VETERANS IN FRANCHISING
FROM SUBMARINES TO FRANCHISE SUCCESS: HOW MILITARY EXPERIENCE SHAPED MY PATH AS A PIRTEK FRANCHISE OWNER By Steve Marullo, PIRTEK Multi-Unit Franchisee and Navy Veteran
As a Navy veteran, my journey from serving on submarines to owning multiple PIRTEK franchises may seem like an unlikely transition, but the skills I gained in the military are exactly what led me to where I am today.
62 FRANCHISING WORLD / November/December 2024
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rom age nine, I worked on my dad’s shrimp boat, learning the value of hard work and becoming familiar with mechanical systems. Little did I know those early lessons would prepare me for my military career and later success as a business owner. When I joined the Navy, I was accepted into the nuclear power program, where I operated and maintained nuclear power plants on submarines. It was a demanding environment, filled with high-stakes, pressure, and complex systems. This experience taught me the importance of discipline, teamwork, and responsibility. In a submarine, teamwork isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a necessity for survival. Everyone comes home, or no one comes home. That mentality of “all for one, one for all” has stuck with me throughout my life, and it’s something I apply daily in running my business. After nine years in the Navy, I transitioned into civilian life, working in refineries, power plants, and petrochemical plants as a sales consultant for water treatment chemicals. I spent 25 years in that field, but something was missing. When the company I worked for was no longer employee-owned, a more top-down culture took hold with increased management and micro-management. I knew I needed a change. I wanted to own a business where I could make decisions and create a strong team culture, so I began exploring franchise opportunities.