Amy Freeman is the CEO and co-founder of The Spice & Tea Exchange, a specialty retail franchise with locations across the United States, from Anchorage to Key West. Over the last decade, Amy has led the Sales Department, the Operations Department, has worked in Production, Fulfillment, Marketing, and has also become a Certified Franchise Executive. Her initiative and energy have helped move the company from a single store to over 70 locations.
The adversity Amy faced as a teenager and young adult helped shape the persevering, can-do entrepreneur she is today. Her parents divorced at a pivotal point in her life, and was left on her own having to grow up quick. Yet, Amy excelled in every position she was given. By her early 30s, she was a Corporate Sales Manager for Sheridan Hotels – learning the ins and outs of the business world with virtually no higher education behind her. In 2005, Amy stumbled upon a small specialty spice retailer and realized she could take the concept to new heights. Now, as CEO, she guides the overall vision of the company and presides over major initiatives aimed at increasing profitability.
Follow The Spice & Tea Exchange on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the Show
The Franchise Bible Coach Radio Podcast with Rick and Rob features no-nonsense franchise industry best practices and proprietary strategies that franchisors and 
franchise owners can implement to improve their profitability and operational efficiencies.
Our show guests are franchise superstars and everyday heroes that share their tips for growth and strategies to survive and thrive during the current challenges.
About Your Hosts
Rick Grossman has been involved in the franchise industry since 1994. He franchised his first company and grew it to 49 locations in 19 states during the mid to late 1990s. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and primary trainer focusing on franchise owner relations and creating tools and technologies to increase franchisee success.
Rick developed and launched his second franchise organization in 2003. He led this company as the CEO and CMO growing to over 150 locations in less than three years. He developed the high tech/high touch franchise recruiting and sales system.
Both companies achieved ranking on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 List. During this period Rick served as a business and marketing consultant to small business and multimillion dollar enterprises. He also consulted with franchise owners and prospective franchisees, franchisors, and companies seeking to franchise.
Rick had the honor of working with his mentor, Erwin Keup as a contributing Author for the 7th edition of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise Bible published by Entrepreneur Press.
Mr. Grossmann has been chosen as the new Author of Franchise Bible and his 8th Edition was released worldwide in January of 2017. He currently serves as an executive coach and strategist for multiple franchise clients.
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Rob Gandley has served as SeoSamba’s Vice President and Strategic Partner since 2015.
With 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, sales, and technology, he continues to focus on leading the expansion of SeoSamba’s product and service capabilities and US market penetration. SeoSamba specializes in centralized marketing technology built for multi-location business models and continues to win industry awards and grow consistently year over year.
Concurrent with his work at SeoSamba, Gandley is a strategic growth consultant and CEO of FranchiseNow, a digital marketing and sales consulting firm. Gandley consults digital businesses, entrepreneurs, coaches and multi-location businesses across diverse industries. Prior to SeoSamba, he built an Internet Marketing business and platform responsible for generating over 100,000 qualified franchise development leads used by more than 400 US-based franchise brands for rapid business expansion.
Gandley also held various senior sales and management positions with IT and Internet pioneers like PSINet, AT&T, and SunGard Data Systems from (1993-2005) where he set sales records for sales and revenue growth at each company. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal Business School in 92’ with a BS degree in Finance and emphasis on Marketing.
Connect with Rob on LinkedIn.
