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.