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. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Jun 10

    Why Franchise Leaders Struggle to Get Franchisee Buy-In w/ Joel Worthington

    Most franchise leaders think franchisees resist the system itself, but the real issue is often a lack of buy-in from the beginning.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Joel Worthington, former president of Mr. Electric, to unpack why franchisee buy-in is one of the hardest things for leaders to create and why communication is often the missing piece. After spending 16 years as a pastor before stepping into franchising, Joel shares how leadership, trust, communication, and curiosity shape the way franchisees respond to change  This conversation goes far beyond communication tactics. Joel breaks down why leaders often move too quickly into problem-solving, how curiosity creates better conversations, and why compliance alone is never enough and why franchisees are far more likely to buy into systems they feel connected to rather than systems they feel forced into. He also shares the GUIDE leadership framework he used while leading more than 200 franchise locations and explains how better communication helped transform culture, trust, and performance across the brand. We also dive into the leadership mistakes that quietly create resistance, why compliance alone is never enough, and how strong franchise systems still fail when leaders don’t know how to create emotional buy-in from their people. So, if you’ve ever wondered why franchisees push back, resist change, or fail to fully engage with the system, this episode will completely change the way you think about leadership in franchising. Connect with Joel: Website: https://www.joelworthington.com/ Episode Highlights: Joel’s transition from pastor to franchise leaderWhy franchising and pastoring are more similar than people thinkThe communication mistakes most leaders makeWhy franchisees resist systems and processesHow to create buy-in instead of complianceJoel’s GUIDE leadership frameworkWhy leaders solve problems too quicklyThe role trust plays in franchise growthHow curiosity changes difficult conversationsWhy leadership development drives long-term growth 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. May 27

    The Disconnect Slowing Franchise Growth w/ Lorne Fisher

    Most franchise brands don’t have a growth problem. They have a disconnect problem. You can have strong marketing, a solid development team, and still struggle to scale if those pieces aren’t working together. And for many franchisors, that misalignment between marketing and franchise development is the exact thing slowing growth without them realizing it.  In this episode, we sit down with Lorne Fisher, founder of Fish Consulting and F2 Advisory, to break down what’s actually behind that disconnect. From starting his agency with no clients to landing Dunkin after months of persistence, Lorne shares how his experience working with some of the most recognizable franchise brands shaped the way he thinks about growth, positioning, and strategy.  We also get into what this looks like in real time. From crisis situations to FDD changes, Lorne explains how breakdowns inside an organization, not external factors, are often what create the biggest problems. He shares why poor communication turns small issues into larger ones and how transparency can either strengthen a system or quietly erode it over time.  So, if your brand isn’t growing the way you expected, this episode will help you see where the disconnect is happening and what needs to change to move forward. Resources: Don’t Let Your FDD Renewal Trigger a Crisis - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dont-let-your-fdd-renewal-trigger-crisis-lorne-fisher-cfe-aedcc/?trackingId=U8mQe2BdSzarEQx8o1X3Cg%3D%3D Connect with Lorne: LinkedIn: @lorne-fisher-cfe Website: https://www.lornefisher.com/ Episode Highlights: How Lorne Fisher built built his agency into one of the leading public relations and marketing agencies serving franchise and multi-location brands The role PR plays in franchise development and lead generationWhy marketing and franchise development are often disconnectedWhat high-growth franchise brands do differentlyThe biggest mistakes franchisors make during times of changeWhy poor communication turns into internal crisesHow to prepare your brand for crisis situations before they happenThe importance of transparency with franchiseesWhat franchisors should consider before making FDD changesHow to approach agency selection and strategic partnership 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. May 13

    The Trust Gap Costing Your Franchise Growth w/ Michelle Rowan

    You can have the right systems, the right strategy, and still struggle to grow if your franchisees don’t trust you.  Today on the podcast we have Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review, to share what’s really driving growth behind the scenes of high-performing franchise systems. From building the company as employee number one to analyzing data from thousands of franchisees, Michelle shares what actually separates brands that scale from those that stall. This conversation centers on one critical factor most leaders underestimate: trust. Michelle breaks down why trust is the strongest predictor of franchise growth, how a lack of alignment creates friction across operations and development, and why franchisees ultimately influence whether new deals move forward or fall apart through validation and real-world experience. We also dive into the role of transparency, how feedback should actually be used, and what leaders need to understand about the real experience inside their systems. So, if your franchise isn’t growing the way you expected, this episode will challenge you to look beyond strategy and take a hard look at the trust you’ve built with the people closest to your brand. Connect with Michelle: Franchise Business Review - https://franchisebusinessreview.com/ LinkedIn - @michellemonroerowan Resources: Auspicious Owl Group - https://www.auspiciousowlgroup.com/ Episode Highlights: Why trust is the #1 driver of franchise growthWhat happens when franchisees don’t buy into leadership decisionsThe hidden cost of ignoring franchisee feedbackHow franchisees influence development and deal flowWhy transparency matters more than polished messagingThe shift from command-and-control to collaboration in franchisingHow to use feedback as a roadmap instead of avoiding itWhat strong franchise brands consistently do differently 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. Apr 29

    Taking Over a Franchise Legacy Is Harder Than You Think w/ Anne Huntington Sharma

    Stepping into a company your parents built sounds like a natural transition. It’s not. In this episode, Tracy and Shannon sit down with Anne Huntington Sharma, CEO and President of Huntington Learning Center, to talk about what it actually looks like to lead a nearly 50-year-old franchise brand into its next chapter. From growing up in the business to building experience outside of it, Anne shares what it took to step into leadership, earn credibility, and navigate the reality of leading a system where trust isn’t automatic.  This conversation goes beyond leadership titles. Anne breaks down what it means to act as a steward of a legacy brand while still pushing it forward, from leading through COVID and driving a system-wide shift online to managing large-scale innovation across hundreds of franchise locations. She also shares how Huntington is investing in the future, including building custom curriculum powered by both AI and human expertise, and what it takes to roll out change in a way franchisees will actually adopt. They also get into the parts most people don’t talk about, balancing family dynamics inside a business, making long-term decisions while franchisees are focused on today, and why consistency, communication, and local community presence still matter more than ever. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to lead, evolve, and protect a legacy brand at the same time, this episode will give you a much clearer picture. So if you’re building, leading, or stepping into something bigger than you, this is the episode to listen to. Resources: Business conference: https://chiefexecutive.net/ Connect with Anne: Website: https://huntingtonhelps.com/ Franchise Info: https://huntingtonfranchise.com/ Phone: 1-800-CAN-LEARN LinkedIn: @anne-huntington-sharma Episode Highlights: Growing up inside a franchise system and what that actually looks likeThe decision to work outside the family business firstThe moment that led Anne to join Huntington full-timeNavigating leadership as the founder’s daughterLeading through COVID and system-wide changeHow to introduce innovation in a legacy franchise systemThe role of trust, consistency, and communication in leadershipWhy local marketing still drives franchise successBuilding credibility with franchisees over timeWhat franchisees need from leadership today 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 (60)

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
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast

You Might Also Like