Churchs Chicken Launches Year Long Initiative To Attract Women Entrepreneurs To Franchising Industry

ATLANTA (Saturday, May 08, 1999) - Today there is a startling opportunity gap between female business owners (80% of all new businesses by 2000), and the number of female franchise owners -- only 10% of the franchise talent pool contains female entrepreneurs.
Churchs Chicken, a company dedicated to growing its number of franchise restaurants and supporting diversity in business, is actively targeting this business segment through a community-based effort entitled The Churchs Professional Mentoring Program (Churchs PMP).

The Churchs PMP kicks-off on May 24th in Chicago with a lively panel discussion of industry experts challenging the 'ins and outs' of franchising for women business owners. The event, which will be facilitated and hosted by Broadcast.com, will engage both the in-person and online chat audience. Participants can access the forum at www.churchs.com .

Following the kick-off event, Churchs PMP will become a year-long support program led by Churchs Chicken President Hala Moddelmog, who just happens to be one of the highest-ranking women in the quick service restaurant industry, and the only woman to lead a worldwide quick service restaurant concept. The program will provide tools for success in franchising, ongoing online chats by franchise experts and will partner a successful franchisee with the budding entrepreneur. Churchs will pilot the program within its own franchise system.

"Mentoring support is a key component of our efforts. We've found that almost half of all successful women business owners have relied on a female mentor, especially in the beginning stages," said Hala Moddelmog of Churchs Chicken. "The Churchs PMP program will provide a qualified network of professionals who are accessible for advice and encouragement to those seeking guidance when starting their business. By sponsoring the program, Churchs also hopes to demonstrate that franchising can be a profitable and rewarding choice for this growing segment."

Hala Moddelmog will lead the panel of successful businesswomen ranging from professionals owning other franchise businesses, finance experts, journalists of business women publications, etc. The event will be held in front of a select in-person audience of VIP's in business, journalists and program mentors. In addition, Broadcast.com will simultaneously host the online chat on the www.churchs.com site.

About Churchs Chicken

Churchs Chicken, the world's second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant concept, specializes in Southern-style chicken and side items like mashed potatoes and gravy, okra, corn on the cob and its unique honey butter biscuits. Founded in 1952 in San Antonio, Texas, Churchs celebrated its 45th anniversary in 1997. Now a division of Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises, the chain has more than 1,400 locations in 29 states and eight countries worldwide. Churchs Chicken's 1998 system-wide sales were $755 million.

Churchs Chicken, 800-639-3495

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