02/12/2026
✨Yolanda Stevenson joined a business panel last Monday with students from Abilene Christian University studying entrepreneurship and business systems.
She was alongside three franchise owners two from FASTSIGNS and one from Mosquito Joe—for a candid discussion on the difference between investing in an established franchise system and building a company that becomes the franchisor. The conversation covered capital investment, operational discipline, system standards, infrastructure, scalability, and risk.
Students asked thoughtful questions about ownership, autonomy, growth, and long-term value creation in a relaxed but practical setting. That evening, she also sat with leaders from Painting with a Twist, The Lash Lounge, Unleashed Brands, Great Clips, Just Between Friends, Bloomin Blinds, Heights Wellness Retreat, Gideon Math & Reading, and MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes for a dinner hosted by Shannon and ACU continuing the dialogue and exchanging insights across multiple franchise systems.
Grateful to Shannon for the invitation and for creating space to share perspective and invest in the next generation of business leaders.💙