing without losing the identity that made your brand successful in the first place.  Connect with Shana: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shana-krisan-cfe-1a20581b/ Email: shana@goldfishfranchise.com Website: https://goldfishswimschool.com/ Episode Highlights:How Shana found her way into franchising Growing Goldfish Swim School from 12 to 208 locationsMaintaining brand consistency during rapid growthSupporting franchisees through systems and playbooksThe balance between national and local marketingHiring the right people as your organization scalesLearning from franchisee innovationBuilding strong industry relationships and collaboration Leading with authenticity and self-awarenessScaling a brand without losing its identity Connect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/        JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

  8. Jun 24

    From a $200K Territory to a $537M Brand w/ Jennifer Lemcke

    Jennifer Lemcke will tell you that the best thing she ever did before leading a franchise brand was spending a full year working inside one first. Learning every role from the ground up before she ever stepped into leadership is what eventually took her from General Manager of a single Ottawa territory doing $200,000 in system sales to CEO of a $537.3 million brand. In today's episode, we sit down with Jennifer Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man and Turf Holdings, to talk about what it actually looks like to grow a franchise brand from the inside out. Jennifer started as a manager trainee in 1992, worked every position in the business, and eventually grew the Ottawa territory from $200,000 to $2 million in system sales in five years. From there, she helped launch Weed Man in the United States, and in 2018, acquired the worldwide rights to the brand. Today she's overseeing a $537.3 million system across North America and the UK. If you've been in franchising for any amount of time, you're going to recognize yourself somewhere in this conversation. Jennifer talks about what she learned from working every single job in the business before she ever ran it, how she brought Canadian franchisees on board after an unexpected acquisition announcement, and why relationships are still the most important thing in a franchise system even as technology moves faster than most leaders can plan for. She's also honest about the juggling act of building something this big while raising three kids, and what she'd tell her younger self about grace, guilt, and the things that turned out okay in the end. If you're building something big and trying to figure out how to grow without losing the people and the culture that got you there, this episode is going to hit close to home.  Connect with Jennifer: Email: jennifer.lemcke@weedman.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlemcke/?originalSubdomain=ca Episode Highlights: Jennifer's origin story and what made her say yes to the family businessWhat she learned from working every role in the business before leading itHow she grew the Ottawa territory from $200K to $2M in system sales in five yearsWhy trusting the process is the first thing she tells every new franchiseeThe moment she knew Weed Man was bigger than one territoryHow she helped launch Weed Man in the US and eventually acquired the worldwide rightsThe technology evolution from 1999 to today and what digital transformation really costsWhy communication is the first thing to slip when leaders are heads down buildingHow she got franchisees to buy in after an unplanned acquisition announcementWhat her team of 20-year loyalists says about the culture she's builtThe juggling act of being a CEO and a mom and why balance isn't the right word for itWhat she'd tell her younger self about grace, guilt, and grown kids who turn out just fine Connect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/        JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

See All (64)

Trailer

5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Welcome to "The Franchise Leaders Forum," the ultimate podcast for entrepreneurs navigating the intricate world of franchising, brought to you by industry veterans Tracy Panase and Shannon Wilburn. This podcast is your go-to resource for franchise leadership insights, practical strategies to build and scale your franchise, and firsthand experiences from those who live and breathe franchising every day. Leading the conversation is Tracy Panase, the dynamic force behind the Just Between Friends Franchise System. Tracy, who previously excelled as a top franchisee, took over the leadership reins in December 2022. Under her guidance, the brand is reaching new heights, emphasizing a strong culture, supporting franchisees, and ensuring families across the country can say “YES” to everything their kiddos need and want. Her fresh perspective and unwavering commitment to excellence make her a formidable voice in the franchising community. By her side is Shannon Wilburn, the visionary co-founder of Just Between Friends. Starting from a simple idea in her living room in 1997, Shannon grew the company into a thriving network of over 150 locations. Her decision to pass the leadership to Tracy has infused the company with new energy and direction, and together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the podcast. In "The Franchise Leaders Forum," Tracy and Shannon dive deep into the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly aspects of franchising. Each episode features candid discussions, expert interviews, and real-life stories from successful franchise leaders who have faced and overcome challenges. Listeners will gain valuable insights into effective leadership, growth strategies, and the nuances of franchise operations. Whether you're a franchisor, franchisee, or aspiring to enter the franchising world, this podcast addresses the pain points and challenges you face. From understanding franchise dynamics to learning how to support and grow your franchisees, Tracy and Shannon provide actionable advice and inspiration.  Tune in to learn from the experiences of others, gain new perspectives, and equip yourself with the tools to navigate your franchising journey with confidence. Join us on "The Franchise Leaders Forum" and become part of a community dedicated to leadership, growth, and success in franchising. This podcast will provide answers to questions and topics like:  Tips for Franchisees, Franchisors and vendor partnersHow to scale a franchise businessWhy is leadership important in franchising?How do I grow my franchise business?What are the trends in franchising?What is the challenge of franchising?How do I get involved in a franchise business?Franchise success storiesFranchise marketing strategies

Information

  • Creator
    Franchise Consultant and Franchise Coach - Tracy Panase and Shannon Wilburn
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast

You Might Also Like