Women in Leadership

PJ's Coffee franchise exec: Women should 'rise up' within industry

Tori Jones Bermond, manager of Franchise Development of PJ's Coffee, discusses why she is passionate about helping women become business owners.

Tori Jones Bermond, manager of Franchise Development, PJ's Coffee. provided

September 30, 2021

By Tori Jones Bermond, manager of Franchise Development, PJ's Coffee

Prior to discovering my love for the franchise industry and equipping business owners with the right tools and information to be successful, I had found myself as a recent graduate at Louisiana State University with a major in Merchandising and a minor in Business Administration. Although I was unsure of where I wanted to take my career, my brother attended his Join the Team Day, where he, a multi-unit franchisee for PJ's Coffee, taught me more about the company and shared an open position they had to offer.

During my time at LSU, I had been a Sports Properties Intern, where I worked on the client relations side of their sports teams; interacting with corporate sponsor representatives, assisting in client activation and completing client recaps. This gave me the exposure I needed to build relationships and create success between myself and my client pool. After months of job hunting, I couldn't shake that empty feeling after every interview. Then after four months, I received a call from the PJ's corporate team and accepted my initial position as Franchise Development Coordinator in April of 2018.

As soon as I began my journey at PJ's, I felt I was getting the hang of it all and began poking at my supervisors asking, "What can I do next?" That's when I learned about the Certified Franchise Executive program and eventually completed the program in October of 2020. I now hold a title as Franchise Development Manager at PJ's Coffee and act as a silent investor in one location.

Walking candidates through the discovery process
After team members get through all of the pre-qualifications, I then handle intro phone calls and complete the discovery phone calls with candidates. I'm able to ensure they feel fully equipped and informed on the level of training, marketing and ongoing support available. I also oversee the consultant/broker relationships to further assist them through the discovery process.

Fueling female entrepreneurs
Whether it's at the corporate level, building up our team of wonderful leaders that continue to create success within the business or onboarding new female business owners, it's an honor to see that number of female leadership grow.

It's always inspiring to welcome new budding entrepreneurs achieve their own personal goals through the business. In fact, out of the most recent 11 individuals I have awarded a franchise license to, seven of them have been females eager to start their next venture with the PJ's franchise family and growing network of over 130 locations.

Anyone who is considering a career in franchising, should know there is no limit. There is always going to be a way to further your education and career, especially in the franchising world. Additionally, if you get behind a brand you are truly passionate about, it makes the job or striking out on your own that much better.

Why franchising works for anyone
I am passionate about the franchising system and feel that it is a great way to work with a proven system. Many franchisors have been around for several years and have all of the systems and processes put in place for you. In turn, it sets up an easier operation for the owner and takes much of the stress off the business owner. Having the ability to pick up the phone to text and/or call someone when you have a question or issue in your business is priceless, and that's what you get with franchising support. When candidates are going through their own discovery process, that's their opportunity to ask the right questions to ensure they're partnering with an infrastructure and model that aligns with their mission and vision.

Lean into resources and networks
Through obtaining my CFE, it has unlocked many doors to networking. I have met some incredible franchise executives across the nation and have had the chance to collaborate with some of the best in the business. I am actively working with DeBow Padgett (Color Me Mine Marketing Director) to co-chair/found the New Orleans Women Franchise Network Chapter. I'm thankful that I found the franchise community and able to be one of the first to introduce entrepreneurs into endless world of resources that are available internally and externally.

Operations