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Special ACG Austin/San Antonio Chapter Episode - Interview with Lisa Fullerton

Making Waves at C-Level

Release Date: 03/23/2020

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The speaker for the March 31st Association for Corporate Growth luncheon in San Antonio was to be Lisa Fullerton, President and CEO of A Novel Idea.  Because of the COVID-19 situation, ACG Austin/San Antonio had to cancel their live events for the short term, but they wanted to ensure they could still provide content to their members and extended community. 
 
Lisa runs a successful business of five Auntie Anne's Pretzel stores and one co-branded Cinnabon franchise in San Antonio.  Her original presentation at the ACG lunch going to be about growth and longevity of her quick-serve restaurants in an industry with typical employee turnover at 200 percent.  She has kept going in the high-stress, high-burnout food service industry, and been in business 20 years, when the average life span of a quick-serve restaurant is 8.5 years.  She’s increased sales by 900 percent and staffing by 1,000 percent since opening her first store, and she’s also gotten involved in small business advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels.
 
This interview discusses all of the above, but Lisa is also candid about the current economic situation and her need to stop operations in most locations in the face of the pandemic. 
 
ACG Austin/San Antonio is grateful to Lisa for taking the time to do this interview.  Her support of the business community in San Antonio, Texas, the US, and the world is very clear in the message she shares.  ACG ASA looks forward to having her speak in-person at a future event, but in the meantime, please enjoy this podcast interview.
 
***Disclosure:  Thom Singer, host of "Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do" is the husband of Sara Singer, the Chapter Executive of the ACG Austin/San Antonio Chapter.
 
About Lisa Fullerton 
 
Lisa Fullerton is the President and CEO of A Novel Idea, LLC (A.N.I) which operates 5 Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and 1 Co-branded Cinnabon Franchise in San Antonio, Texas.  Since opening the first store in 2000, sales have increased 900 percent and staffing has increased 1000 percent. Employee turnover is 200% in the high stress, high-burnout food service industry, and the average life span of a Quick-serve restaurant is 8.5 years.  Lisa is proud of the company’s 20-year history despite these odds.  As a result of increasingly unpredictable regulation and legislation, Lisa has started to advocate for small business at the local, state and federal levels in recent years.  During the 2017 Biennial session, Lisa worked with a US Congressman and State Representative on a bill to restrict state regulatory bills.  HB1290 was one of only 17% of the bills written that session, signed into law by the Texas State Governor.  During 2018, Lisa successfully fought against a Labor Peace Agreement that would have allowed labor unions to organize airport concessionaire employees.   During 2019, she was an outspoken opponent of Mandatory Paid Sick leave at the municipal level and testified repeatedly in the Texas House and Senate committee meetings.  She was also appointed by San Antonio’s Mayor Nirenberg to a Paid Sick Leave (PSL) task force representing the business perspective.  To stay abreast of potential legislation or regulations that can harm small business, Lisa serves on the NFIB Texas leadership council, is Public Policy Chair for NAWBO and a Director for the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
 
About ACG
 
Founded in 1954, the Association for Corporate Growth has chapters worldwide representing 14,500 members. ACG serves 90,000 investors, executives, lenders and advisers to growing middle-market companies. ACG's Mission is to drive Middle Market growth with content, access to capital, & connections in the Middle Market.