Franchise FastLane Rear View Mirror: What Happened in November

We’ve officially entered the season of thankfulness here at Franchise FastLane, especially considering the success of our valued brand partners in 2024. The year is not quite over just yet, with many updates for us to share such as personnel announcements, another round of road tripping to conferences, new happenings from the culture committee and our monthly dose of news and noteworthy brand announcements. So, before you head out for turkey and all the trimmings, take a moment to read up on what Franchise FastLane has been up to in our monthly rear view mirror blog - What Happened in November. 

Harvesting Success: Recent Promotions at Franchise FastLane 

In November, we had several employees take another step up the rungs of the corporate ladder, well deserved achievements for the following FastLaners: 

• Mike Baguley has been promoted to the level of Senior Director of Franchise Development. Mike has seen tremendous success with brands such as M14 Hoops, The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, and Gameday Men’s Health.  

• Ryan Logan has also been promoted to the level of Senior Director of Franchise Development. What does Ryan love the most about franchising: "Self-determination. The only limit on your success is the effort and strategic decision-making that you employ." 

• Connor Castleman was elevated to Qualifications Manager! This role is vital as he’s one of the first FastLaners that our candidates hear from. Connor is a native of Omaha and just got married last month.  

• Ashley Fechner has been promoted to Events Coordinator! As travel continues, Ashley will help manage and support our sales team. Ashley was previously a Sales Support Specialist before moving over to Marketing.  

Driving Growth Through November Conferences 

Franchise FastLane's packed conference schedule continues, providing us with valuable opportunities to connect with consultants at these November events: 

IFPG Regional Mixer – IFPG holds regional mixers throughout the year, and for November, they chose New Orleans. Our team had a great time connecting with IFPG and always values the chance to face to face. 

Franchise Brokers Association (FBA) Annual Conference & Expo – several FastLane representatives were on hand for this event in Orlando, Florida. This gathering, held in the heart of Disney Country, was a magical event in and of itself, giving our team the chance to rub shoulders with the industry’s top brokers and thought leaders. 

International Franchise Association (IFA) Emerging Franchisor Conference - This event was a perfect fit for Franchise FastLane, offering a chance to explore what could be the “Next Big Thing,” something we’re always eager to uncover! Taking place in Austin, Texas, President/COO Tim Koch and VP of Brand Recruitment Patrick Sanchez had the opportunity to meet with franchisors in person and learn about exciting emerging opportunities. 

Celebrating Our Company Culture 

This November, our home office brought some holiday cheer with a series of fun events! Check out the latest highlights and browse the photos for a glimpse of all the festive excitement! 

Soups, Sweaters, and Sweets –To usher in the colder weather, the home office participated in a Soups, Sweaters, and Sweets potluck, where everyone brought their favorite warm dishes, cozy sweaters, and delicious treats to share. It was the perfect way to kick off the season, with plenty of good food, great company, and holiday cheer all around. 

• Small Business Saturday– At FastLane, we’ve always believed that franchises are a key part of the small business community, which is why we were excited to celebrate this year’s Small Business Saturday. It was a great opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of small business owners, including the incredible franchisees we partner with. 

• Food Bank of the Heartland Volunteer Day – this event has become another annual tradition for Franchise FastLane employees. If you’d like to support this important Omaha nonprofit, please donate by following this link.

• It’s Thanksgiving– this truly is the season to be grateful for what we have in the way of blessings.  This holiday season we are extremely grateful for our brand partners, consultant partners, FastLaners and their families. Your support and dedication truly make an impact. 

November Media Highlights 

In this month’s media roundup, we have two updates to share. Franchise Update Media, owner of the iconic franchising.com website, published the Franchise FastLane announcement that bodenvy has joined our portfolio of brands. Not only that, our very own CEO Carey Gille was featured in the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Community Fellow series. Click here to view her profile! 

November Brand News Updates 
Here are the key updates from our brands this November, showcasing several exciting milestones and achievements that are making an impact: 

• Gameday Men’s Health – one of FastLane’s hottest brands just announced an exciting new partnership with Nutrafol Men – the No. 1 dermatologist-recommended supplement for restorative hair growth. This new product line will be available at all Gameday clinics soon.  

• Bloomin’ Blinds – another top-level member of FastLane’s portfolio always takes its franchisee support to the highest level. So, it comes as no surprise that the brand is launching an internal financial literacy program this month. Led by the CFO and corporate team, Bloomin’ Blinds will host a series of workshops, both in-person and virtual.  These are held with  a singular goal in mind: that financial literacy isn’t just a program, it’s a path to empowerment. 

With the advent of Christmas season just around the corner, it’s important to take a brief pause before all of the splendid madness and be both grateful and thankful for our blessings. We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful, memorable, and safe Thanksgiving.  

Are You Ready to Take Your Brand to the Next Level? 

Franchise FastLane is a proven franchise accelerator and our mission is to responsibly drive extraordinary growth for the chosen few. If you are interested in learning more about the possibility of joining the FastLane or CarPool, please click here to submit an application. To keep up with all the latest happenings, make sure you follow us on LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and check out our collection of photos on Instagram.