Ford Will Promote Brand Visibility Through Lead Generation, Advertising, and the Franchise 500 Rankings
Cassidy Ford has been named the director of franchise sales of Entrepreneur Media, a leading resource for entrepreneurship and franchising. The media company produces articles and podcasts and also ranks top franchise opportunities. With the role, Ford promotes brand visibility through lead generation programs, advertising, and Entrepreneur’s annual Franchise 500 rankings. She was previously an account director at FRM Solutions, which provides relationship management solutions to franchisors.
“Entrepreneur Media is the best of the best. I’m proud to join a team and a company with such a heart for franchising, as well as the influence and imagination it takes to truly make waves in this space. I’m thrilled to build new relationships and serve our franchise community in this new capacity,” Ford said.
“Entrepreneur is iconic in the franchise space; how could I not join? The team is unmatched, the culture is strong, and I knew I’d be able to serve hundreds of franchise brands in a new, fulfilling way,” Ford adds. She is excited to work with the media company’s leadership team.
“I have what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with a forward-focused team of folks who are also just fun. We all invest deeply in our franchise relationships, and I can’t wait to see who I meet and what impact I can make in this new role,” Ford said.
Liane Caruso, senior vice president of franchising at Entrepreneur, believes Ford is a great addition to the team. “We are taking major strides to re-imagine our role in franchising and building a strong team is one of our priority initiatives. Bringing Cassidy into our lofty mission is an extraordinary opportunity for us to build stronger relationships and to become better partners with our clients and our peers and the industry as a whole. I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome someone as well-respected and cherished as Cassidy to our team.”
To Ford, the future of franchising will be positively impacted by Entrepreneur. “The creativity and imagination of the Entrepreneur team is mind-blowing. We support and promote brands that will change the face of franchising, all while working hard to erase decades-long gaps between franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers. The relationships and bridges we’re building are already making a difference.”
Ford’s Franchising Journey
Ford started working with the fast-casual sushi concept How Do You Roll? the week after it aired on Shark Tank. “On my first day, they sat me down in front of a phone and 1,500 paper leads and said, ‘Start calling.’ It was truly a baptism by fire!” Ford said. She grew to love the franchise industry because “everyone has each others’ best interests at heart, and we all work together to advance a business model and a community that tangibly contributes to the world around us.”
For entrepreneurs looking to get into franchising, Ford suggests being “intentional about your professional growth, your network and who you want to be as a person. Surround yourself with people who build you up and trust your gut. This is so important — success will follow you wherever you go when you lead a purposeful life.”
Ford is a member of the International Franchise Association’s Women’s Franchise Committee and Franchising Pride Council. She is also an executive leadership team member of the Women’s Franchise Network, Atlanta Chapter. In addition to being a self-professed franchising nerd, Ford has Tourette Syndrome and tells her story on podcasts and social media, including an initiative she started last year called The Franchise Ticker. With this podcast, Ford hopes to destigmatize Tourette Syndrome and promote inclusion. During her free time, Ford loves spending time with her two Dachshunds, Sadie and Stella.