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Ramping it Up in Porter County

Getting from Point A to Point B is something many take for granted. Here’s a wonderful story about some people that never will.

The Times of Northwest Indiana reported this past Saturday, 15 volunteers worked in cold, wet conditions to install ramps at nine homes in Portage, Valparaiso and Hebron as part of “Ramp It Up Porter County.” The program, a collaboration by Rebuilding Together, Heroes at Home, Porter County Aging & Community Services and Amramp, aided low-income residents and veterans, like Don Pollack and his niece, Judy Pollack Tincher. Tincher said her uncle is a Navy veteran and longtime Valparaiso teacher who is undergoing experimental chemotherapy for cancer in Logansport. He rarely gets home and has to be almost carried up the stairs. Tincher has neuropathy, a disease that causes the nerves in the legs to slowly die. It has reached her knees, and she said once it starts it can't be stopped. Of the ramp, Tincher said, "It's like a godsend for us. It means I can get in and out of the house, and, if something happens, I won't be stuck in here."

Representatives of Amramp, which is owned locally by franchisees Bill and Kathy Woods, helped with the installation of the steel ramps. The modular units can be assembled more easily than the standard wooden ones and, when they are no longer needed at the home, can be disassembled and moved to another location. The Rev. John Albers, of Rebuilding Together, said several of the wooden ramps the group has installed over the past couple of years have been torn down by new homeowners while a metal ramp was removed and taken to another location. A new donation from the Porter County Community Foundation, which helped fund Saturday's effort, will allow Rebuilding Together to install a few more Amramp ramps. Albers said he hopes to do that by Thanksgiving. "One of the best things is now we have a couple dozen more folks that can help with the next ones," he said.

Photo: Volunteers installing an Amramp ramp.

Colonel’s Career Continues to Soar with CertaPro Painters

Ever since he was a young man, Steve Carey wanted to be a leader and he accomplished just that with a 30-year career as an Air Force fighter pilot flying F-15s and F-16s for 30 years.

Though he retired as the commandant of the College of Aerospace Doctrine Research and Education, Carey’s desire to lead did not fade and he opened a CertaPro Painters in September of 2008. Today, he has four teams of professional painters working for him, a carpenter on staff and his wife as his color consultant.

"I believe it is essential to build a good relationship first with a prospective customer," Carey told the Mobile Press-Register. "That is the part I love the best." Carey said he moved a lot throughout his career. But he always took pride in his homes, even painting his rental houses. "It makes so much difference, when you paint, to make a house your home.” He believes painting can achieve that.

The Perfect Candidate

Roughly a quarter of a million active-duty service members transition out of the military each year but with employment opportunities fewer and farther between, many are electing to start their own businesses. For those who need a little assistance in doing so, read on. 

Military.com reported that Spring-Green Lawn Care feels veterans have the perfect skill sets to succeed as small business owners. According to company president James Young, veterans are comfortable in leadership roles and as members of larger teams, able to complete the task at hand while thinking one step ahead and 100-percent willing to keep working until the job is done right. In fact, Spring-Green CEO Tom Hofer is a retired Navy lieutenant and some of the company’s most successful franchisees are veterans, all of whom are using the experience they gained serving our country to serve their local communities. Given this seemingly perfect match, Spring-Green has been offering a grant program designed to help military veterans interested in owning a Spring-Green Lawn Care franchise since 2007. Spring-Green’s Military Assistance Program (M.A.P.) applies up to $15,000 of the initial franchise fee toward the start-up expense to make it easier for veterans to get back into the civilian workforce. Veterans who qualify for the program immediately gain Spring-Green's unwavering commitment to help each and every franchise owner achieve their business goals.

"We recognize that many veterans returning to a corporate environment may not find what they are looking for, but the Spring-Green franchise opportunity allows for freedom and flexibility for individuals who enjoy the outdoors and want to take control of their own lives," Young says. "Returning to civilian life may seem difficult but with organizations like Spring-Green that not only utilize but reward military experience, that transition can be more comfortable."

Ten of Spring-Green's 120 franchisees are military veterans and five have taken advantage of military assistance funding, such as Matt Denney. Denney served in the Navy for nearly 15 years before medically retiring in 2007. But, instead of scrolling through job search websites and going on countless interviews, Denney felt his military experience left him better suited to act as his own boss. After working mostly desk jobs in the Navy, Denney wanted the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and provide a useful service. After a little research, he found the best of both worlds in Spring-Green with the added bonus of M.A.P. He began servicing the lawn and tree care needs of residents throughout North Carolina's Pender, New Hanover and Onslow counties two years ago.

"If my time in the Navy taught me anything, it's the importance of delivering on your promises and Spring-Green adopts that mindset,” said Denney. “By doing my due diligence and weighing all of my options, I found a concept that fit my wants and needs and also recognized and rewarded my military service. If you're a veteran thinking about opening a business, franchising is definitely the way to go."

Photos from top left: Spring-Green president James Young; franchisee and Navy veteran Matt Denney.

Are You a Veteran? You Could Win a Franchise!

The best things in life are free is a saying that holds true now more than ever, especially for those that have bravely served our country.

The Franchise King Blog reported Maid Brigade recently launched the Maid Brigade Veterans Franchise Giveaway, a program that will award more than $1.5 million in business ownership opportunities to 100+ veterans and create more than 1,000 jobs nationwide. The contest comes at a time when America's economy is down, but patriotism is high. Maid Brigade is acting on both fronts by offering new careers to veterans — a group it considers worthy, qualified, and proven as franchise owners. Currently, 10 percent of Maid Brigade owners are veterans; others in the network come from a range of careers.

To enter, veterans should complete the form and submit a short essay at www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com by September 30th on how their military responsibilities would translate to successful Maid Brigade franchise ownership. Maid Brigade will waive its $14,500 Select Market Franchise fee for as many as 100 qualified veteran applicants and one grand prize winner will receive a new Maid Brigade franchise operation at zero cost — a total value of $45,000 which includes waived franchise fees, working capital, training, and equipment. Second and third place winners will receive similar packages valued at $27,500 and $17,500, respectively. A Maid Brigade Select Market Franchise is designed for smaller geographical regions.

We salute all entrants…good luck!

Help When It’s Needed Most

We may be in the midst of a recession but the human body pays no mind to that detail: When it needs help, help better be available and in South Florida, Jim Wright is the man to call for that assistance.

The Naples Daily News reported Wright is the owner of Amramp and one of the company's 40 franchisee-owned operations throughout the nation that sells and installs steel access ramps for the disabled on homes and for events like high school graduation ceremonies. Since opening for business in February, Wright has installed $12,000 in ramps and plans to break $50,000 by the end of 2009. He says Most of the sales are rentals installed on the homes of people with work-related injuries. Wright plans to sell $50,000 by year-end. “The demand is there,” Wright said.

Wright first looked into an Amramp franchise last year after the building stand-still ate away 75 percent of the contracts at his Naples-based electrical contracting business, Wright Electrical Services Inc. Wright said he was unsure what the demand for ramps would be like locally but after talking with case workers and rehabilitation specialists in Southwest Florida, Wright found his market. Being the only franchise in South Florida, Wright has driven as far away as Key West for an installation. Most of the installation business is directed his way from the Amramp call center in Boston that helps with finding insurance money for customers who have funding concerns.

Company-wide Amramp sales grew by 31 percent from 2007 to 2008. The company is a large provider for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, which pays for ramps installed on the homes of wounded troops. Wright has seen some of that business in Florida. “What’s making our business successful is the way health care is practiced in this country: No one wants to keep you in the hospital,” said Amramp president Julian Gordon from the company’s Boston headquarters. Amramp will award seven new franchises this year, as it has since 2006, from about 80 applicants looking only for those that have the “fire in their belly” it takes to start a new business, Gordon said.

Photo: Jim Wright and his wife, Connie, installing an Amramp ramp.

More Than Just a Job

There are jobs and then there are careers – the former which provides a paycheck and the latter which embraces a passion. After reading this posting, it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out which one Gregg Stone has.

BuffaloAtHome.com reported Stone’s story began a decade ago when he was laid off from his job as a union cable contractor. Instead of seeing the layoff as a detriment, Stone saw the unexpected chance to reflect on his life and quickly realized that while his former job enabled him to pay the bills, it didn’t leave him feeling fulfilled. In order to make the difference he wanted to make, Stone took matters into his own hands and opened American Ramp Systems in Batavia, N.Y.

Not long after opening, Stone realized that his business was about more than just supplying ramps; it was about improving the lives of the elderly and disabled and providing them with a way to independently enter and exit their home. It was a life-changing moment for Stone and is really illustrated by his service to Veterans. “Veterans have fought for our country and deserve the utmost respect,” said Stone. “They have seen so much and have so many stories to tell; throughout the installation process, I like nothing more than to visit with them and listen to what they have to say. Just as I am changing their lives by installing ramps, they are changing my life by sharing their experiences.”

Since 2004, Stone has installed over 200 ramps throughout the Buffalo, Rochester and Western Finger Lakes region – each ramp representing a story and a life that has been changed. For Stone, each ramp is another chance to make a difference in the life of someone in need from the community. But perhaps even more importantly, each ramp is another chance to help himself through helping others.

Photo: Gregg Stone of American Ramp Systems

Success Times 10

Think owning one business requires a lot of attention? Try owning 10.

The Toledo Free Press reported that Sean Falk has taken on that challenge in opening Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina in Maumee, Ohio. Falk and seven partners opened the only Salsarita’s in Ohio in June and the group plans to open at least two more cantina restaurants in the Toledo area in the next few years but are just beginning to “window shop for locations now,” he said.

“The store has been incredibly well-received by our customers based on their direct feedback and on customer comment cards,” said Falk, who also owns four Great American Cookie shops, three Pretzel Time locations and two Mrs. Fields Cookies stores.  “It’s the fastest-growing restaurant segment, and fresh Mex is the most popular food category in the restaurant business. We think it’s a successful combination. We’re family-friendly, but we have a full-service bar.”

Falk first became a business owner after leaving the Marine Corps as a captain in 1998. He served five years in active duty and three in the reserves, during which time he served as an infantry platoon commander in the first Desert Storm and commander of a search and rescue unit in Bosnia. He says that his time in the Marines has shaped him into the person he is today and attributes much of his entrepreneurial success to his military experience.

“I’m faced with challenges every day, and the military taught me to remain calm and look at every angle available to develop a plan and solve the problem at hand. No matter what field one may be in, it is extremely important to keep a level head and project a positive image to those around you,” Falk said. “With 10 businesses, I have to do a lot of juggling and prioritizing, but it’s all worth it because every ounce of work that I put in will have a direct impact on my future,” Falk said.

Veterans, We Salute You!

Though they should be heralded every day, Veterans Day puts the selfless acts of our brothers and sisters in arms at center stage. Here’s just one of the many inspiring individuals that this day is dedicated to.

Allan Young had an interest in joining the military for as long as he could remember — an interest so strong that it may have been hardcoded in his DNA, and it turns out it was. Young was adopted shortly after birth but years later met his birth mother, from whom he learned that he unknowingly followed in his biological family's five generations of military footsteps. Major General William J. Snow — whom Snow Hall at Fort Sill's U.S. Army Field Artillery School is named after — was his great-grandfather. Photo: right, Allan in uniform.

After attending the University of Richmond on an ROTC scholarship, Young served in the U.S. Army in 1993 — the culmination of a dream, he called it. During his five years stationed at the Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Young served in several roles: an artillery officer in the positions of platoon leader, operations officer for a 1,500-member brigade and as commander of an elite counter-intelligence radar unit as part of the 25th Infantry Division. All of these responsibilities taught him discipline, leadership and the importance of hard work. Young returned to Virginia in 2002 and joined a reserve unit while teaching military science at his alma mater but was deployed to Kuwait just three years later as an operations officer under special operations command specializing in psychological operations and civil affairs. Young was responsible for planning, coordinating and executing missions to construct schools, hospitals and water pumping stations throughout Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Kuwait. Photo: left, Allan with his wife, Teresa, and their son, Paige.

Today, Young is the CEO of Marietta, Georgia-based ShelfGenie, a franchise concept that designs, builds and installs Glide-Out shelving systems that are custom-built to fit into existing cabinets, resulting in durable, affordable and easily-accessible customized shelves in any cabinet throughout the home. Young's military training is used regularly. In addition to providing quality products and unmatched customer service, Young strives to treat each person in his organization with the utmost respect. In fact, the Army had a saying that its leaders live by, "Mission First, People Always," which Young incorporates into his business on a daily basis. Photo: right, Allan with ShelfGenie's Glide-Out shelving systems.

"As a business leader, I put our customers and employees before myself. By putting people first, you create an environment of loyalty that is not directly reflected on the balance sheet, but it shows in every facet of the organization," said Young. "The Army taught me to lay out a strategic plan with an objective and understand all of the assumptions and implied tasks required to achieve that objective. This significantly reduces the amount of fear and risk and allows our leadership to focus on maximizing long term results and maximizing customer satisfaction." Photo: left, Allan with ShelfGenie president and co-founder Barry Falcon.

For more information on the best business opportunities for veterans, consult the IFA’s VetFran Directory.

Bouncing onto the VetFran Roster

Veterans are ideal franchise candidates for most franchisors. Perhaps that’s why more than  200 franchisors participate in the VetFran program providing financial incentives to veterans.  BounceU is the newest company to add their name to that roster, according to an article in this week’s Business Journal of Phoenix. BounceU is a franchisor of children's play centers. BounceU offers indoor stadiums filled with giant inflatable structures as well as additional play equipment and video arcade games. The program was created to provide children a place to celebrate birthdays and other special events with center personnel available to supervise activity.

Happy Veteran's Day!

CNNMoney.com featured a story on businesses for veterans, mentioning VetFran the program offered by the International Franchise Association. More than 14 percent of businesses in America are owned by veterans, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Since the VetFran program began, more than 600 franchises have been acquired by veterans through VetFran and another 150 contracts are currently in negotiation. Franchise companies mentioned in the online piece are Juice It Up!, a smoothie and juice bar chain headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Synergy HomeCare, headquartered in Gilbert, Ariz., a franchise that provides in-home care to individuals requiring daily living assistance, PostNet, headquartered in Denver, Colo., a franchise that offers shipping, printing and copying services and Express Personnel out of Oklahoma City, a $1.2 billion staffing firm. All of these franchisors offer discounts to veterans through the IFA’s VetFran program.