In this episode of On Brand, Slightly Off Topic, Clement Troutman shares his journey through leadership, development, and operational growth in franchising. Drawing on years of hands-on experience, he discusses the importance of building systems that scale, emphasizing how training, consistency, and accountability help franchise teams thrive. Clement highlights the power of authentic leadership, the role of communication in franchise support, and the importance of empowering franchisees to take ownership of their success.

From developing people to refining processes, Clement offers practical insights into how culture drives performance and how successful franchisors balance brand standards with local flexibility. The episode delivers actionable takeaways for franchise founders, operators, and emerging brands focused on operational excellence, sustainable growth, and long-term partnership.

In this episode of On Brand, Slightly Off Topic, Jonathan Hill sits down with CJ McPhail, Co-Founder & CEO of Outsider Coffee in Pendleton, South Carolina. CJ and his wife, Lindsey, have built a coffee brand that pairs great caffeine with a clear mission—championing kindness, authenticity, and real human connection. Drawing on his background as an ordained pastor, speaker, and autism advocate, CJ shares the personal experiences that shaped Outsider’s “people first” ethos and the practical ways it shows up in hiring, customer experience, and community partnerships.
The conversation explores servant leadership, empathy in action, and how small gestures can catalyze big transformation. CJ’s story is a field guide for building a company that is profitable and purposeful, creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and included. A must-listen for founders, operators, and leaders building values-driven brands.

Keywords

CJ McPhail, Lindsey McPhail, Outsider Coffee, Jonathan Hill, On Brand Slightly Off Topic, Pendleton South Carolina, coffee business, mission-driven business, community building, autism advocacy, small business, local business, brand storytelling, culture building, conscious capitalism, retail coffee, third place culture, entrepreneurship, business growth

In this episode, Jonathan Hill sits down with Carey Gille, Co-Founder and CEO of Franchise FastLane, the #1 franchise sales organization in the country. Carey shares her incredible journey as a serial entrepreneur, from building and selling multiple startups—including ItsDeductible, later acquired by Intuit—to leading the charge in franchising with FastLane. She opens up about the challenges and lessons of building businesses, her unique perspective as both a franchisor and franchisee, and what it takes to “responsibly drive extraordinary growth” in today’s franchise landscape. Carey also discusses the impact of private equity on FastLane, her favorite insights from mentors and books, and the personal “why” that motivates her every day. Packed with wisdom, inspiration, and stories from the front lines of entrepreneurship, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in franchising, business ownership, or scaling a brand with purpose.

Keywords

Carey Gille, Franchise FastLane, franchising, franchise development, franchise sales, franchise growth, entrepreneurship, serial entrepreneur, startup, small business, franchisor, franchisee, franchise opportunities, franchise ownership, business ownership, franchising trends, private equity, scaling a business, business strategy, sales growth, franchise success, franchise brands, franchise consulting, franchise sales organization, franchising advice, business lessons, franchising insights, franchising inspiration, leadership, women in franchising, women entrepreneurs, franchising podcast, franchising stories