Connie Tator was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, within the late Seventies beneath difficult circumstances. As daughters of a teen mother, Tator and her sister, Martella Turner, who died final yr, did what they may to make the perfect of what they’d. As with many generations of struggling Black households, her mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother pulled collectively and raised the women, however the residence was dysfunctional. The absence of her delivery father and stepfather created much more hardship for the household. Nonetheless, the dearth of cash and privilege wouldn’t be an excuse for them not succeeding. In 1996, Tator graduated from Hampton College with a Mass Media Arts-Broadcast Journalism diploma and have become an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority member. Three years later, she obtained her M.B.A. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College in Florida and married her husband, Neil, who she had met at Hampton College.

Tumbling into Alternative

Together with her diploma in Mass Media, Tator had a profession in tv information whereas dwelling in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Sadly, the chance was untenable with the closest TV station being in Raleigh, the will to start out a household, and her husband being active-duty army. “I at all times knew I needed to personal a enterprise, so I began my choices,” Tator defined. “In 2007, my son was younger, and we had gone to toddler and little one health gyms, so I used to be acquainted with the idea. A pal steered I have a look at The Little Health club franchise. The primary time we visited The Little Health club, it was a lot completely different! The mixture of music, bodily expertise, cognitive studying, and sharing taking turns – he was in his component. He loved each second of that class.” After that spectacular first go to, when her household was touring, Tator took the chance to go to different The Little Gyms in Huntsville, Virginia, and Seattle.

In 2008, Tator started a brand new chapter, deciding to develop into a The Little Health club franchise proprietor. “It was difficult discovering funding due to the recession, however after two years, I made a decision to take out a couple of small loans, which motivated me to work ten occasions tougher to get them paid off rapidly. In June 2011, I opened my first location in Fayetteville. I used to be pregnant once I opened my first health club, and my son was solely 5!”

The enterprise grew so quickly that simply three years later, in 2014, Tator opened a second location in Wilmington, North Carolina, and in 2019 bought a resale website in Cary.

Black, Girl, Enterprise Proprietor – Say What?

It’s arduous to imagine at this time that Black girls are nonetheless encountering prejudice relating to enterprise possession, nevertheless it occurs. Tator’s success, not solely as a girl however as a girl of coloration operating a number of companies, got here as a shock to many members of her gyms. “I’ll always remember somebody asking me to talk to the proprietor. I used to be like ‘I’m the proprietor. How can I assist you to?’ Their eyebrows raised and so they appeared shocked, not anticipating me to be that individual.” Tator sees why that might make a enterprise proprietor of coloration upset or really feel inferior. “However for me, it’s a part of what retains me motivated. I thrive in these occasions. I really feel much more proud. I feel to myself, sure, this little Black woman from Alabama is doing massive issues now. I’m considered one of a handful of Black homeowners in The Little Health club franchise. I’m the one Black lady multi-gym proprietor. I actually need to see extra of us within the franchise system.”

Attending to a New Regular and Past

Breaking down the obstacles to extend the variety of BIPOC franchise homeowners is considered one of my private missions and why I grew to become a part of the franchise trade as a Licensed Franchise Advisor. Tator couldn’t agree extra. “Schooling is the most important piece. I feel there must be extra recognition of who we’re inside the manufacturers. There additionally must be alternatives to talk regionally and at nationwide conventions and occasions for companies concerning the significance of multi-business possession.”

Tator is a primary instance of “if I can see it, I may be it” relating to entrepreneurship. However she desires to do extra. “It’s my aim to get out in the neighborhood and converse extra about entrepreneurship for Black girls, particularly in franchises.”

Together with her two kids, David (16, quickly to be 17) and Simone (11), Tator has her palms full however enjoys being a mother and multi-unit franchise proprietor of The Little Health club and is aware of she selected the best enterprise. “I really like that The Little Health club was a protected haven and household environment for my kids rising up. It’s been our residence away from residence. Each my kids and I’ve made many buddies and created an extension of household! I’ve appreciated the flexibleness, permitting me to have alternatives the place I may very well be there for my children’ actions and a few of my very own. I’ve liked the neighborhood of the franchise homeowners, and developed bonds with buddies throughout the nation that I really feel can be for all times.”

Franchising has allowed Tator to be a enterprise proprietor, employer, mentor, and coach, fulfilling her dedication to not letting her childhood circumstances outline her and creating extra for her life and her kids’s lives.