FRANCHISEE IN ACTION: Skyhawks
Sibling Ownership Team Brings Youth Sports Franchise to New Orleans When Hurricane Ida made landfall last August, lives were upended again for the residents of New Orleans. But a trio of local siblings would not be deterred from their dream of opening a Skyhawks Sports Academy franchise, operating sports camps for the youth of their community.
With teamwork, persistence, and creativity, they opened Skyhawks just weeks after the storm swept through the area. William Berry is a natural fit for the franchise. A lifelong sports and fitness enthusiast, he studied Sports Administration and Business at LSU and worked in the offices of both NBA and NFL teams. As William prepared to graduate with an Executive MBA, he and his sisters wanted to find a franchise opportunity they could work on together and serve the youth of New Orleans. They knew they didn’t want to be tied to a storefront or have a product to sell. After researching several franchise opportunities, they discovered Skyhawks Sports. They considered it an ideal fit for their goal of operating a home-based business with the potential for profitability while also filling a need in their community. Skyhawks Sports Academyis the nation’s leading youth sports franchise. The camps, after-school programs, classes, and leagues offer 4–12-year-olds a chance to hone their athletic ability, social skills, learn teamwork, and have fun. SuperTots offers classes and enrichment programs for little ones 18 months to 5 years, preparing them for participation in Skyhawks as they grow. While William had the background in sports and is the face of the company, the sisters bring their own set of skills to round out the team. Catherine Barry Fabre is a CPA and stay-at-home mom, making her responsible for the business’s finances. Caroline Barry has expertise as a startup specialist. She is currently involved in an assisted living business and other consulting opportunities while handling the marketing and social media end of the Skyhawks franchise. The siblings signed on as Skyhawks franchisees in early August of 2021 with plans to offer youth sports programs as soon as fall, but Hurricane Ida hit three weeks later. The Barry family had to scramble to keep their dream alive. The impact of Ida disrupted the lives of New Orleans residents, damaging infrastructure, closing businesses and
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