Catherine Monson Highlighting Value of Mentorship in Keynote Address
CARROLLTON, Texas — Catherine Monson, CEO at FASTSIGNS International, Inc. and Vice-Chair of the International Franchise Association, is the Program Chair for this year’s 7th Annual Springboard Event and will be delivering a Mainstage Keynote Address on Thursday, September 19. This highly-anticipated gathering, hosted by FisherZucker, FishmanPR and Entrepreneur, will take place from September 18-20 and will be held at The Westin Philadelphia Hotel located at 99 South 17th Street at Liberty Place in Philadelphia.
The Springboard Event brings over 450 franchise founders and senior executives together for a 3-day conference where attendees learn from the best in the business as speakers share valuable and actionable advice that can help franchisors take their business to the next level.
Monson’s keynote address will follow an interview format with her former boss and long-time mentor, Don Lowe, CEO of Franchise Services, Inc., franchisor of TeamLogicIT, Sir Speedy, PIP and MultiCopy, about the immeasurable value of mentorship and best practices in franchising. Don Lowe oversees all FSI companies, and his 47-year career in franchising includes his work as Senior Vice President for Kampgrounds of America (KOA) and President of Sir Speedy from 1981 to 1996.
Catherine was a team member at Sir Speedy, Inc. in 1981 when Don Lowe was appointed President of Sir Speedy. Together, they built Sir Speedy from under 200 locations to over 850. In 1996, Sir Speedy, Inc. purchased MultiCopy and PIP Printing and created the holding company Franchise Services, Inc. Catherine worked for Don until she left Franchise Services in 2008 to become CEO of FASTSIGNS International. She continues to benefit from his mentorship.
“I am honored to be a part of an event that provides emerging and re-emerging franchisors with an ideal environment for growth and inspiration,” said Catherine Monson. “I look forward to sharing the stage with my mentor, Don Lowe, where we will offer best practices in franchising and provide insight into why having a mentor is integral to your success as a business owner.”
To register to attend the 2019 Springboard Event, visit www.franchisespringboard.com or email Antonia Petrongolo at apetrongolo@fisherzucker.com
About Catherine Monson
Catherine became CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. in 2009, bringing over 25 years of franchising and management experience. In 2009, she received the International Franchise Association (IFA) Bonny LeVine Award in recognition of her contributions to the growth of the franchising industry and in 2010, the Dallas Business Journal named her a top Women Industry Leader in the Dallas Metroplex. In 2012, Catherine appeared on the Emmy Award-winning series Undercover Boss to learn new ways to advance the FASTSIGNS® brand. In 2013, she was named an “Innovator and Influencer” by Sign and Digital Graphics Magazine. In 2015, she received the IFA’s first Franchise Action Network “FAN of the Year” award for her advocacy work on behalf of the franchising community. In 2016, she was selected as a Soderstrom Society Inductee for her contributions to the printing and graphic communications industry and was also honored with the 2016 Leadership Award from the Women That Soar organization. Under Monson’s leadership, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. received the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition presented by the Department of Defense to employers for their exemplary support of National Guard and Reserve members. In 2017, Monson received the Distinguished Women Award presented by Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. In 2018, she was honored by the Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI) with their Ambassador of Free Enterprise Award. Catherine has served on the Board of Directors of the IFA since 2008 and is currently Vice Chair and will become Chairwoman in February 2020. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors of Brain Balance, a franchise company with a non-drug alternative for children with behavioral challenges, and on the Board of Directors of the franchisor Big Blue Swim School, one of the nation’s fastest growing swim schools. She is a keynote speaker at many franchise industry events, as well as at many sign and visual graphics industry events.
About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the leading sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 700 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS® centers in nine countries including the United States, Canada, Chile, England, Grand Cayman, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®). Locations are slated to open in two additional countries – Malta and Spain – in 2019.
FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive signage and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, promote their products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points.
FASTSIGNS centers provide architectural and interior decor graphics, fleet vehicle graphics, digital signs and digital signage content, event graphics, displays, banners, posters, ADA signage, safety and identification signs and much more, as well as handle everything from design to project management to installation.
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is a recipient of many awards, including being ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 for the past three years, and Best-in-Category in the business services sector on Franchise Business Review’s list of the top 200 franchises for multiple years.
Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com.
Follow the brand on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fastsigns, Twitter @FASTSIGNS or Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS.
SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc.