V e t er ans in Fr anchising
cover story: FASTSIGNS
FASTSIGNS OFFERS ARMY VETERAN A FAST WAY TO SUCCESS Leading Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications Franchise FASTSIGNS Offers Retired Army Veteran Darrin Lawrence a FAST Way To Success
As veterans return to civilian life, many turn to entrepreneurship as a career. Army veteran Darrin Lawrence sought to tap into the experiences and skill sets he acquired while serving in the military and apply them to creating a prosperous business venture. Through his research, he learned more about the franchise business model and eventually found FASTSIGNS International, Inc. While he didn’t have experience in signage, he loved that the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity has a proven track record of helping veterans go into business for themselves, but not by themselves, to create a fulfilling life and career. Today, Lawrence owns and operates a FASTSIGNS center in Richardson, Texas, alongside his wife, Mary.
Building a Career Foundation In 1987, Lawrence joined the Army as a tanker. He later transitioned to the Army National Guard and then spent the remainder of his service in Army Reserve. Since the Army Reserve only required his service on weekends, Lawrence returned to work full-time as a general contractor. After 22 years in the Army, Lawrence retired from the military in 2009 and continued his work as a general contractor. Eventually, with 35 years of experience in general contracting under his belt, he decided to forge a new career path as an entrepreneur. Throughout his service in the military, Lawrence was equipped
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