By: Marc Steiner
Helping people realize the American dream through business ownership is something that I do every day as a franchise consultant. Normally, my clients are individuals leaving Corporate America or retiring from the military. However, on April 9 at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, the business curious audience was made up of a different demographic – youth and young adults aged 16-24 seeking to understand how franchising might provide opportunities to shape their future.
A few months ago, I was approached by Mark Johnson, Vice President and Community Development Manager with SunTrust Bank and Andrea Harrell, Senior Director of Youth Initiatives and Community Affairs with Opportunity Inc. (the Hampton Roads region’s Workforce Development Board). They had an idea to put together a Youth Franchise Summit that would be built upon the theme of how the franchise industry can provide opportunities to gain valuable business and life skills. They assembled a team, secured a partnership with Sun Trust Foundation, and produced an event with over 100 registrants hearing real-world advice and stories from nearly two dozen franchise professionals who volunteered their time. Some things to keep in mind when planning an event like this:
• Find a hook to bring in attendees. OppInc., with the support of SunTrust Foundation, raffled off two $1000 college scholarships
• Enlist local marketing experts who know how to reach youth and education professionals
• Collaborate with local schools and universities to encourage student participation
• Partner with local franchise thought leaders to engage franchisees as speakers or participants
The morning kicked off with a keynote address by Gilbert Bland, a former banker turned Pizza Hut and Burger King multi-unit franchisee. He focused on the importance of goal setting and being open to new experiences in the work place and beyond. His talk was reinforced with small group breakout sessions that provided insight into what managers look for in the hiring process and the story of going from working a fryer to being a franchisee. During my presentation on transitioning from the Backroom to the Boardroom, the attendees asked probing questions about how to deal with competition, how to set specific and measurable goals, and how to finance a business. Things that stick out to me after participating in this event:
• Youth are genuinely interested in business and gaining the knowledge needed to succeed
• Franchising can provide work and life skills that are extensible to careers in many fields
• Focus on workforce development strengthens communities and provides opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds
This was the first time that such an event took place in Hampton Roads, but it was successful from many perspectives. From a business perspective, this type of event supports the Community Reinvestment Act intent to raise financial literacy in addition to providing an understanding of how franchising contributes to the community. Attendees can gain practical knowledge that will help them to be future members of the work force and, in some cases, future business owners.
Marc Steiner is the owner of the FranNet franchise for Southeastern Virginia who helps individuals on the journey to become business owners.
Date Posted: 2016-05-03 11:53:35
