Every year on the Fourth of July, in the middle of all the backyard celebrations and fireworks displays, I like to pause and take a moment to remember the great men and women who make holidays like this possible. When I moved to America as a child, I was immediately struck by the patriotism and love for this country that is celebrated every Independence Day. I honor and celebrate all the veterans who make this holiday possible. I’d also like to introduce you to some veterans I’m proud to have in our Edible family.
At Edible, we have many employees and franchisees that have bravely served our country, and I have said for years that veterans make some of the best franchisees. They offer dedicated training, organization skills, and a commitment to teamwork. These qualities are exactly what we look for in franchisees, as we need team members who are not intimidated by the daily challenges of running a business.
Two shining examples of hardworking Edible franchisees are Maurice Welton and Martinez Alexander, two veterans who now operate their own Edible locations in South Texas and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Maurice has been an Edible franchisee for years; after being forced to leave his home after Hurricane Katrina, he relocated to McAllen, Texas. Now, Maurice operates five successful stores and has become an important figure in his community. Maurice credits his success to the discipline he developed during his time in the military.
Martinez served for twenty-four years, before fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning his own business. Martinez now owns the only Edible store on a military base, giving members of the military and their families a way to show their love.
My enduring support for our veterans makes Edible a perfect partner for the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program, which offers small business ownership opportunities to veterans. Edible has been a proud member for years, and we are always looking to recruit more talented veterans for the Edible family.
While these brave men have shown the power of American entrepreneurship, there are many veterans returning to civilian life who bring positive values and a dedication to hard work. I encourage everyone to hire more veterans and urge all franchisors to bring more veterans into your system.
I hope everyone will join me in honoring these American heroes this Independence Day, and enjoy the holiday!
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