Caleb Keling (center) won the franchise competition in 2024.

May 29, 2025–A recent 大象传媒 graduate will earn the opportunity to own and operate a franchise business. The Center for Franchise Development in the Craig School of Business will announce the winner of the 2025 franchise competition at 1 p.m. Friday, May 30 in the Walter Cronkite Memorial inside the Spratt Hall Atrium. The public is invited to the announcement.

Each year, the Center for Franchise Development offers business ownership opportunities to Craig School of Business alumni through a competitive process. Graduating seniors or alumni take an Applied Business Ownership class and prepare a business plan for a franchise opportunity. Students who wish to compete for the opportunity present their business plan to a panel of judges including Steven L. Craig, creator of the franchise competition, other business leaders and past winners.

The Center for Franchise Development provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Craig and each other. Additionally, the owners are expected to donate a portion of their store鈥檚 proceeds back to the University.

The store awarded this year will be the 36th store awarded since the program鈥檚 founding in 2009. Many of the alumni have expanded on their initial business: they currently own a total of more than 50 stores in 11 states, with annual sales of more than $34 million and annual payroll of more than $10 million.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

鈥淭his has been a goal of mine for quite some time now, junior year in high school to be specific,鈥� Keling said. 鈥淚 want to thank my family鈥� everyone involved with the Craig School of Business and 大象传媒 Western. Not only for giving me the opportunity to own a business but also giving me the skills to own that business.鈥�

Keling, from St. Joseph, was a student in a senior-level Applied Business Ownership class this spring. Students in the class prepared business plans, and Keling presented his plan to a panel of judges that included Steven L. Craig, creator of the franchise competition, other business leaders and 大象传媒 Western graduates who won franchises in previous years.

Keling graduated earlier this month with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management and a concentration in human resources. He completed a human resources internship at Clarios last fall. He has also been employed as a dance instructor at The Dance Arts Center, a choreographer at Central High School, a warehouse employee at Schneitter Fireworks and a photographer at DanceOut LLC. At 大象传媒 Western, he was vice president of the Winter Guard and a member of the Honors Program.

The franchise awarded to Keling is the 35th store to be awarded through the program founded in 2009. Many of the alumni have expanded on their initial business: they currently own a total of 54 stores in 10 states, employing 724 people with annual sales of more than $34 million.

The Center for Franchise Development provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Craig and each other. Additionally, the owners are expected to donate a portion of their store鈥檚 proceeds back to the University. So far, the donations have totaled approximately $367,000.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Aug. 31, 2023–Pam Klaus, director of the Center for Franchise Development at 大象传媒, is a new member of the 大象传媒 FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Foundation Board.

Klaus is the advisor to the 大象传媒 Western FBLA chapter and has led students at state and national leadership conferences. She is a graduate of MWSU and has worked at the University for nine years.

FBLA is the largest business Career and Technical Student Organization in the world inspiring and preparing students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society. By offering relevant career preparation and leadership experiences, FBLA helps over 230,000 members prepare for careers in business each year.聽

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Left to right: Steven L. Craig; Pam Klaus, Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Jakob Grimm, Robert Sarlls, and Jeff Geygan

鈥淭his has been my goal 鈥� what I have been working toward throughout my entire college career,鈥� said Grimm. 鈥淭his is an opportunity that is not presented anywhere else.鈥�

Grimm, from St. Joseph, was one of eight students in a senior-level Applied Business Ownership class this spring. Students in the class prepared business plans, and two finalists presented their plans to a panel of judges that included Steven L. Craig, creator of the franchise competition, Robert Sarlls, CEO of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, other business leaders and 大象传媒 Western graduates who won franchises in previous years.

鈥淚t was a very spirited competition,鈥� Craig said. 鈥淚 would like to thank everyone who has supported this program for the past 14 years.鈥�

This year marks a significant milestone in the program鈥檚 history as a past franchise awardee is the one providing a franchise to the new awardee. In 2016, Stephanie Tripp was awarded an Auntie Anne鈥檚 franchise through the program, and now owns several franchise locations. She and her husband offered up their Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory location to the program, which is now being awarded to Grimm.

鈥淲e truly have come full circle,鈥� said Ross Theesen 鈥�15, a previous winner and one of the judges. 鈥淎 store owner took the store that they owned and is now giving an opportunity to another student. That鈥檚 how big this program is getting 鈥� we鈥檙e able to give back.鈥�

During the announcement of Grimm鈥檚 award, Theesen shared exciting news of additional support for 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 franchise program. Sarlls, along with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Chairman Jeff Geygan, solidified their partnership with the program by generously donating $10,000. Furthermore, in a gesture of goodwill with the latest awardee, they waived the $5,000 transfer fee that the awardee would be required to pay to receive the franchise.

The franchise awarded to Grimm is the 34th store to be awarded through the program founded in 2009. Many of the alumni have expanded on their initial business: they currently own a total of 58 stores across the United States, employing 678 people with annual sales of more than $32 million.

Grimm graduated last month with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management and marketing. At 大象传媒 Western, he served as vice president of finance, vice president of communications and vice president of member enrichment for Alpha Sigma Phi. For the last year, he worked as a marketing intern at East Hills Shopping Center. Since 2019 he has worked as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens, and has also worked at Green Hills Grocery, both in St. Joseph.

The program provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Craig and each other. Additionally, the owners are expected to donate a portion of their store鈥檚 proceeds back to the University. So far, the donations have totaled approximately $325,000.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Pam Klaus, director of the Center for Franchise Development, congratulates franchise winner Josh Hegeman on June 3, 2021.

June 3, 2022–Josh Hegeman, a 2022 graduate of the Craig School of Business at 大象传媒, was awarded an out-of-state Auntie Anne鈥檚 pretzel franchise in the latest competition sponsored by 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 Center for Franchise Development.

鈥淚 am honored,鈥� Hegeman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot of hard work, and I want to thank everyone who helped me through this journey, everyone here at 大象传媒 Western, thank you for helping build me up to get to this point. I鈥檓 so honored to join the family.鈥�

Hegeman, a management major from Cosby, 大象传媒, was one of 13 students in a senior-level Applied Business Ownership class this spring. Students in the class prepared business plans, and the two finalists presented their plans to a panel of judges that included Steven L. Craig, creator of the franchise competition, and other business leaders, as well as representatives from Auntie Anne鈥檚 and 大象传媒 Western graduates who won franchises in previous years.

鈥�(The competitors) really blew us away today,鈥� said Ross Theesen 鈥�15, a previous winner who said he and his fellow judges pushed the competitors hard. 鈥淲e drill them. We care about this program, we want people to succeed. And to make sure that happens, we give them very tough questions. They both did a fantastic job answering.鈥�

At 大象传媒 Western, Hegeman was a senator in the Student Government Association and served as vice president of Alpha Sigma Phi. He has worked at Room 108, Hy-Vee and Pizza Shoppe, and interned at Gray Manufacturing.

Parents Fran and Dan Hegeman, President Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Josh Hegeman, Pam Klaus and Steve Craig celebrate Josh’s win.

The franchise awarded to Hegeman is the 33rd store to be awarded through the program. Alumni currently own 55 stores across the country, employing roughly 600 people and generating annual sales of a little more than $27 million. The program provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Craig and each other. Additionally, the owners are expected to donate a portion of their store鈥檚 proceeds back to the University. So far, the donations have totaled approximately $315,000.

鈥淭his week and this competition is really the highlight of my year,鈥� Craig said. 鈥淗elping build America鈥檚 future entrepreneurs is really a gratifying experience. I also want to thank the University for the support of the program. It is unique; we鈥檙e still number one because there isn鈥檛 a number two.鈥�

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Martial Thevenot, Entrepreneur of the Year

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award honors an entrepreneur who has been in business for more than five years for their professional achievements and civic contributions to their local community.

With his family, Martial Thevenot leads a group of socially conscious businesses known as Team Perka. Born in Canada, Thevenot earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from Brock University in Ontario and a degree in common law from the University of Ottawa. A father of three and grandfather of three (with a fourth on the way), he is past president of the South Side St. Joseph Rotary Club and current president of the Performing Arts Association Board. Thevenot is a past board member of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art.

Stephanie Tripp, Emerging Entrepreneur

The Emerging Entrepreneur Award honors an entrepreneur who has been in business for five years or less for their professional achievements and civic contributions to their local community.

Stephanie Tripp was raised in Maysville, 大象传媒. She received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education from 大象传媒 Western in 2012 and a master鈥檚 in educational administration from UMKC in 2015. She returned to 大象传媒 Western to obtain a degree in business management, and in 2016 became a franchisee of Auntie Anne鈥檚 in St. Joseph through the Craig School of Business Applied Entrepreneurship Program. She now owns four franchise businesses in St. Joseph, Branson, 大象传媒, and Kansas City, Kansas, and will add two more locations next year inside the new terminal of the Kansas City International Airport. She and her husband Nick have two children.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for聽

lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Hayden Glaubius ’21 with Pam Klaus, director of the Center for Franchise Development

June 4, 2021–Hayden Glaubius, a 2021 graduate of the Craig School of Business at 大象传媒, was awarded an Auntie Anne鈥檚 pretzel franchise in the latest competition sponsored by 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 Center for Franchise Development.

鈥淚 want to say thank you to all of the judges for taking the time to be here not only today and yesterday, but for letting us do an internship so we could learn more about the business and the daily operations,鈥� Glaubius said. 鈥淚 look forward to it and it鈥檚 an awesome opportunity.鈥�

Glaubius, a management major from St. Joseph, was one of 14 students in a senior-level Applied Business Ownership class this spring. Students in the class prepared business plans, and the two finalists presented them to a panel of judges that included Steven L. Craig, creator of the franchise competition, and other business leaders, as well as representatives from Auntie Anne鈥檚 and 大象传媒 Western graduates who won franchises in previous years.

Glaubius first heard about the program while a student in the business program at Central High School in St. Joseph.

鈥淚t was always in the back of my head, and I was working towards it, and now seven years later, here we are today,鈥� he said.

鈥淭hink about a kid that says 鈥業鈥檓 going to play major league baseball鈥� when he鈥檚 12,鈥� said Seth Lyons 鈥�08, one of the judges and winner of the first franchise competition in 2009. 鈥淗e鈥檚 our major league baseball player. It鈥檚 pretty cool.鈥�

The franchise awarded to Glaubius is the 32nd store to be awarded through the program. Alumni currently own 51 stores across the country, employing more than 600 people and generating annual sales of approximately $29 million. The program provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Craig and each other. Additionally, the owners are expected to donate a portion of their store鈥檚 proceeds back to the University. So far, the donations have totaled nearly $280,000.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Andrea Hall (left) won the Center for Franchise Development’s annual competition, then asked the other finalist, Michelle Scott, to partner with her in the Auntie Anne’s pretzel franchise.

May 28, 2019鈥擳here was one winner but two new business owners in the latest competition by the Center for Franchise Development in the Craig School of Business and Technology at 大象传媒. Andrea Hall won the competition and was awarded an Auntie Anne鈥檚 pretzel franchise at a location to be announced later. In a first in the ten years of the competition, Steven L. Craig, creator of the franchise development program, announced that Hall asked to partner in the new venture with the other finalist in the program, Michelle Scott.

Hall, of St. Joseph, and Scott, of Maysville, 大象传媒, were two of a record 16 students to take the senior-level Applied Business Ownership class this spring. They each prepared business plans and the two finalists presented them to a panel of judges that included Craig, other business leaders, representatives from Auntie Anne鈥檚 and 大象传媒 Western graduates who won franchises in previous years. The panel selected Hall as the winner.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great feeling,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always dreamed of owning my own business and today this dream has come true, and I鈥檓 super excited Michelle and I will be able to pursue this dream together.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to go into this adventure with my best friend,鈥� Scott said.

Hall graduated this spring with a major in accounting and a minor in entrepreneurship. She is a swim instructor at Genesis Health Clubs in St. Joseph, and worked on campus as a tutor and peer mentor. Scott graduated this spring with majors in management and marketing. While attending school, she has worked for the DeKalb County Circuit Court since 2015 and is currently the court鈥檚 deputy clerk.

鈥淲e had two outstanding candidates, and it was a tough, tough decision for the judges,鈥� said Pam Klaus, director of the Center for Franchise Development. 鈥淎ndrea was selected as the winner, but she and Michelle had planned for a long time to go into business together, so we not only have a winner, we actually formed a partnership today. It鈥檚 a unique and exciting day for our program.鈥�

Hall and Scott join 19 alumni owners operating 38 stores and businesses in nine states since the franchise program began ten years ago, in 2009. These alumni-owned businesses employ 319 people and generate $11.8 million in annual sales. The program provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Craig and each other. Additionally, the owners are expected to donate a portion of their store鈥檚 proceeds back to the University. So far, those donations have totaled more than $230,000.

At a Celebration of Entrepreneurship Dinner the evening before the competition, the Champion of Entrepreneurs Award was presented to Dr. Robert Vartabedian, who will retire this summer after 11 years as 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 president. Dr. Vartabedian has been a steadfast supporter of the program throughout its history, participating in the judging panel each year. A new award, the Patron of Entrepreneurs Award, was presented to Jim Reinert for his support of the program. Three past franchise winners, LaTricia Adkins, Lynn Eddinger and Allie Canaday were recognized for paying off their loans.

大象传媒 is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

鈥淒uring the Applied Business Ownership class each spring, students develop the skills and strategies required to own a business by studying a specific franchise opportunity and developing a business plan,鈥� said Pam Klaus, director of the Center for Franchise Development. 鈥淭his year, for the first time, the franchise opportunity will be provided by Auntie Anne鈥檚. They鈥檝e been great partners to work with, and we鈥檙e very excited to welcome them aboard.鈥�

The class is offered to graduating seniors and alumni. At the end of the semester, students can choose to present their business plans to a panel of judges, who determine if one of them will be awarded the opportunity. The program provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business and Technology Advisory Council, Steve Craig and previous winners.

Heather Neary, president of Auntie Anne鈥檚, came to St. Joseph to participate in the announcement.

鈥淎untie Anne鈥檚 is celebrating our thirtieth birthday this year, and as we reflect on our past of entrepreneurship 鈥� Anne herself was an incredible entrepreneur 鈥� we鈥檙e very excited to partner with 大象传媒 Western to continue that history and bring new franchisees into our system to continue to make Auntie Anne鈥檚 the best pretzel brand in the land,鈥� Neary said.

The Center for Franchise Development grew out of a unique partnership between 大象传媒 Western; Craig, who is CEO of Craig Realty Group and benefactor of the Craig School of Business and Technology; and various franchisors.

鈥淚鈥檓 just delighted that we鈥檝e forged this partnership,鈥� Craig said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a next critical step for our program. For me it鈥檚 especially nice because I鈥檝e been an Auntie Anne鈥檚 franchisee for many, many years, so I knew the type of products, service and the leadership they have in their group would be a great fit for us.鈥�

Although this is the first time an Auntie Anne鈥檚 franchise will be the focus of the class from start to finish, it won鈥檛 be the first store in the program. Allie Canaday, a 2011 graduate, opened an Auntie Anne鈥檚 in Lehi, Utah with husband Matt in 2014. Canaday鈥檚 first franchise was a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Additional Auntie Anne鈥檚 locations in the program include Castle Rock, Colorado, and East Hills Mall in St. Joseph.

Since 2009, 28 graduates of the Franchise Development Center have opened or purchased more than 40 stores across the country.

大象传媒 is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

鈥淎s part of the ribbon-cutting, we will have an exciting announcement about the Applied Business Ownership class in the spring,鈥� said Pam Klaus, director of the Center for Franchise Development. The Applied Business Ownership class allows students and alumni to compete for the chance to own and operate their own franchise business.

Guests for the event include Steve Craig, benefactor of the Craig School of Business and Technology, and Heather Neary, president of Auntie Anne鈥檚, the hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise. Auntie Anne鈥檚 will provide refreshments for the open house.

大象传媒 is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .