What happens when you combine the pioneering spirit of a dedicated leader with the strategic power of institutional capital? You unlock a framework for sustainable business growth that prioritizes trust, team alignment, and incredible pathways of opportunity.

In this episode of The Owl’s Edge, host Susan Black-Beth sits down with her close friend Omar Simmons, the founder and managing partner of Exaltare Capital Management. Omar shares how his foundational journey began in inner-city Boston, where the deep love of his single mother and the unbreakable bond of his sports peer group—the PCD crew—pushed him to become the first in his family to attend college, leading him directly to Princeton University and Harvard Business School.

They dive deep into Omar's real-world transition into franchising, where he received a battlefield promotion to CEO of a Planet Fitness franchise system amid the pandemic. Omar reveals the specific strategies he used to lead his team through unprecedented operational seasons.

This conversation explores the core mechanics of franchising as a relationship-driven influence game and celebrates how aligning values can build long-term enterprise.

KEY STRATEGIC TAKEAWAYS

• The Pioneering Spirit: Grounding your business journey in a strong support network enables leaders to navigate complex challenges with confidence.

• The Franchise Influence Game: Franchising operates on trust and collaboration rather than top-down employer control, because franchisees are independent partners.

• Scaling the Talent Pool: Utilizing dedicated accelerator models like the Franchise Ascension Initiative infuses fresh, innovative talent into the wider ecosystem.

ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS FOR OPERATORS

• Synchronize Your Growth Objectives: Establish clear definitions of value creation and explicit timeline expectations before entering partnerships with outside capital.

• Maximize Your Local Autonomy: Focus heavily on directly impacting your unit-level KPIs and nurturing your immediate team to drive organic system growth.

• Build Relationship Boundaries: Focus on generating a transparent partnership with your franchisor based on mutual trust rather than relying purely on the legal text of the franchise agreement.

ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS FOR INVESTORS

• Evaluate Leadership Judgment: Underwrite franchise transactions by looking past historical spreadsheets and deeply assessing the operational character and field experience of the team.

• Avoid Unrealistic Growth Pressures: Protect your asset by avoiding the temptation to microwave relationships or force overly aggressive expansion metrics that exceed infrastructure limits.

• Value the Operator’s Stake: Treat franchise owners as vital stakeholders who hold a valid, credible right to protect long-term enterprise value.

GUEST BIO

Omar Simmons is an entrepreneur, executive, and investor with over 30 years of experience across private equity and consumer brands. He is the founder and managing partner of Exaltare Capital Management and has operated successfully on both sides of the franchise desk, notably serving as a multi-unit Planet Fitness franchise CEO. Omar holds a degree from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Alongside his wife, Raynya, he co-founded the Franchise Ascension Initiative accelerator program with IFA to expand business ownership opportunities nationwide.

Support Owl’s Edge Podcast:

Hit the subscribe button, follow the show, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway!

If you know a franchise owner/operator or an investor who is seeking their business “Edge,” share this episode with them today.

Show Notes:

Follow Auspicious Owl Group on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/auspicious-owl-group/

Connect with Susan Black-Beth on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-e-blackbeth/

Connect with Omar Simmons
https://exaltarecapital.com/omar-simmons-president/

What happens when a rapid expansion leads to a $100,000 loss in your first year? For Todd Recknagel, that was the moment he truly became a franchisee. Instead of selling a struggling business, he leaned into the "operational trenches," fixed the foundation, and turned a setback into a springboard for a massive career as both a brand leader and investor.

In this episode of The Owl’s Edge, host Susan Black-Beth sits down with Todd to break down the mechanics of "the developer model" and why scaling too fast is the most common trap in franchising. Todd shares the specific, high-stakes lessons he learned while managing three Blimpie locations—insights that now guide his multi-million dollar investments at 320 Capital Group.

Together, they dive into the "sandwich shop math" that every leader needs to master: managing labor hours, theoretical vs. actual inventory costs, and why you must have healthy unit economics before you even think about the next location. This is a conversation about the grit required to move from an operator with a job to a leader with a legacy.

KEY STRATEGIC TAKEAWAYS

• The "Fixer" Mindset: Why deciding to solve an operational problem rather than exiting is the ultimate turning point for any entrepreneur.

• The Unit Economics Rule: Scaling a sick unit only creates a sick system. Todd explains why your first three locations must be profitable and stable before moving into the developer model.

• Managing the Margins: A deep dive into the two largest levers in a franchise—labor efficiency and inventory control. If you can’t manage a food cost percentage, you can’t manage a brand.

• The Developer Model vs. The Operator Model: Understanding who this model is for (those who want to build systems) and why it works (leverage and professional management).

• PE with a Soul: Advice for Private Equity groups on why respecting the unit-level reality is the only way to ensure a successful exit.

ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS FOR OPERATORS

• Audit Your Hours: Look at labor not just as a cost, but as an efficiency metric. Are you overstaffed during lulls or understaffed during peaks?

• Master the First Three: Focus on making your first three units bulletproof before looking at your next territory.

ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS FOR INVESTORS

• Look at the Trenches: When evaluating a franchise investment, look past the high-level EBITDA and examine the unit-level labor and inventory management.

• The Operator’s Advantage: Prioritize partnerships with leaders who have "operator's soul"—those who have felt the weight of a personal guarantee and understand the daily reality of the staff.

GUEST BIO Todd Recknagel is a seasoned entrepreneur, CEO, and investor with over 30 years of experience in the franchising sector. After starting as a multi-unit Blimpie franchisee, Todd ascended to the franchisor side as CEO of Mr. Handyman, and has since partnered with premier private equity groups as a co-investor. Today, as a Managing Partner at 320 Capital Group, Todd utilizes his "front-line" experience to invest in middle-market franchise companies. He currently serves on the boards of PCRK Group (Massage Envy), Salon Freedom (Sola Salons), and Office Pride, where he continues to advocate for the power of healthy unit economics and strong leadership culture.

Support Owl’s Edge Podcast:

Hit the subscribe button, follow the show, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway!

If you know a franchise owner/operator or an investor who is seeking their business “Edge,” share this episode with them today.

Show Notes:

Follow Auspicious Owl Group on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/auspicious-owl-group/

Connect with Susan Black-Beth on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-e-blackbeth/

Connect with Todd Recknagel
https://www.three20group.com/

The franchisors who scale sustainably aren't the ones who sell the most units. They're the ones who adjust pace when systems and processes are starting to break.

In this episode, Susan sits down with James Young, one of franchising's most quietly remarkable operators, for a conversation that pulls no punches on what actually builds an enduring franchise system and what happens when leaders stop paying attention to important signals.

James has lived both sides of the franchise-growth equation. He scaled a telecom franchise to 120 units in 15 months only to watch its parent company go bankrupt. That education sent him to Spring Green Enterprises, where he eventually became president, grew the business to over $120 million in systemwide sales, and helped architect one of the cleanest family succession stories in the industry while building one of the most sophisticated marketing and data engines in home services franchising.

The conversation covers what actually matters. James breaks down why unit level economics sound great in a diligence meeting but fall apart when franchisees lack the financial infrastructure to produce clean data, and why smart operators know the difference between awarding a franchise and selling one. That distinction, more than almost anything else, determines whether you're building something enduring or just collecting fees.

They also dig into the role of company-owned units as sources of innovation, the dangerous gap between the promise and reality of semi-absentee ownership, and why James is watching the family office space more closely than traditional PE when it comes to franchise investing longevity.

Key Themes

Why data quality matters and how it impacts growth, valuation, and decision-making

The difference between selling and awarding a franchise

How franchise fees and broker models can affect long-term unit success

Why company-owned units are key considerations for testing and protecting the system

The realities and risks behind semi-absentee ownership

How thoughtful succession planning supports long-term stability

FOR OPERATORS (Franchisors & Franchisees):

Why focusing on awarding the right partners is the key to growth

How to stay grounded in the financial realities of managing franchisees

Why you want to test and refine new ideas before scaling changes

FOR INVESTORS (Private Equity, Family Offices, Independent Sponsors):

Why you need to look beyond surface-level metrics and understand how the data is built

A key metric to evaluate growth with operator success

How investing in systems with strong foundations is better that fast expansion

Guest Bio:

James Young is a seasoned franchise executive with decades of experience across franchise development, operations, and multi-brand leadership. He has played a key role in scaling franchise systems within the home services space, including leadership positions with Spring-Green Lawn Care and Pet Butler.

Known for his practical, operator-first approach, James brings deep expertise in unit-level economics, franchise growth strategy, and building infrastructure that supports long-term success. His leadership focuses on aligning strategy with real-world execution, ensuring both franchisors and franchisees are positioned to grow sustainably.

Support Owl’s Edge Podcast:

Hit the subscribe button, follow the show, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway!

If you know a franchise owner/operator or an investor who is seeking their business “Edge,” share this episode with them today.

Show Notes:

Follow Auspicious Owl Group on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/auspicious-owl-group/

Connect with Susan Black-Beth on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-e-blackbeth/

Connect with James Young

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyoungfranexec/