Heather Harris joins Franchise FastLane as CEO

Southfield Capital, the private equity firm that owns Franchise FastLane, Tuesday announced the appointment of Heather Harris as Chief Executive Officer of its franchise sales organization.

In her new role, Harris will work to strengthen Franchise FastLane’s overall ability to foster relationships with and effectively connect franchise brands, franchise consultants, and prospective franchisees.

“Throughout my career, I have been a close admirer of the growth, culture, and impact FastLane has had on the franchising industry as a whole,” said Harris. “What makes this opportunity so meaningful is that it feels like a natural next step in my career journey and I am thrilled to be joining a team that shares my belief that relationships, accountability, and genuine care for people are what moves businesses forward. I look forward to supporting our employees, consultant partners, brand partners, and entrepreneurs as we lead Franchise FastLane into this exciting chapter.”

Harris’ appointment comes during a key period of growth and investment at Franchise FastLane. The company is looking to expand its service and support offerings and is adding to its headcount to increase capabilities. Just last week, Franchise FastLane introduced Connie Wallis as Vice President of Consultant Relations.

Prior to joining Franchise FastLane, Harris served as CEO at Uni K Wax Franchising, where she helped the brand strengthen operations and marketing to support their national expansion. Before that, Harris was the president of Empower Brands from 2022 to 2024. Her leadership grew Empower’s revenue 7.5% and improved operating income 22%, all while positioning the company for a profitable sale. She’s also held leadership positions at brands like CycleBar and Intelligent Office, overseeing periods of rapid growth along the way.

“Heather is an accomplished executive with a proven track record of building high-performing organizations and helping franchise brands scale,” said Vince Tyra, Partner at Southfield Capital. “Her operational expertise, strategic mindset, and people-first leadership style qualifies her to lead Franchise FastLane into the next phase of growth. We are excited to partner with Heather and the entire management team as they continue building on the Company’s strong foundation of delivering exceptional value to franchisors, consultants, and entrepreneurs.”

With the addition of Heather Harris as CEO, Southfield Capital has positioned Franchise FastLane to take their next step forward as a leading franchise growth and development partner.