GOLD'S GYM
Angel and Willie Banos (213-688-1441) experienced major struggles, from fleeing Cuba during the revolution to facing the liquidation of their family shoe manufacturing business in Los Angeles. But they overcame those obstacles to become the top franchisees of Gold's Gym. Part of their success comes from bringing what they have learned about the retail business while working in the shoe industry to the fitness industry. This enabled them to see the gym-going experience as a product to be tailored to the specific needs of their customers. As a result, the brothers invested heavily to create state-of-the-art facilities and superb service. Their success is also a result of the combination of their individual talents--Angel provides the vision while Willie implements his brother’s ideas. Currently, the Banos brothers own three franchises and has secured an exclusive contract with Gold’s Gym to build more of them within a 100-mile radius of their Downtown, Los Angeles location.

BURGER KING
Ella Avery-Smothers (averysmothers@sbcglobal.net) is one of eleven siblings in a poverty-stricken family from Virginia. Her dream as a child was to be able to afford all the groceries she wanted. Years later, she would find herself reaching her goal after becoming the owner of eight Burger King franchises in Los Angeles. However, her journey to success was slow and arduous. It took her and her husband ten years to save up $10,000 to open their first franchise. They then had to turn their restaurants in gang-infested neighborhoods into profitable businesses. But Ella faced the biggest challenge personally and professionally when she and her husband divorced. After losing her business partner, she created her new strategy that focused on expansion. She would go on to successfully acquire and manage additional restaurants. Ella’s formula to success is to adequately reward her top employees and to give them the autonomy to do their jobs.