Don’t let one person (and their opinions of you) define you!
That’s our big takeaway in this heartfelt and inspiring interview with Candace (Couture) Byrnes. Candace speaks from personal experience having worked with a highly critical nitpicking superior. Her confidence and competence were under constant attack. Candace shares how she moved through that painful experience and the lessons and blessings that came from it.
Candace spent 21 years with Planet Fitness and recently joined Zor411 as a partner and COO. Here, she leverages her experience and knowledge to help carefully selected franchise brands expand their market share and achieve business objectives through thoughtful growth strategies. She stands by the company’s mission to Love, Learn and Live Your Business and is currently serving in a development leadership role for the company’s first two brands The DRIPBaR and Brake Squad.
Listen in to Candace Byrnes as she joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.
Meet Candace Byrnes
Candace Couture, CFE is an accomplished Franchise Sales and Business Development Executive with more than 21 years of experience at the Planet Fitness World Headquarters (1999-2020), supporting corporate initiatives, facilitating critical business planning, and driving company growth and expansion. She was promoted through a series of positions throughout her successful tenure, playing an integral role in awarding and opening over 2,000 locations throughout the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Panama and Australia.
In her most recent role as the VP of Business Development (November 2018-August 2020) Candace was responsible for creating and implementing an international growth strategy as well as leading the domestic Franchise Development Team to optimize existing Area Development territories as well as manage new prospects to drive long-term revenue growth.
Candace has been a business partner in Zor411 since September 2021, when she stepped into the role of COO for the organization. Here, she leverages her experience and knowledge to help carefully selected franchise brands expand their market share and achieve business objectives through thoughtful growth strategies. She stands by the company’s mission to Love, Learn and Live Your Business and is currently serving in a development leadership role for the company’s first two brands The DRIPBaR and Brake Squad.
In addition to her work at Planet Fitness and Zor411, Candace has earned her Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation from the International Franchise Association (IFA). She has spoken at numerous Conferences, including those hosted by the IFA, to discuss best practices in Franchise Development for emerging Franchise brands.
Candace has also been an Executive Leadership Team Member of the American Heart Association’s (AHA’s) NH Heart Ball since 2020 and currently serves as Chairwoman for the 2022 event.
When not focusing on her role with Zor411 or volunteer work with organizations such as the AHA, she loves to spend as much time as possible outdoors with her husband, Steven, and two English Cream Golden Retrievers, Casco and Baylee.