Our franchisees make a difference in their communities daily, fostering positive environments where children can grow, learn, and thrive. Whether through education, physical activity, or enrichment programs, these franchisees play a pivotal role in shaping young lives and strengthening their local communities. More importantly, they are also shaping the next generation of leaders by mentoring and empowering their teams—some of whom go on to become franchise owners themselves. These franchisees don’t just operate a business; they create a lasting legacy of mentorship and opportunity.
Passion for Helping Kids and Building Communities
Many employees-turned-franchisees share a common motivation: a deep passion for making a difference in children’s lives and strengthening their communities. Their journeys demonstrate how career growth, personal fulfillment, and business ownership intersect to create meaningful impact.
Standout examples include Nick Martinez—who worked for The Little Gym as a gym director before evolving into a thriving franchise owner—and Ashley Meyer, whose long-term journey at Sylvan, beginning as a center director and advancing to executive director at Sylvan Learning Center of Nebraska, fueled her passion for education and ultimately led her to co-own Class 101 of Northwest Omaha. Their stories illustrate how passion and experience can turn career growth into business ownership.
Nick initially joined The Little Gym because he loved working with kids and found joy in fostering their growth and development. As an owner, he can feed this passion daily by creating a positive environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive. His decision to become a franchisee was driven by the difference he made in the lives of children as a team member. Seeing firsthand the positive impact he had, he knew that as an owner, he could make an even more significant difference in his community by reaching more families and inspiring his team members to do the same. With the support of the franchise model, he didn’t have to build it all on his own. Backed by a proven system, he could focus on what mattered most: changing lives.
"We really love the franchising model because it allows us to do what we love on a daily basis." — Nick Martinez.
Ashley’s transition into franchise ownership has allowed her to continue positively impacting students and making kids’ futures brighter on an even grander scale. Through Class 101, she can now guide students through college planning, scholarships, and academic success, ensuring that her influence extends beyond the classroom. Her decision to become a franchisee was inspired by the difference she made in students’ lives as a team member. Seeing how her guidance helped shape students’ futures, she knew that by stepping into ownership, she could have an even broader reach, supporting more families and mentoring her own team to make an impact just as she had.
Deep Brand Understanding
Team members who advance into ownership intimately understand a company's operations, culture, and customer service standards. Their hands-on experience gives them unique insights into what makes the brand successful. They know the brands inside and out, understand the challenges owners face, and are equipped to deliver an exceptional customer experience. By becoming owners, they can reach more people and expand their influence in ways they couldn't before.
"Working at Sylvan taught me the value of personalized learning. Every student deserves a tailored approach, and that insight has been a cornerstone of my interest in Class 101. My time there gave me the tools to see the potential in every educational model and truly enhanced my capabilities as a franchisee of an educational brand." — Ashley Meyer
Nick Martinez’s transition from gym director at The Little Gym to franchise owner underscores this advantage; his familiarity with the day-to-day challenges allowed him to maintain the quality and consistency the brand is known for.
"I was a gym instructor, gym director, regional manager, for about 8 years before I bought my location. I knew the ins and outs of the business." — Nick Martinez.
Franchisees also play a crucial role in passing down this knowledge and mission. They invest in developing their teams, giving employees the same mentorship and opportunities that once shaped their careers. Many employee-turned-owners recall how their own franchisee modeled leadership, generosity, and commitment to the community—traits they now strive to embody for the next generation of aspiring business owners. The inspiration for ownership often comes from seeing how a franchise owner nurtured employees, creating a leadership and personal growth culture that made them want to do the same for others.
Ada Yung, a franchisee with The Little Gym, exemplifies the power of mentorship in action. She and her husband are committed to developing their team members, ensuring they have the skills and confidence to step into ownership themselves one day. By actively training and empowering their staff, they are cultivating the next generation of franchise owners who will carry on their legacy of impacting children’s lives.
"My husband and I committed to cultivating and grooming a group of young people who continue to take on The Little Gym. We are helping our current staff become future The Little Gym owners. We are training them and preparing them to be owners one day." — Ada Yung.
By stepping into ownership, franchisees take on more than just a business; they embrace the opportunity to make a lasting impact on their teams and communities. They are not just running locations—they are inspiring the next wave of entrepreneurs and ensuring their businesses continue to be a force for good in the lives of children and families. Their leadership paves the way for employees who, like them, started with a passion and now dream of ownership themselves.