Leadership And Purpose Define The First Female Veteran Owner In Bloomin’ Blinds’ History
- Air Force veteran Yadira Simunek makes history as the first female owner in the Bloomin’ Blinds franchise.
- Guided by military values, she found a business model that aligns with her integrity, service, and family priorities.
- With strong training and support, the Bloomin’ Blinds franchise empowers her to build success and inspire other veterans.
Yadira Simunek’s résumé gives no hint of the Bloomin’ Blinds franchise she ultimately invested in. She worked as a bioenvironmental engineering technician during her 1994-1999 Air Force tenure. After that: administrative assistant for a C-suite executive, followed by motherhood to three children and community volunteer. And today? “I’m honored to be the first female veteran Bloomin’ Blinds franchisee,” Simunek says. “I’m committed to being a strong ambassador for this amazing brand and hope to inspire other veterans to explore franchise ownership.”
Simunek and her husband, Dean, studied various opportunities before launching Bloomin’ Blinds of Lakewood Ranch, Fla., this year. The franchise offers custom window blinds, shades, shutters and draperies and their repair. “As first-time entrepreneurs, we needed guidance and a proven framework,” she says. “We looked for a simple business model — one without inventory management, multiple employees or complex operations to oversee.
“In researching franchises, we prioritized finding a company whose business model and values aligned with who we are. Bloomin’ Blinds checked every box. As an Air Force veteran, the core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence are central to my identity. As someone who spent 18 years as a stay-at-home mom, family has always been my priority. Bloomin’ Blinds franchise embodies all of these values.” (On its website, Bloomin’ Blinds notes that 5:30 is typical quitting time for franchisees, freeing evenings for family or other personal pursuits.)
Military Values
The Air Force solidified her values and workplace skills, Simunek adds. “It instilled in me the importance of upholding core values in everything I do. Beyond that, military service emphasized several specific skills that are crucial to excellent customer service — meticulous attention to detail, punctuality and respectfulness. These aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re foundational to building trust with clients and delivering quality work.”
She also emphasizes that “the military taught me the critical importance of following policies and procedures, a discipline that translates directly to franchise ownership. Adhering to established franchise systems and guidelines is essential to maintaining brand consistency and ensuring success.”
Like the military, Bloomin’ Blinds encourages camaraderie. The Air Force veteran describes its culture as “welcoming, fun and supportive. What stands out most is how the corporate team treats franchisees, not as independent operators, but as part of an extended family. The relationships I’ve built with other franchise owners have been extremely rewarding. I have a network of brothers and sisters I can turn to for advice and encouragement at any time.”
Corporate has her back, too. “The training and ongoing support were key reasons we chose Bloomin’ Blinds. The corporate team consistently encourages franchisees to reach out with questions, no matter how small,” she says.
Because franchising means business owners “don’t have to figure out everything from scratch,” Simunek pronounces it “an excellent pathway to owning a business.” She recommends franchise ownership to other veterans, advising them to “select a business model and brand that you can see yourself working with and enjoying every day. Franchising offers the structure and support system that veterans are accustomed to, while still providing the desired independence and ownership.”
A Day in the Life of a Bloomin’ Blinds Franchisee
Yadira Simunek usually starts her day with a walk to connect with nature while discussing business topics with her husband. After that, her Bloomin’ Blinds responsibilities include some combination of:
- In-home consulting with clients.
- Performing repairs to blinds.
- Attending training sessions with vendor representatives.
- Preparing quotes for prospective clients.
- Ordering products.
- Prepping her Bloomin’ Blinds van for scheduled installations and repairs.
- Following up with clients via phone, email and text.
- Meeting with business partners such as bookkeepers and marketing firms.
- Community networking.
- Creating content for social media.
Visit Bloomin’ Blinds for more information.
