Background

“I graduated from Texas Tech University with a business degree, where I also ran track and was the captain of the cross country team. Afterward, I joined the service as a member of the United States Air Force (USAF), where I went on to serve for 21 years before retiring from the 190th Air Refueling Wing (part of the Kansas Air National Guard). I had the honor to pilot a KC-135 Stratotanker, where we specialized in mid-flight refueling for various fighter and support aircraft. I was also an Inspector General and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On the personal side, I’m happily married to my wife, Aimee, and we have three children – Reigan, Vincent, and Grant.”

On Pursuing an Entrepreneurial Life Through Franchising

“I guess you could say that I’ve always been entrepreneurial. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to own my own business someday. It’s part of the reason I joined the Air Force out of college – I knew it would give me the leadership skills I needed to succeed in the business world. I actually started my first business when I was still actively flying global missions. I chose franchising for its simplicity. It made sense to me because of the built-in support systems they offer – which came in handy while I was still deployed. At the time, I flew with a lot of guys who were contemplating their future careers as pilots for the major domestic airline carriers. But I knew if I chose that path, I’d be gone a considerable amount of time, away from my family. I decided to do what’s best for me and for my family – start my own business.”

On What Attracted Him to the Heights Opportunity

“It’s interesting because I was actually a client of Heights before I became a franchisee in their system. Back when I was training and running marathons, I was a frequent visitor for therapeutic massage. Over time, and as a member, I saw the value in this service. I see massage therapy as part of a lifetime commitment to my overall health and wellness. So, from my perspective, owning a business like Heights, with its great service and lifelong customers, looked like a stable, consistent, and profitable business opportunity.”

How it’s Going…

“I’ve been at this for a while now and have grown my Heights business to four different locations in the Kansas City metro area – Lenexa, Leawood, Shoal Creek, and Tiffany Springs – to be exact. In every single year I’ve been in business, my franchise locations have all improved with year-over-year growth.”

On What Entrepreneurship Has Afforded Him

“What entrepreneurship has really done is allow me to create a schedule that works for me on a personal level, balancing both my strengths and family life. It’s probably the biggest reason I chose to seek an entrepreneurial life. I believe that family comes first – above all else. And now, I’m fortunate enough to have that luxury. Every week, I check with my wife and ask her to load up my calendar for the times she needs me, then I create my business schedule with the time remaining. It’s one of the reasons we work so well as a team and it’s a real blessing for our family to have this option. I get to balance my work life and my family life – all according to our collective needs. It’s providing me with an opportunity to do something special beginning next year. My son is going to get into quarter midget racing and the car will have Heights sponsorship all over it. If I’d gone the commercial pilot route, I seriously doubt I would have ever had an opportunity to make a commitment like this.”

How Heights Supported His Journey

“I think, above all else, Heights has supported my journey by allowing me to grow and scale according to my own pace. They’ve generously provided all the training and support I could ask for, which is how I’ve gotten to this point. They may be the franchisor, and I may be the franchisee, but I see it as nothing less than a mutually beneficial partnership. We root for each other to win as much as we root for ourselves. They want to see me expand further in my market and I intend to follow through with their wishes.”

On Plans for the Future

“As I said, we’re both looking at ways for me to further expand my Heights locations. I was once told to think big, set a goal, then double it. And that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

How His Military Experience Prepared Him for Franchise Ownership

“I think the biggest benefit I earned from my time in the military was self-confidence. Because of the training I received in the Air Force, I never doubt my ability to overcome any adversity or challenging situations. But being in the military also taught me how to be a true professional – to have a passion for getting the mission done right, every time. I became an expert at my craft during my time in the service and I’m now doing the same in the private sector. When it comes right down to it, excellence is really all in the details. My time in the service demonstrated that, in life, 10% is what happens to you, and 90% is in how you respond. I learned that no matter what, keep a positive attitude, always have integrity, and never quit.”

How He Discovered Heights was Right for Him

“As I said before, I was a client long before I became an owner, which gave me a firsthand perspective from the customer’s point of view. I was an avid runner. And running comes with aches and pains. Heights was very instrumental in helping me recover and continue to be competitive, so I saw the actual value in what they provide for services. When the opportunity to purchase my first Heights franchise came up, I pounced on it because I believed in it. And still do. I know there are many others like me who understand the value of therapeutic massage. And I was absolutely impressed with the business model. What Heights does is create lifelong members, which provides owners the chance to generate predictable and steady income through recurring revenue. As a society, I don’t think there’s any doubt that we’re becoming more and more health conscious. We’re taking our health and wellbeing into consideration like never before and I see no sign that it’ll slow down any time soon. That makes for a promising future.”

Benefits of Being a Veteran Owner

“I’ve always appreciated how Heights offered me a 10% discount on my initial franchise fee. And I also need to credit the SBA, who waived my financing fees because I was a veteran. For military service members transitioning to civilian life, there are lots and lots of programs, tools, resources, and assistance out there, just waiting for you.”

How Military Experience Influences His Management Style

“The type of people I’m managing now are quite different from the ones I oversaw in the military, so I had to adapt my style. That being said, the fundamentals are still exactly the same. As a manager or leader, I think you’re judged on both the quality of your actions, as well as the integrity of your intent. So, leaders must have the confidence to stand alone, make the tough decisions when they come, and retain the compassion that allows you to listen to others’ perspectives. I spent over 20 years in the military, observing several types of leaders, some of which were good, some of which weren’t. I was always making mental notes on what to do or not to do in certain situations. Basically, I was conducting a trial run for how I’d apply my own leadership lessons when I became the owner of a business of my own.”

Advice for Other Veterans on Franchise Ownership

“For any of the veterans out there, I’d tell them that franchising is an advantageous way to get started in business. The comprehensive training they offer (sound familiar?) is there to ensure that you need no prior experience to own or operate a Heights franchise of your own. Just like in the military, we rely on an operations manual and certain protocols. If you were always good at executing orders, you’ll be equally as good executing a franchise system. Trust me on that one.”

Let’s Chat!

Heights Wellness Retreat is a leader in massage therapy, skincare and wellness, helping guests prioritize self-care through expert-driven, high-quality services. With 100+ Massage Heights franchise locations across North America, we offer a proven business model in the booming wellness industry.

If you're ready to explore an exciting future as a Heights franchise owner, we’d love to connect. Contact us today, and one of our franchise development representatives will be in touch to help you take the next step.