Interviews
Interview with Franchise Partners Teri Dunn and Tamara Ishee West Houston, Texas
Teri Dunn and Tamara Ishee adopted their daughter Abby when she was six weeks old and she’s been the backbone of their family ever since. Their desire to support their own community and provide more resources for Abby to stay engaged is what led to their decision to open their own Special Strong location. Tell…
Read MoreInterview with Franchise Partners Julia Santos and Marko Pavlovic of Mid South, Tennessee
When coworkers Julia Santos and Marko Pavlovic started thinking through options for pursuing a business endeavor together, they kept coming back to Special Strong. It’s a model they believe so strongly in that they became the first multi-unit franchisees, with locations in East and West Memphis. Tell me a bit about yourselves – what do…
Read MoreInterview with Franchise Partner Manju Nivsarkar of West North Dallas, Texas
When Manju Nivsarkar was considering what her future looked like, it wasn’t easy to find an option that incorporated all of the elements of her history with the special needs community that she’d become so passionate about. We’re so pleased that she’s now able to share her skills and dedication with the Special Strong community…
Read MoreInterview with Franchise Partner Mike Lutey of Southeast Houston, Texas
Mike Lutey was our very first Special Strong franchisee. His long history with the special needs community and desire to be doing more rewarding work made him a natural fit to join our team. You can find him at Special Strong of Southeast Houston. Tell me a bit about yourself – what does your background…
Read MoreInterview with Franchise Partner Ron Janowczyk of Northeast Tarrant County, Texas
After seeing the benefit an athletic social life had on his son’s happiness and success at work, Ron Janowczyk wanted to share that opportunity with other families. He and his wife Gloria came out of retirement to open Special Strong of Northeast Tarrant County. Tell me a bit about yourself – what does your background…
Read MoreInterview with Franchise Partner Amanda Nutt of North West Houston, Texas
Amanda Nutt learned early on that she had a big place in her heart for the special needs community. We’re excited that her journey led her to Special Strong, and we look forward to seeing how she grows the Special Strong community in North West Houston. Tell me a bit about yourself – what does…
Read MoreInterview with Franchise Partner Ric Millington of Conroe North Houston, Texas
Ric and his wife Jennifer have joined the Special Strong family as owners of our Conroe North Houston location. Working out regularly resulted in positive improvements for their son Luke, and they wanted to be able to provide that opportunity to other families in their community. Tell me a bit about yourself – what does…
Read MoreInterview with Franchise Partner Fran Poloni of West Valley, Arizona
Fran Poloni and his wife Jayde realized their shared passion for working with individuals with adaptive needs nearly a decade ago and found a like-minded community when they were introduced to Special Strong. They’re excited to bring the first Special Strong location to Arizona’s West Valley. Tell me a bit about yourself – what does…
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