Nobody Cares What You Want...

...unless you speak up and tell them! That's how this franchisee became a CEO, and then transformed herself into a true leader.

- CARL STOFFERS

Tracy Panase went from franchisee to company owner and CEO.

In 2020, Just Between Friends was facing a crisis. It’s an events-based business, which means it was hit especially hard by COVID. Meanwhile, the husband of one of its founders became seriously ill, so she needed to step back from day-to-day operations.

The company began looking for a president to take over—and Tracy Panase was sure she’d be considered. She was the brand’s top franchisee, after all. Three of her four locations were among the company’s top 10 earners nationwide. She'd be a perfect president, she thought. But they never called her.

Panase stewed over this. Then she talked it over with her husband.

“Did you raise your hand?” he asked her.