Franchisee Spotlight: Conne Lineman, Montgomeryville, PA

On Nov. 25, 2013, Connie Lineman will be opening a Hand and Stone location in Montgomeryville, Pa. The spa will be Lineman’s first business ownership venture, but she’ll be in good company; her business partner, Maripat Mowry, comes from a experienced franchising family and has her own Hand and Stone spa in Warrington, Pa.

Connie Lineman is a long-time resident of Pennsylvania, having grown up in the Warminster, Pa. area and attended college at Wilkes University. After graduating in 1993, she began working for Cottman Transmission, where she first met the Mowry family – Maripat worked in accounting for the automotive franchise, and Maripat’s husband, Greg, was Lineman’s boss. She continued working with the company until 2010, when she was offered a promotion with MAACO in King of Prussia, Pa. However, when the company relocated, Lineman decided to forgo moving and instead, stayed in the area.

Not long after, Lineman ran into the Mowrys at an event and the former colleagues began talking about business opportunities. Maripat mentioned that she was hoping to open expand with a second location of her already successful Hand and Stone spa and asked Lineman whether she wanted to get involved. Lineman accepted the offer and the two signed on to open a spa in Montgomeryville.

How did you learn about the brand?

I originally worked for Maripat at her first Hand and Stone location for the first six months, then left because of my job offer at MAACO.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand and Stone?

I think it’s a relaxing, fun atmosphere. People come here to relax and they leave happy, and I love that. I think our business model is very strong. We’re helping our customers be better parents, better spouses, and better friends by allowing them to treat themselves to some self-care.

What are your expansion/development plans? Number of units? Timeframe? What is your end goal?

Being a multi-center owner is not outside the realm of possibilities. When I made this decision to be a small business entrepreneur, I thought, “Who better to invest in than yourself?” There are some very successful spas out there, and there’s no reason we won’t be a top-level spa; we’re located in a busy shopping center, with great foot traction and movement. I’m already very excited about our prospects — give us a few months to get this under our belt and we’ll see where to go from there.

Franchisee Spotlight: Kevin Bryne, Kent, Washington

Kevin Byrne, will be joining Hand & Stone equipped with extensive experience in business management. Byrne was born in Chicago, Il. but spent the majority of his younger years in Lake Zurich, Il. In 1979, Byrne moved to Tacoma, Wash. to study business and economics at the University of Puget Sound.

Byrne dived into the banking world immediately upon graduating, spending almost 20 years in Washington’s bank industry. He spent his first ten years at Puget Sound National Bank and then eight years at a smaller bank called Western Community Bank, which was sold to Key Bank in the final seven months that he worked there.

After working under someone else for over 17 years, Byrne started Northwest Community Bank in 1991.  He sold the bank after eight years to start a commercial mortgage company, which he ran for seven years. On the heels of his business ownership streak, Byrne started a franchise company called Express Financial Centers, which offered a variety of financial services. The company operated in nine locations across Washington, California, South Dakota and Wisconsin. However, when state laws changed in Washington, Byrne found it increasingly difficult to successfully grow his company and decided to close operations to pursue business ownership with a pre-existing franchise.

Byrne will be the primary manager of the Hand & Stone location, which he will run with his wife Mary, and two sons, aged 25 and 18. He will be the primary manager of the store.

How did you learn about Hand and Stone?

After I closed my business I started looking into something else to do and came across the Hand & Stone franchise. I was actually inspired to go into the massage industry after receiving a gift certificate for a competitor, Massage Envy.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand & Stone?

I was working with a bank to help it recapitalize and throughout the process I was constantly met with endless new conditions that were specifically unfavorable to smaller banks. The regulatory burden created by the FDIC made me realize that although I had had a great career, it was time to walk away from banking.  I wanted to venture outside of the finance industry and go into a business where I could use my past business skills in a positive way. 

I went to New Jersey for Discovery Day in May and was immediately impressed by the company. Opening a location in Tacoma was my first preference but after struggling to find a location, the leasing agent presented Kent Station. Another franchisee had actually already put their hand up for the location but was unable to complete the transaction. Kent Station Shopping Complex reserved the space for Hand & Stone for almost a year because they really wanted us to open there.

Are you involved in any charities or community outreach programs?

My wife and I have gone on a mission trip to Honduras with our church for the past several years. My wife is extremely active in the community – she sits on the Board of Directors of our son’s Catholic prep school, Bellarmine Preparatory; is President of the school la crosse team; sits on the board for Carol Cancer of Pierce County’s South Sound Care; formerly sat on the Tacoma chapter of the Heart Association, and became the first female president of the Washington State Auto Dealers Association before she left the group in March 2013.

Hand & Stone featured on NorthJersey.com

Our Hand & Stone in Franklin Lakes is now open for business and just celebrated the grand opening with the Mayor of Franklin Lakes, Frank Bivona, spa manager, Daisy Merejo and the two owners, Jeff and Ken Silbert. The team is excited to be in the new community and this marks the fourth opening by brothers and business partners, Jeff and Ken, who plan to develop another six in Northern New Jersey. The spa was featured in a write up by NorthJersey.com for the grand opening.

See article on NorthJersey.com here.

Hand & Stone opens in Franklin Lakes

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013

FRANKLIN LAKES - OAKLAND SUBURBAN NEWS

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Style opened in style at 828 Franklin Ave. in Franklin Lakes with an official ribbon-cutting that included Jeff Silbert, owner, Frank Bivona, Franklin Lakes mayor, Daisy Merejo, spa manager, and Ken Silbert, owner, joined by several spa staff members. Open daily, the spa offers Swedish, deep tissue and sports massages, as well as its signature hot stone massage. Additional services include facials, aromatherapy, hair removal and scalp massages. Hand & Stone may be reached at 201-848-8300, and further information is available at www.handandstone.com. 

See article online here.