VETERANS IN FRANCHISING NOVEMBER 2019

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Veterans in Franchising november 2019

www.franchisingusamagazine.com

Navy Veteran Turned

StretchLab Franchisee

Why Veterans and Franchisees Make a Perfect Pair 4 Tips for Attracting and Retaining Military Veterans in Your Franchise Franchising USA

Leadership.

Teamwork.

Executing SOPs. Connecting veterans with education, resources and opportunities at vetfran.org

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V e t e r a n s i n F r a n c h i s i n g S u ppl e m e n t november 2019 Our Veterans in Franchising special supplement has become a regular feature of Franchising USA. To share your story in the next issue, please contact Vikki Bradbury, Publisher Phone: 778 426 2446 Email: vikki@cgbpublishing.com

Contents On the Cover

Veterans Profile

48 Navy Veteran Turned StretchLab Franchisee

52 School of Rock

50 Why Veterans and Franchisees Make a

Perfect Pair

54 Golden Corral

56 4 Tips for Attracting and Retaining Military

Veterans in Your Franchise

60 Creative Colors International Inc.

Veteran News 46 Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream Serving Up Scoops for Troops

58 FirstLight Home Care

Veteran Expert Advice 50 Why Veterans and Franchisees Make

a Perfect Pair Michael Mastous, Founder & President, Delta Restoration

Services

56 4 Tips for Attracting and Retaining Military

Veterans in Your Franchise Jesse Johnstone, President, Fibrenew

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Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream Serving Up Scoops for Troops

Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream, a South Floridabased franchise will be offering a free small ice-cream with two mix-N’s to any active, retired or former United States. Military veterans with a valid ID on Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11.

“Our Chill-N family appreciates the men and women of our armed forces, and it’s our privilege to honor our veterans who have put their lives on the line to protect and serve our nation,” said David Leonardo, CEO of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream.

Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream is a revolutionary ice cream experience. Founded by Daniel Golik in 2012, Chill-N is one of the first liquid nitrogen ice cream concepts and features individual servings of ice cream which are flash frozen right before the customer’s eyes with liquid nitrogen using the brand’s proprietary software and hardware which allows for consistency and higher production to better serve its customers.

Customers can choose from a variety of rich flavors and Mix-Ns to customize their unique creation.

Traditional ice cream manufacturers produce ice cream in batches of thousands of gallons and dump multiple 5-gallon pails of “base flavoring”, an artificially engineered flavoring substance, into each batch. A Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream batch is only 6 or 8 ounces and uses raw inputs as flavoring, on demand. Chill-N freezes and flavors every serving as it’s ordered, right in front of each and every customer. The brand uses real Nutella, real peanut butter, real Dulce de Leche and offers dairy free and vegan options with its coconut milk base.

Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream currently has 8 locations throughout South Florida and recently announced the launch of their franchising program, focusing on expansion throughout the Southeast.

For more information, visit https://www.chillnicecream.com/franchising.

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V e t er a ns i n Fr a nch isi ng

veteran news

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V e t erans in Franch ising

cover story: StretchLab

Navy Veterans, Civilians and the StretchLab Franchise – All in the Same Boat

Navy Veteran Turned StretchLab Franchisee

climbing a mountain for service members or civilians to be aware of this service, much less have access to it.”

Kim points out assisted stretching is rarely offered by the VA and traditional medical doctors, unless prescribed. Even then, more siloed MDs or chiropractors only sometimes offer a similar service but usually for only four-to-six weeks, until the prescription is no longer covered by insurance. “The older Veteran community needs StretchLab’s benefits like increased range of motion and reduced muscle and joint pain. So many Marines and SEALs trained like athletes in their 20s and 30s, they need to preserve their bodies now more than ever.”

“In the Navy, we literally and figuratively jump right in,” said Janeth Kim, a 24year orthopedic surgery Navy Veteran and new StretchLab franchisee in San Diego. “We learn to quickly operate procedures and execute plans without questioning every decision.”

Kim, StretchLab’s newest franchisee whose assisted-stretching wellness studio opens this month, already recognizes the parallel mindset that’ll transfer from her service experience to franchise ownership.

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“To succeed in business after service, Veterans need a supportive community with a knowledgeable peer network. In this regard, we strive to all be ‘in the same boat,’ able to help one another alike,” said Kim. “StretchLab’s many franchisees exchange and share best-practice ideas, its ‘veteran’ industry corporate team guides us throughout the process and we’re backed with the proven strategy and blueprint laid out by Xponential Fitness, the largest curator of boutique fitness and wellness brands. All of this enables someone like me to ‘jump right into’ the civilian and business world while being able to stay in the wellness and helping profession I love.”

Assisted Stretching for Naval Personnel and Civilians “After I climbed Mount Fuji, I knew I needed assisted stretching. It shouldn’t take

Having repaired and reconstructed service members’ musculoskeletal injuries like Achilles tendons and pectoral muscles, Kim knows firsthand injuries that could’ve been prevented from proper stretching and recovery. “Years ago, I worked with a corpsman who was training to become a SEAL. He over-trained without necessary assisted stretching and recovery, which was somewhat lesser-known then, and he suffered a popped pec tendon. It dissolved his dream of becoming a SEAL.” Aside from aiding high-intensity or athletic performance, Kim’s quick to note StretchLab’s benefits for most every civilian. Since discharge, Kim finds herself behind a desk and sitting more than during her 24-year Navy career. “Many civilians don’t know assisted-stretching’s benefits to combat a sedentary lifestyle or being stuck in cubicles for hours every day. Also, it relieves the toll taken from long commutes.

We all deserve better posture as well as decreased muscle tension and mental stress.”

StretchLab Helps Service Members Transition According to a study from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism: In 2010, 39 percent of individuals with PTSD used complementary and alternative medicine interventions, including mindbody practices that incorporate stretching movements and postures with breathing (i.e. yoga, tai chi and qigong). Substantial evidence has shown that mind-body interventions have a positive impact on quality of life, reduce stress and improve health outcomes among individuals with PTSD. “We see the star basketball player on TV being stretched at midcourt before an NBA game tip off. It’s unfortunate fewer had access or knew how assisted stretching helped civilians and service members alike. StretchLab is changing this. It has brought assisted stretching to the public for everyone’s benefit. The word’s getting out.”

Veteran Employment in Franchising After Discharge “It’s unfortunate fewer had access or knew how assisted stretching helped civilians and service members alike. StretchLab is changing this. It has brought assisted stretching to the public for everyone’s benefit. The word’s getting out.” - Janeth Kim

San Diego has a big Veteran community.

Close-by Camp Pendleton and 32nd Street Naval Station are just a couple local hubs for service personnel. Kim sees service “recruitment” transferring well to her San Diego StretchLab and the company’s other nationwide locations too. “Xponential Fitness is excited about employing military people, and rightly so, as we’re adept to learn quickly and follow procedures.

A Navy Veteran has experienced so much commitment and has already met demanding expectations.”

Kim and StretchLab nationally are trying to open more doors for potential Veteran franchise owners or employees, because, as Kim mentioned, “You don’t take shifts off in the Navy, and this type of person will thrive in the franchise world, where you hold yourself accountable and jump with both feet in but in the same boat as everyone willing to help.” stretchlab.com

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V e t erans in Franch ising

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V e t erans in Franch ising

expert advice: Michael Mastous | Founder & President | Delta Restoration Services

Why Veterans and Franchisees Make a Perfect Pair

Veterans tend to leave the military with a set of skills that uniquely matches with business ownership, making entrepreneurship a popular post-military career path.

Franchising in particular requires many core qualities that veterans embody due to their experience, such as discipline, dedication, appreciation for processes and systems, and perseverance, making for a smooth transition from one field to the

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“With a mission focused and highly motivated attitude, as well as a team mentality and valuable leadership skills, veterans often make excellent franchisees for several different industries.”

other. In fact, according to Franchise Help, approximately one in seven franchises in the United States are owned by veterans.

To that point, VetFran reported that a

whopping 97% of surveyed franchisors say that veterans make excellent franchisees.

Both veterans looking for their next career path and franchisors looking for qualified

candidates should consider one another for many reasons, including a few of the key points below.

Mission Focused The training gained from a career in the military carries over seamlessly to franchising, equipping veterans to be mission-focused and understand how to succeed with the resources at hand.

Similar to the service, successful business owners work toward “accomplishing a mission,” whether it be their overall goal for their business or meeting and exceeding client expectations on an individual basis.

Veterans are often driven to accomplish

“With franchising simplifying the transition into business ownership for veterans and franchisors finding qualified candidates ready to implement their proven processes, veterans and franchisors have a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Team Mentality Veterans tend to be highly motivated, possess a strong team mentality and understand the qualities it takes to be a leader. When you’re a franchisee, you’re in business for yourself, not by yourself, meaning you have an entire franchise system behind you for support. Franchisors put in time, money and effort in order to provide quality training and operational support to its franchisees, and the training that veterans have gained from the military often further simplifies the franchisee training process.

For example, Delta Restoration Services’ comprehensive training and corporate support team, comprised of the top in the industry experts in the areas of marketing, mitigation, reconstruction, financial, operations and leadership, put our franchise owners in the top one percent of all restoration companies nationwide.

Veterans who invest in Delta Restoration Services often remain a step ahead in the training process by already exceeding expectations of leadership skills, strong team mentality and process-oriented mindset. both smaller tasks as well as focus on a

mission bigger than themselves – to protect our country and its citizens. Franchising also provides the opportunity to be a

part of something bigger than yourself –

whether that be partnering with a nonprofit or gaining exposure for the brand as a

whole – while still being responsible for the success of your own business.

Additionally, military training provides veterans with an understanding of how to break down complexities into easy-

to-understand concepts in order to meet expectations or accomplish a mission

– a mindset that is helpful to gain and maintain loyal customers in business.

Following a process An established franchisor has proven processes in place in order to lead their franchisees to success. It’s important to franchisors that their franchisees follow these processes in order to keep the franchise system running smoothly as a whole. Veterans understand that following procedures and executing proven systems are critical to accomplish a mission – a valuable mindset that is taught in military training. This type of appreciation for proven processes allows veterans to smoothly transition from their military background to business ownership, especially as franchisees. Even in the case that a veteran has no experience in the field he or she is entering, he or she is already

Michael Mastous

on the path to success by possessing the ability to run a business under a tight operating system.

With franchising simplifying the transition into business ownership for veterans and franchisors finding qualified candidates ready to implement their proven processes, veterans and franchisors have a mutually beneficial relationship. Additionally, a number of franchises offer financial incentives to veterans as a way of showing their support to those who have served.

With a mission focused and highly motivated attitude, as well as a team mentality and valuable leadership skills, veterans often make excellent franchisees for several different industries. That’s just a few reasons why veterans and franchises go hand-in-hand.

Michael Mastous is the president and founder of Delta Restoration Services.

Mastous has nearly 30 years of experience in the restoration industry and has played a pivotal role in the success of two franchises. It was with these two firms where Mike first saw the need for a full-service property restoration concept and began planning for what is now the award-winning and fast-growing Delta Restoration Services franchise system.

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V e t era ns i n Fra nch isi ng

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Fro

S o Fra

to a

V e t erans in Franch ising

profile: School of Rock

23 years ago, I was a recent college graduate working in the Public Relations industry in Houston, Texas. Sitting in my office, working for the weekend, I was eager to be a part of something bigger – I wanted to know that what I was doing was making a positive impact.

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My father was a U.S. Navy pilot and Vietnam veteran and my whole life I was surrounded with images and stories of the impact he had made while in the military.

Thus, I always had a good understanding of the Navy and what opportunities were available. It wasn’t hard for me to decide the U.S. Navy was going to be my next career move.

For the next 22 years, I moved 13 times working nine different jobs from a Supply Officer on a Frigate to Director of Operations at a Global Logistics Headquarters. The Navy moved me to Florida, Georgia, California, Rhode

Island, Washington D.C. and three times to Japan. I cataloged an amazing lifetime of experiences and working hard and long I gave my all. My family and I loved the Navy, but after years of travel and deployments, we made the decision to make Chula Vista, California our home and move on to the next phase of our lives.

The Navy really does want you to do well as you transition from the military and provided us with many different resources in that effort. In the midst of that transition, I was very much focused on a new career – one that would still allow me to make a positive impact, while also

om the U.S. Navy

School of Rock anchisee “The military taught me how to both serve and lead people from all different backgrounds, ages and cultures; how to assemble teams, set goals and achieve them; and it also taught me how to utilize proven systems and processes in reaching that success.”

benefiting my family and our community.

That’s when the idea of small business ownership came to mind, but since I had never owned a small business, I wasn’t sure where to start. Franchising was the model to utilize.

Regarding my children’s future: a core belief of mine is that music and the arts are skill sets that humans value in each other, but as technology continues to rapidly alter the landscape of available careers, I believe those skill sets will become even more valuable to us. I was really interested in sending my children to School of Rock, but the closest School of Rock in our area was nearly 45 minutes away (without traffic). Too far for us to drive on a regular, recurring basis and thinking that someone should open a School of Rock franchise in

our area, I thought, “why not me?”

Making the decision to move forward as a Franchise Owner of School of Rock was relatively easy. The brand is solid, the corporate team is superb, the work is fun and good for my family and community.

My next career move and the next phase of our lives was decided.

School of Rock Otay Ranch is slated to open this December 2019, with our Grand Opening scheduled for January 2020. Our goal is to enrich the lives of the community and over 300 students every year.

For the last 22 years I have had the honor and privilege of wearing my country’s colors and being a part of something that provided a significant and positive, worldwide impact. Now as a School of Rock Franchise Owner, I get to continue

providing that positive impact while working for my community here in Chula Vista.

The military taught me how to both serve and lead people from all different backgrounds, ages and cultures; how to assemble teams, set goals and achieve them; and it also taught me how to utilize proven systems and processes in reaching that success. Other veterans and I bring this experienced mindset and these soft skills to the business world, allowing us to continue to add value and a positive impact to our country, family and community. And now I get to ROCK while I do it.

Article written by Mark Sheffield, School of Rock franchisee in Otay Ranch, CA. franchising.schoolofrock.com

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V e t erans in Franch ising

profile: Golden Corral

National Restaurant Chain Supports Summer Camp for Children of Veterans Soccer, rock climbing, time outdoors, and comradery — those are the things that 16-yearold Caleb looks forward to during his week at summer camp in North Springfield, Pennsylvania.

For the past several summers, Caleb has enjoyed the experience with other military children. It’s a time for him to just be a kid and enjoy fun activities that life with an injured military parent doesn’t always allow.

This was Caleb’s last summer at Camp Corral. He’s collected countless memories and friends, and his blankets ensure that the next round of campers will feel an extra layer of support from someone who’s been in their shoes.

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Caleb’s mother, Annemarie, was injured during basic training and now has metal rods in both feet. The injury prevents her from being the active parent she wants to be for Caleb and his older brother and sister. So, Caleb knows first-hand what it means to have a parent living with a

debilitating injury sustained during their service to this country. The time he spends at camp is full of experiences that probably wouldn’t happen for Caleb, or other children of military families, without the help of Camp Corral.

Camp Corral is a nonprofit corporation that provides free, one-of-a-kind summer camp experiences for children of wounded, injured, ill or fallen service members.

Donations come from Golden Corral restaurants and their customers across the country. The donations and a partnership with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) were able to provide $2 million to help fund Camp Corral in 2019. All military children, ages 8 to 15, are eligible to attend the camp, although children of wounded, injured, ill, or fallen service members are given priority registration.

“Camp Corral is a nonprofit corporation that provides free, one-of-a-kind summer camp experiences for children of wounded, injured, ill or fallen service members.”

During camp week, military children come together with a common bond — their family’s proud service to the United States and how it affects their daily lives. But they’re allowed to set aside some of those difficulties and just be kids. They make new friends and participate in canoeing, ropes course challenges, archery, horseback riding, and much more. Trained counselors are also on-site to work with campers who need an extra helping hand.

Camp Corral is proudly supported by Golden Corral, which has a long-standing tradition of helping American veterans.

The company became a founding sponsor of Camp Corral in 2011. Over the years, the national restaurant chain and its guests have provided nearly $13 million to Camp Corral. During that time, Camp Corral has served more than 24,000 children.

In the summer of 2019, donations from Golden Corral restaurants as well as other generous corporate and individual donors provided 21 camp weeks across 17 states. In total, 3,281 children of wounded, injured, ill, or fallen service members were given a unique week-long experience where outside challenges are put on hold and their only mission is to have fun. Caleb was one of those kids.

He comes from a family with a long tradition of serving in the U.S. military.

His uncle was in the Air Force, his

grandfather was in the Army, his grandmother worked in civil service for the Navy, and both of his parents served in the Army. Caleb was so inspired by his time at Camp Corral, he decided to take one of his favorite camp traditions and share it with his community.

Project Linus, a nonprofit organization that provides handmade blankets to children in need, partners with several Camp Corral locations across the country. Caleb has a blanket from each of his summers at Camp Corral, and they serve as daily reminders of his best summer memories and friends.

With the help of his mother, Caleb organized his Boy Scout troop and other volunteers to create 50 blankets for Project Linus. When Caleb and his mother delivered the finished blankets to the Northwestern Pennsylvania chapter of Project Linus, they received a big surprise.

Half of the blankets would be donated to Camp Corral, to help other military children.

This was Caleb’s last summer at Camp Corral. He’s collected countless memories and friends, and his blankets ensure that the next round of campers will feel an extra layer of support from someone who’s been in their shoes.

Golden Corral knows there are more kids like Caleb who would benefit from an experience like Camp Corral, and is dedicated to continuing its support of military families by working to send even more kids to camp in 2020.

To learn more about the positive impact of Camp Corral and to support their efforts to send more military children to camp, please visit www.campcorral.org. www.goldencorral.com

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V e t erans in Franch ising

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V e t erans in Franch ising

expert advice: Jesse Johnstone | President | Fibrenew

Money 4How Tips Much for Attracting and Can Retaining Military I Make?

Veterans in Your Franchise “Ultimately, your franchise needs to invest in the long-term to be a veteranfocused franchise. It takes time, but it is well worth it.”

Military veterans are instrumental to franchising. They have helped hundreds of franchise concepts grow their footprint. A big reason for this is that veterans know what it takes to follow processes and how to execute day in and day out.

Our franchise, along with so many fellow franchisors, strives to create an environment where veterans are welcomed

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and can thrive. Here are the lessons we

have learned for creating an environment conducive to military veterans.

1

Offer veterans an incentive to join your franchise

Many franchises have created specific

incentives to entice veterans to join their franchise family. The most common of

these are discounts off the typical franchise fee, which can save a veteran thousands

of dollars in upfront costs associated with purchasing a franchise.

Other systems might offer special access

to financing options to veterans or provide lower interest loans for veterans who wish to finance some or all of their initial fees.

Incentives like franchise fee discounts will appear in your Franchise Disclosure Document, but highlight them elsewhere; on your website, in brochures, franchise advertising websites and other public areas. It gives a strong baseline for military veterans looking at different franchises and it has the added benefit of showing all your prospects the value you put on military service.

2

Get involved with organizations who are helping veterans advance professionally There are many groups who work closely with the veteran community and franchises. Perhaps the most well known in the franchise space is the International Franchise Association’s VetFran, a group that advocates for military veterans in franchising. But there are plenty of other groups, including Boots to Business, an entrepreneurial education and training program offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Other resources, like the U.S. Department of Defense’s Military OneSource Network, find programs that hire veterans as well. This can be a useful inroad to connect with veterans who could be great employees or future franchise owners.

The key is to make yourself available on a broad number of veteran networks, particularly those connecting veterans with business ownership or employment opportunities.

“Your franchise needs to build a welcoming community for veterans. They need to be given the tools and resources that help them flourish.”

David Underwood in North Carolina, who retired from the Air Force and decided to take his skills and operate one of our franchises in his home state to be closer to family.

Showing current military veteran owners and prospects that you care about their story and that their experiences are of value to your franchise community can go a long way in making them feel welcomed.

Jesse Johnstone

3

Share the stories of your military veterans

Take pride in the veterans in your system — it is a great way to both attract and retain veterans. As an example, we highlighted the story of one of our recent franchisees through an article on our site highlighting his successes in the Air Force. Make it your headline to honor these heroes. Our article, “U.S. Air Force Veteran Finds New Business Opportunity with Fibrenew,” promoted the story of

4

Build a welcoming community that invites them to the table

has been in your system for ten years as a mentor for a new veteran just starting his or her franchise. Or, maybe it means setting up a committee to work on how to attract and retain veterans and including current franchisees in those meetings to share their ideas.

This is just a place to start. Ultimately, your franchise needs to invest in the longterm to be a veteran-focused franchise. It takes time, but it is well worth it.

Which brings us to our last point, probably the most important point of all. Your franchise needs to build a welcoming community for veterans. They need to be given the tools and resources that help them flourish. They need to have a voice in your meetings and conferences. They are an integral part of your franchise and the growth of your system. We have found that veterans can be some of your biggest cheerleaders for the brand, but only if your environment sets them up for success.

Jesse Johnstone is the president of Fibrenew, a completely mobile concept to repair, restore and renew damaged leather, plastic, vinyl, fabric, and upholstery. With more than 250 franchises across the U.S. and Canada, Fibrenew saves customers time and money by offering an alternative to replacement. On-site service is superconvenient and way more economical than having to buy new. As an added benefit, Fibrenew is an eco-friendly business, helping prevent thousands of items from ending up in landfills each year.

Perhaps it means connecting a veteran who

www.fibrenew.com

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V e t erans in Franch ising

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V e t erans in Franch ising

profile: FirstLight Home Care

Military Veteran Leads a New Mission in Home Care

be solved when my boss left, when the company got bought, or when I got promoted. Soon, I thought, I’d be the boss, or I’d be able to make the c-suite decisions, or I’d be able to decide when I got home and when I arrived at the office. This type of thinking led me down twenty years of exhaustion and frustration.

Work can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging and exhausting. It is fulltime, rest-of-your life commitment.

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I’ve been in the workforce for 30 years, and if there’s one thing I wish I would have known when I left the military in 1986, it would have been that franchising is for entrepreneurs not just experts.

In many of my careers, I’ve always thought — frankly, hoped — that whatever difficulty I was having would simply

After leaving the infantry in 1986, I worked as a temp in Los Angeles, as a personal assistant in New York, as a recruiter for Fortune 500 companies, and as a project leader at a New Jersey labeling company. The jobs paid well, and I even found a mentor along the way, but I lacked a sense of mission that I had when I was in the infantry.

Because, as I found, when a veteran leaves the military, they are expected to conform to the norms of civilian life. For us veterans, in the military, everyday meant

“I’ve been in the workforce for 30 years, and if there’s one thing I wish I would have known when I left the military in 1986, it would have been that franchising is for entrepreneurs not just experts.”

another mission, another goal to reach. In civilian life, I found that my everyday work didn’t have a mission, and I was goalless in my career.

In 2012, I was ready to have a mission again, and I decided to attend a job seminar to refocus my career. After the seminar, I talked with a VetFran coach who narrowed down the thousands of franchise opportunities available to veterans to three that fit my work experience and personality.

The franchise I eventually chose was

FirstLight Home Care. Using my leadership skills I gained in the military, I was matched with the home care industry. At the time, I had no idea how I’d locate capital or begin hiring a staff, but VetFran showed me that veteran specific loans are readily available, and that so many franchises offer veteran discounts, mentorship, and support groups.

10 years later, the only regret I have is not seeking out the franchising industry sooner. Today, my mission is to give back to my community and the clients that I serve. I’m active in the VFW in Glen

Rock, my church and other local faith organizations, and as a member of several networking clubs.

But most of all, I hope that I can give back by showing other veterans that franchising is a viable career. As I like to say, even though my uniform is now business casual – a change from camouflage utilities – I still have a mission, and that’s a feeling I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Boyd Lowry is a franchisee of FirstLight Home Care in Glen Rock, NJ www.firstlightfranchise.com

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V e t erans in Franch ising

profile: Creative Colors International Inc.

Air Force Veteran Deploys Military Training to Help Business Soar Air Force veteran Mike McNairy applies strategies and skills learned during his 21-year tenure in the military to take his Creative Colors International Inc. franchise to new heights.

“Franchising is a great transition for a military person,” McNairy said. “You learn about the specific skill, but you also get business background and help with marketing, sales and financial principles.

It is basically an out-of-the-box business, and for someone who served in the military who is good with structure and organization, the model covers all the bases.”

Determination, confidence, teamwork and grace under pressure were attributes McNairy acquired while working with nuclear weapons and monitoring for inbound threats to North America during his career with the United States Air Force. McNairy joined the USAF in 1989 and retired as a lieutenant colonel from Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He held numerous operational positions at the squadron, wing and command levels. He was an instructor at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, where he commissioned more than 100 second lieutenants. McNairy served during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Freedom and was called on duty following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001.

After retiring from the military, McNairy ran a successful auto repair business for approximately eight years. His wife, Lynette, encouraged him to open a CCI franchise in the Denver area.

Lynette McNairy serves as the Chief of Operations and lead technician. McNairy manages the back-office operations at the family-focused company, overseeing personnel, accounting and expansion efforts. “We chose CCI because of the company’s team environment and their desire to see people succeed. We immediately noticed the family environment and knew we could make this business a success,” he added.

CCI is the leader in the mobile leather, vinyl and fabric repair business. Certified technicians work quickly to restore vehicles, furniture or other items, and make them look like new. The 39year-old company has locations in nearly every state and is adding new franchises each year. Low investment, superior training and ongoing franchise support make it an appealing business option for entrepreneurs.

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The military taught McNairy how to interact, lead people and

manage operations. Advance preparation and contingency plans are key to any military operation and are important tools for

running a successful business. The Air Force gave McNairy the opportunity to learn how to deal with setbacks and challenges.

“You expect problems, and you learn not to fold as a result of it,” he added.

The military shaped McNairy’s values of duty, honor and

commitment, helping make him an integral member of the local business community. McNairy is the Chairman for the Board

of Directors of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation. “In the Air

Force, we lived by the code, ‘service before self,’ which I now

apply to our community by helping whenever I can. We always

operate with integrity and I strive for excellence in everything I do,” he said.

www.creativecolorsintl.com/franchise-opportunities

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