With the 4^th of July approaching, FASTSIGNS® CEO Catherine Monson announced today the new International Franchise Association Veterans Franchise (VetFran) Toolkit to further assist veterans and their families in finding employment. The VetFran Toolkit is a new feature for Operation Enduring Opportunity to provide even more resources to those veterans who are interested in finding jobs within the country’s vast franchise network, either as franchisees or as employees. Catherine introduced the Toolkit today at the Dallas – Market Center FASTSIGNS during a press event, which was held concurrently with other participating franchises making the same announcement at similar events throughout the country.

The VetFran Toolkit includes a Franchising 101 online course, a skills and attributes assessment, a finance assessment, and partner links. The Toolkit also provides access to the VetFran Mentor Network and to franchise business leaders. Since Operation Enduring Opportunity’s inception in November 2011, more than 450 franchises have pledged to help 80,000 veterans and wounded warriors find opportunities within their networks by 2014. For veterans interested in opening their own franchise, some of those franchises, including FASTSIGNS, even offer discounted franchise fees to veterans.

After Catherine opened the event, several veterans, franchise owners and dignitaries spoke on the importance of finding employment for veterans. The speakers included:

•  Joe Johnston, Air Force veteran and owner of FASTSIGNS® of Denton, Texas.
• The Grounds Guys® franchisee and Marine veteran, Rebecca McMahon, and The Grounds Guys’ franchise president, Ron Madera, who served in the Army.
• Dallas City Councilmember for District 7, Carolyn Davis.
• Robert Young, VFW Post 1406 Quartermaster and Vietnam War veteran.
• Owner of the Abrakadoodle franchise in Oklahoma City and Army veteran April Rose Jackson.
• Air Force veteran Ron Pierce, owner of the Furniture Medic franchise in Wichita Falls, Texas.

“As we make strides to help our nation’s heroes transition into successful careers post retirement, we must continue to introduce tools that will make it easier for them to seek out opportunities and network with the people that will lead them toward employment opportunities,” said Catherine. “With unemployment rates among veterans hovering around nearly 18 percent, continuous education is critical in helping veterans transition into a civilian lifestyle.”