May 2010
Franchising World
Winning video combines focused message and humor to take first place.
No matter how long a franchise has been in business, each one has an interesting story to tell: the early years, the changes it has seen and the company it has become. During the International Franchise Association’s 50th Annual Convention, “Computers Explorers 2010 Odd-yssey” took top honors, winning IFA’s video contest. Attendees voted onsite for the video that both entertained with humorous touches and told the story of the franchise.
“When we developed the video, we wanted to add a human element to our story,” said Computer Explorers Pres. and CEO Debra Evans, CFE. “We followed the criteria set by IFA to tell a story about our franchise brand and the history.”
Videos were judged on relevance to the theme, creativity, entertainment value and overall video quality. Submissions couldn’t exceed 90 seconds in length. However, Evans was surprised at the power of the audience’s response and edging out the formidable competition—finalists Jiffy Lube and KFC.
“What I didn’t realize is that the voting would be done by a live poll,” said Evans. “I also didn’t know until the session that we were competing against KFC and Jiffy Lube. I love technology but didn’t expect to be sitting with a large group of Computer Explorers staff members at the edge of our seats watching the votes appear on a screen as large as life. To say it was stressful is an understatement, but it really made the win so meaningful.”
Educational Technology Franchise Emerges
Computer Explorers was established in 1984 on the premise that all children should have access to quality technology education. Founders Karen Marshall and Mary Rogers, CFE, (currently CEO of Abrakadoodle Remarkable Art Education) launched a concept that came to revolutionize the way technology is taught to students of all ages. Twenty-six years later, the franchise reaches more than 25,000 students per week at locations across the United States. It is also represented in Australia, India, Kuwait, Ireland and Malaysia. Six hundred teachers prepare children in nearly 2,000 schools.
According to the company’s research, using technology increases children’s skills and knowledge in academic areas including math, science, reasoning, language arts and critical thinking. The more people use information the better they will retain it, so integration of a school’s’ core curriculum and the franchise’s project-based learning should enhance student performance.
“Technology, as well as technology education, has changed dramatically over the past 26 years,” said Evans. “Computer Explorers has been part of that transformation, and we are excited to continue to bring meaningful technology education to students.”
Today’s Leadership
Evans served as a Computer Explorers’ instructor from 1996 to 1997. She bought her first franchise in Burlington County, N.J. in 1997 and the second in 1999 in Philadelphia. She was recognized as Franchisee of the Year in 2002 and served on the company’s Franchise Advisory Council.
Evans moved to the corporate office in Houston in 2004 to fill the role as franchise support when the company was acquired by International Center for Entrepreneurial Development. In 2005, she accepted the position as president of Computer Explorers. She is active in IFA, currently serving as chairwoman of the Houston Franchise Business Network, is a member of the Social Media Task Force and a panelist and roundtable facilitator on social media issues. In August 2009, she received the Leader of the Quarter for ICED Award and later that year, was nominated to the ICED board of directors.