Franchising changed Jerry Akers’ life, and now he’s on a mission to remove unnecessary pain from the industry.

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Jerry Akers — multi-unit franchise operator, author, IFA board member, and founder of Z-Dynamics — to unpack what actually separates thriving franchisees from those who struggle.

Jerry shares how he grew from one underperforming acquisition to 32 Great Clips salons across two states, what scaling really requires (hint: it’s not “semi-absentee”), and why culture is the ultimate growth lever. He explains how leadership differs from management, why mindset determines franchise success, and how to build bench strength that creates true operational peace.

They also explore the biggest misconceptions new franchisees bring into the system, the danger of rewriting the playbook you already paid for, and how technology and AI will reshape labor and leadership in the years ahead.

Jerry’s philosophy centers around what he calls the Franchisee Trifecta: Peace, Profit, and Posterity: building a business that runs well, earns well, and lasts.

If you’re a franchise operator, aspiring owner, or industry leader, this conversation is packed with practical insight and hard-earned wisdom.



About Jerry:

Jerry is a self-proclaimed “farm boy from Iowa” who spent 27 years in Corporate America as a turnaround expert.  During that time, he, along with his wife and now two daughters, started putting together a Company that spans two States and includes 32 Great Clips salons.  After two days of retirement, he became bored and joined The Joint Chiropractic as a Regional Developer. He now has four open Clinics and supports two franchisees, each with three of their own.  In 2020, he co-authored the best-selling book, “Live it 2 Own It,” leading to requests for him to Keynote and share his success methods for Franchisees at conventions, along with classes and work sessions, training franchisees on best practices and business-improving tactics.  Currently a State Council Member of NFIB and a member of the IFA board of Directors, Jerry spends the majority of his “retirement” time mentoring and guiding Franchisees of all brands.

Jerry Akers on Peace, Profit, and Posterity in Franchising

In Episode 7 of MustardHub Voices: From the Frontlines, Julie sits down with Aka Ali-Kerr, Director of Human Resources at Andaz Miami Beach, part of the Hyatt Hotels portfolio, to explore what people-first leadership truly looks like in hospitality.

With more than 25 years in HR and a background in psychology, Aka shares why soft skills are often the biggest differentiator between good leaders and great ones. Drawing from her global career journey from Trinidad and Tobago to the U.S., she explains how culture, trust, and intentional leadership behaviors directly impact engagement, retention, and performance in frontline environments.

This conversation dives into leading multi-generational teams, navigating emotional intelligence on the front lines, embracing technology without losing the human touch, and why leaders must help employees understand the “why” behind their work. Aka also introduces her six leadership mandates—care with action, consistency with accountability, and competence with the right attitude—and explains why leadership is a badge of honor, not power.

It’s a powerful, thoughtful episode for hospitality leaders and anyone responsible for building cultures where people feel cared for, respected, and motivated to stay.

Leading Through Care: Aka Ali-Kerr on Soft Skills, Culture, and Trust in Hospitality 

In Episode 6 of MustardHub Voices: From the Frontlines, Julie sits down with Dave Cuff, Chief of Staff at Loving, a production-based landscaping and sod farming business, to unpack what it really takes to scale frontline organizations without losing clarity, culture, or accountability.

Dave shares his unconventional journey from pharmaceuticals to franchising and into operations leadership, offering an honest look at the growing pains that come with rapid growth. He dives into the realities of restructuring leadership teams, applying EOS in practice (not just in theory), and the hard but necessary work of ensuring the right people are in the right seats.

This conversation explores breaking down silos, avoiding vanity metrics, documenting processes, and building leadership pathways that frontline and middle managers can actually follow. Dave also reflects on why leaders must resist firefighting, focus on outcomes that truly move the business, and never take their people for granted.

It’s a candid, practical episode for operators and leaders navigating growth, complexity, and the human side of scaling.

Right People, Right Seats: Scaling Frontline Teams with Dave Cuff

Scaling a service business isn’t about leadership, trust, and clarity.

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Kurt Schmidt, founder of Schmidt Consulting Group, to explore why so many agencies struggle to scale and what actually helps them move forward. Kurt shares his unconventional path from professional BMX rider to agency founder and advisor, and how those early experiences shaped his approach to leadership and resilience.

The conversation dives into why many agencies don’t truly have a lead problem, but a positioning and trust problem, and how misalignment quietly leads to stalled growth and burnout. Kurt explains the risks of scaling without intention, why over-systematizing can erode value, and how leaders often get in their own way by confusing activity with strategy.

They also discuss common sales mistakes, why proposals fail to close, and why leadership growth must start with honest self-reflection.

This episode is a must-watch for agency founders and consultants who want to grow with intention — not ego.



About Kurt:

Kurt Schmidt is the founder of Schmidt Consulting Group, a business advisor, author, and former pro BMX rider with over 20 years of experience helping creative and tech companies grow through better strategy, positioning, and operations.

Kurt Schmidt on Growth, Trust, and Getting Out of Your Own Way as a Leader

AI isn’t HR’s biggest challenge — confusion is.

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Kyle Lagunas, founder and principal analyst at Kyle & Co., to unpack what’s really happening inside HR, talent, and people technology today. Drawing from his journey from blogger during the Great Recession to trusted industry analyst, Kyle brings clarity to one of the most overhyped conversations in business.

They explore why AI adoption is moving slower than expected, why capacity and capability — not resistance — hold HR teams back, and why AI literacy has become a critical leadership skill. Kyle also explains the growing disconnect between what vendors are building and what HR teams can realistically implement, especially in lean organizations and teams of one.

The conversation looks ahead to second-generation AI adoption and why leaders must shift their focus from pure efficiency to quality, experience, and human outcomes. Throughout, Kyle emphasizes partnership, trust, and creating space to think — not just react.

This episode is a must-watch for HR leaders, founders, and operators who want to cut through the hype and make smarter, more human decisions about technology and the future of work.



About Kyle:

Kyle Lagunas is the Founder and Principal Analyst at Kyle & Co, a modern research and advisory firm rethinking how we understand transformation in HR, talent, and technology. Known for his sharp analysis, candid point of view, and practical guidance, Kyle helps HR tech and talent leaders cut through hype and build strategies that actually work.

Today, he’s bringing research to reality and helping the industry tackle its biggest questions with clarity, credibility, and heart.

Kyle Lagunas: AI Literacy — Not Tools — Is HR’s Real Advantage

In Episode 5 of MustardHub Voices: From the Frontlines, Julie sits down with Katin Keirstead, Vice President of Operations at The Junkluggers, to explore what it really takes to lead frontline teams in a mission-driven franchise organization.

Katin shares her unconventional path into franchising and how her background in adult education shaped her leadership philosophy. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at running operations in a highly physical, people-centered business where frontline employees must balance efficiency, empathy, and customer trust during emotionally charged life transitions.

This conversation dives into aligning leadership teams through EOS, setting clear objectives and accountability, and helping frontline employees understand both the emotional and financial realities of the business. Katin also discusses the importance of professional communication platforms, transparent economics, and treating operations leadership as “connective tissue” that removes obstacles so teams can succeed.

It’s an honest, practical discussion for franchise leaders, operators, and anyone responsible for building aligned, high-performing frontline teams.

Empathy, Operations, and Alignment: Katin Keirstead on Leading Frontline Teams 

Performance management only works when it’s connected to how people grow and how they’re rewarded.

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Satish Kumar, Head of PerformSpark at Trainery, to explore why traditional performance reviews are broken and what modern organizations need instead. Coming from a finance and private equity background, Satish brings a first-principles perspective to HR tech — questioning long-standing assumptions and rethinking how systems should actually work together.

The conversation dives into why once-a-year reviews no longer make sense, how AI can surface patterns managers miss, and why learning, performance, and compensation should never live in silos. Satish also shares insights on distributed and frontline workforces, manager enablement, and why intellectual curiosity and AI fluency are quickly becoming non-negotiable skills.

This episode is a must-watch for HR leaders, founders, and operators looking to move beyond fragmented tools and build talent systems designed for the future of work.



About Satish:

Satish helps lead PerformSpark (fka ReviewCloud), Trainery’s performance management module. His philosophy is simple: learning, performance, and pay only make sense when they’re connected.

PerformSpark is the “performance” piece of that triangle — the part that makes goals, feedback, and growth feel real instead of something that just happens once a year. His job is to make the tool useful, simple, and tied to how people actually work.

Satish Kumar on Why Performance, Learning, and Pay Must Finally Work Together

Most people problems at work are really leadership problems.

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Mary Stieber Reinout, ICF-certified executive coach and founder of Threshold Coaching & Consulting, to explore what truly drives leadership effectiveness in today’s workplace. Drawing on decades of experience in executive development, talent strategy, and counseling psychology, Mary shares why self-awareness — and reducing self-deception — is the foundation of great leadership.

The conversation dives into why communication breakdowns derail teams, how leaders can develop healthier feedback loops, and why organizations often underinvest in leadership development. Mary also offers thoughtful insights on executive transitions, learning cultures, neuroinclusion, and what employees are really asking for in the future of work.

This episode is a must-watch for leaders, HR professionals, and founders who want to build stronger relationships, more resilient teams, and workplaces where people genuinely feel seen and supported.



About Mary:

As an ICF-certified executive coach and talent consultant, Mary specializes in executive development, assessment, leadership effectiveness, career management, and personal life transitions. With a rich career working in a variety of environments and industries, she’s led learning functions and talent development in several organizations, including a national nonprofit. Internationally, she designed leadership development programs on multiple continents and led new executive onboarding globally. Recognized as a Top 15 Coach in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she excels in coaching leaders toward leveled-up performance, increased resilience, and adaptability. With a counseling background and commitment to psychological well-being, she customizes coaching engagements to respond to whole person needs. Finally, combined with her ability to align and mobilize teams to implement organizational change, Mary is an expert designing executive transition strategies.

Why Leadership Growth Starts with Self-Awareness with Mary Stieber Reinout

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: From the Frontlines, Julie sits down with Rhiannon Hoeweler, VP of Experience and Impact at MadTree Brewing, to explore what it takes to build a people-first culture while scaling a fast-growing, purpose-driven business.

Rhiannon shares her journey from environmental science and the Cincinnati Zoo to leading experience, marketing, HR, and community impact at one of the Midwest’s most recognizable regional breweries. She offers a candid look at the opportunities and tensions that come with rapid growth—from maintaining culture across multiple locations to turning purpose and volunteerism into something employees actively engage with, not just talk about.

This conversation dives into employee engagement, mental health, burnout, and the powerful connection between nature, community, and wellbeing. Rhiannon also introduces the concept of self-leadership and explains how small, intentional practices like walking, gratitude, and setting the tone for the day can make leaders more effective and teams more fulfilled. It’s an inspiring, practical discussion for leaders building culture in hospitality and beyond.

Purpose, People, and Self-Leadership: Rhiannon Hoeweler on Building Culture at Scale

Franchising only works when people come first.

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Paul Ebert, Group President at Home Franchise Concepts, to explore what it really takes to scale franchise brands without losing culture, trust, or humanity. Paul shares his unconventional journey from Big Four accounting to leading multiple high-growth home services brands.

The conversation dives into why franchising is fundamentally a people business, how investing in frontline workers drives customer outcomes, and what franchisors can (and can’t) do to support franchisees without crossing legal lines. Paul also explains why time — not money — is the modern customer’s most valuable currency, and how strong culture becomes a competitive advantage in labor-intensive industries.

This episode is a must-watch for franchisors, franchisees, and leaders who believe long-term growth depends on building systems that work for people — not just around them.

About Paul:

Paul Ebert is Group President at Home Franchise Concepts, where he leads several high-growth franchised brands including Two Maids, Aussie Pet Mobile, AdvantaClean, and Lightspeed Restoration. Paul has steered impressive growth through operational excellence, innovation, and a people-first leadership style.

Paul Ebert on Building People-First Franchise Brands That Actually Scale

Explore what truly creates workplace happiness, builds a better culture, and drives greater engagement for the entire workforce — from the suits in the C-suite to team members on the frontlines. Get real-world insights and practical strategies to recognize, retain, elevate, and empower teams. From engaging interviews with thought leaders in our Voices web series to step-by-step how-tos, MustardHub helps you operationalize great culture and design the workplace of tomorrow... today. MustardHub Voices: Behind The Build addresses these hot topics and more with business leaders, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, consultants, coaches, researchers, and other brilliant minds committed to building, engaging, and elevating culture-driven, high-performing teams.

Fireside Chats: Behind The Build

MustardHub Voices: From the Frontlines takes you inside the businesses where great leadership happens in real time. Hear from owners, operators, and managers who aren’t behind closed doors — they’re right there with their teams, serving customers, solving problems, and setting the tone. From healthcare and childcare to retail, hospitality, home services, and more, our guests share what it really takes to keep people engaged, operations running smoothly, and customers coming back. You’ll walk away with actionable ideas, inspiring stories, and a deeper look at how leaders make an impact where the work and the magic happen.

Julie Ewald

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