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HONORING AMERICA’S HEROES Veteran Mentorship Program Offers Vital Support for New Owners “Troops in Transition” program adding to Budget Blinds ranks of franchisees. BY TODD JACKSON U.S. military veterans compose an extremely important community within the fabric of our nation. These men and women have put their own lives on the line to solidify our freedom. They are heroes in every form, and they walk among us each and every day. How can we possibly give back to, and show our support for, these American heroes who have given so much for us? That is the exact question we, at Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), were pondering back in 2014. We knew that we had to give back to our nation’s heroes, but it had to have a long-term, positive impact on their lives and the lives of their families. In early 2015, after a year of discovery and education from national veterans’ organizations, Home Franchise Concepts launched its Troops in Transition program for Budget Blinds. The program targets veterans that have left, or will leave, active duty within two years. Troops in Transition waives the initial fees of $75,000 required to become a franchise business owner with Budget Blinds under its general offering. Removing the financial barrier for veterans was certainly a step in the right direction, but this program is about more than just offering a deep discount. It’s also about offering these men and women an opportunity to successfully utilize their skills learned while serving our nation: skills such as structure, perseverance, organization and leadership, true 68 FRANCHISING WORLD NOVEMBER 2015
skills that any great entrepreneur should embody. For this reason, Budget Blinds also ensures that all veterans joining through the Troops in Transition program are thoughtfully matched with a mentor. These mentors are carefully selected from our existing franchisee network and are those who have demonstrated the tenacity and skills that it takes to achieve success in the world of independent franchise business ownership. Nearly a year since beginning the program, our new veteran-franchisees are thriving. Their success is best told through their stories. WALT AND MELISSA BYARS Walt Byars was the first veteran who signed on with Budget Blinds through our Troops in Transition program. Byars served in the U.S. Navy for more than 22 years, and after a successful career of service, he was ready for change. He and his wife, Melissa, began looking at franchising opportunities and considering their options for independent business ownership. After inquiring about Budget Blinds and learning about the support systems we have available, the two decided to become business owners and opened Budget Blinds serving Zachary, La. in May. While preparing to begin work in their territory, Walt and Melissa were introduced to Brian Gargan, owner of Budget Blinds serving San Angelo, Texas, as a mentor. Working closely with Brian, the Byars executed a successful introduction to the market and have been going strong ever since. Gargan has been there to challenge them on creative solutions, assist when issues arose, as well as to help keep them motivated during slow sales periods. Together, the Byars and Gargan are strengthening their territory and we look forward to checking in with them during our annual convention in January. REYNALDO (REY) PINLAC Reynaldo (Rey) Pinlac served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years, and was introduced to Budget Blinds by taking a job as an installer for an existing franchise owner in Washington state. After learning more about the incentives that our system offers veterans, he decided to follow his entrepreneurial spirit and open his own franchise. In June, he opened Budget Blinds serving Olympia. Since opening for business, Pinlac has been mentored by his former employer, Amber Koebberling, whom he worked for as installer. With a strong track record of success, Koebberling provided insight on the ownership side of the business and successfully helped transition Pinlac from installer to independent franchise business owner. When Pinlac’s child was born, he and Koebberling worked together by sharing employees to ensure that their customers were taken care of at all times. These two truly showcase what a great mentor/mentee relationship our franchisees provide for one another even in a “non-official” capacity. THARON AND LEAR COOK Tharon and Lear Cook met while both were serving in the U.S. Army in Germany, and they married in 1995. Tharon served for 21 years before retiring in 2015, and shortly thereafter he and Lear began looking for their next adventure. After speaking with his brother, Cedric, Lear learned about the program that Cedric was helping the HFC and Budget Blinds corporate teams develop for recently-retired veterans. Cedric, a retired U.S. Marine, owns his own Budget Blinds franchise with his wife, Clarita. With the support of their family, Tharon and Lear made the decision to join the company and opened their franchise in Newport News, Va. in July. Although his brother is based in Texas, Tharon still speaks with him on a regular basis and is able to tap into Cedric’s expertise in successful business practices and teamwork. Richard Grice of Suffolk, Va. has also mentored the Cooks, giving invaluable insight on building a strong business foundation that will support their long-term goals. With an outpouring of mentoring support, the Cooks have started strong and show no signs of slowing down. These veterans, along with a number of others that make up 10 percent of our franchise system, demonstrate an outstanding ability to work successfully as a team and that is what our mentorship program will continue to cultivate. It is our goal to provide all of our franchisees with an unwavering support system. The true backbone of our company is the spirit of family, and we look forward to strengthening this family in the years to come. Todd Jackson is one of the five founders and COO of Budget Blinds. Find him at fransocial.franchise.org. FRANCHISING WORLD NOVEMBER 2015 69
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