Meet the Sylvan Learning Franchise Development Team

Sylvan Learning, the leading supplemental and enrichment education brand, has set itself apart in the segment through a four-decade legacy of brand awareness, 750-plus points of presence and a proven business model. Competitors in the space don’t come close to approaching Sylvan’s educational program variety or ongoing investment in industry-leading technology, such as the brand’s personalized learning platform SylvanSync™****. These differentiators, along with a flexible and attractive ownership opportunity, attract many franchise candidates interested in the education space to Sylvan Learning.

Helping support and guide all of this interest is Sylvan Learning’s Franchise Development Team. The depth of the team is extensive, with four expert executives working to help the brand grow through franchising and providing valuable daily assets for incoming and established franchisees.

**As the Franchise Development Analyst, Annie Simmons’ role is to work with the sales team in Franchise Development in order to support the marketing and sale of franchised Sylvan Learning centers, as well as the marketing and resale of current franchised locations. “**The successful Sylvan candidate will be a self-motivated team player with a ‘selling personality’ who can immediately contribute to our franchise development results,” she said. “Exceptional customer relations, organization and decision-making skills, combined with the highest level of integrity are required.”

Simmons’ essential job functions include providing research services to corporate management and franchisees regarding demographic marketing data and site packages, as well as using proprietary software to create expansions and splits of Sylvan-defined territories based on franchise development leadership direction. She also designates product managers to track necessary data as requested.

When it comes to supporting incoming franchisees, Simmons not only schedules and assists in “Discovery Day,” but also communicates heavily with prospects and executives regarding the steps in the discovery process, including application, due diligence, operational and financial requirements, closings and other responses.

As the Franchise Development Manager at Sylvan Learning, Kristie Kalinowski utilizes her past experience to assist both current and prospective franchisees. She manages the Resale Assistance Program to help formulate exit strategies for current franchisees wishing to sell their business while also recruiting top franchise candidates for resale opportunities, undeveloped territory development and expansion efforts.

“My role is to act as a liaison between the Franchise Development, Operations and Legal teams to identify operators that need additional support and track progress toward operational stability,” Kalinowski said. “I act as a sounding board for current franchisees, potential franchisees and internal departments for a myriad of topics. When not at work, most of my free time is spent chasing my toddler.”

Kalinowski also creates and delivers executive-level sales presentations to single and multi-unit franchise candidates both global and domestic, and advises on key elements of franchise sales, including license requirements, purchase agreements and other elements of the transaction.

As a successful Franchise Development Manager specializing in new territory sales, Courtney Wells’ duties and responsibilities include achieving all goals and objectives of the franchise sales and development plan within a targeted region. “I plan, develop, receive approval for and execute the sales and marketing strategies required to meet our goals,” she said. “Individually, and as part of a franchise development team, I conduct the full life-cycle of franchise sales for Sylvan Learning.”

To start the cycle, Wells works to identify and cultivate sources to create a roster of new franchisee candidates, as well as to build a pipeline of existing franchisees for additional territory growth. Wells works to develop and utilize creative new approaches to attract candidates through channels such as social media, paid search, local advertising, sales flyers/brochures, open houses, industry groups, direct mail, trade shows and more. Based on the strategic franchise development growth goals, Wells will create and execute a business plan to sell a certain number of franchise agreements to new and/or existing franchisees.

Once qualified candidates are found, Wells oversees and coordinates the implementation of the application and approval process across various departments. For existing franchisees, Wells cultivates expansion resale opportunities.

Wells also plays a large role in the Discovery Day process and presents Sylvan franchise procedures and company standards to potential franchisee candidates. When the time comes, Wells follows a disciplined but flexible process to close franchise deals according to expected timelines, including managing interview scheduling process and the upselling of additional product licenses.

As the Executive Director of Franchise Development at Sylvan Learning, Maureen Eichholz works to identify, target and recruit top franchise candidates for undeveloped territories, corporate center resales and current franchise resales. “I am highly skilled in identifying and cultivating business opportunities, as well as driving continuous business growth through effective brand representation and consumer outreach,” she said.

In addition, Eichholz is responsible for the creation and delivery of monthly executive-level sales presentations to single and multi-unit franchise candidates both global and domestic. During these presentations, Eichholz educates clients on all franchise opportunities and processes, conducting due diligence to present customized sales pitches.

“I take tremendous pride in helping mission-driven business leaders excel in the education management industry and the professional development and success of the driven, team members I lead,” she said.

All in all, there is no doubt that Sylvan Learning’s expert Franchise Development Team is a valuable asset for the brand — and it isn’t going unnoticed within the brand’s network of franchisees. “The franchise development team is fantastic. They help you every step of the way,” said Sylvan Learning franchisee Lauren Webster. “Any question you have, they find an answer. If they can’t answer it themselves, they find someone who can. Their priority is helping you stay on course and providing everything you need for a successful opening and beyond.”