THE POWER OF PERSONAL GROWTH

SpeedPro president and CEO Larry Oberly learned to lead by making mistakes.

- STEPHANIE SCHOMER

When Larry Oberly entered the franchise world 29 years ago, he wasn’t a great leader—and he’s the first to admit it. But with nearly three decades of experience across such brands as Baskin-Robbins, RE/MAX, and the sign and graphics printing company SpeedPro, which he joined as CEO in 2017, he has learned that leadership is more about accessibility than strict processes. Now he listens—to his staff, to his 130 franchisees, and to his customers—in order to build sustainable growth and spot fresh opportunities for the $74 million business.

When you joined SpeedPro, what were some of the first changes you made as CEO?