James Young is president of Spring-Green Lawn Care Corporation, headquartered in Plainfield, Ill. Young’s career with Spring-Green began in April 2004 when he was hired as the vice president of marketing and franchise development. Under his leadership, sales and marketing efforts were revitalized and several new initiatives were implemented that have helped Spring-Green prosper. In 2006, Young was appointed president of the organization, where he has continued to position Spring-Green as a true leader in the lawn and tree care industry.
Young’s track record is just as impressive in franchising. In his late 20s, Young rose through the ranks at Verlo Mattress Factory Stores L.L.C. in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Young played a critical role in the production of franchise committees and he was responsible for fostering an atmosphere of change, acceptance and growth. He eventually became the company’s vice president of franchising.
Young then joined Schooley Mitchell Telecom Consultants in Stratford, Ontario as the vice president. He was responsible for all marketing strategies and systems related to franchise growth; in 2003 alone, Young successfully delivered 68 new franchises for the company.
Young is a Certified Franchise Executive and has a Mini MBA in Franchise Management from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition to those accolades, Young is a frequent speaker, is a co-chair of the International Institute of Franchise Education (IIFE) Strategic Advisory Board, and has been featured in numerous publications, most recently Franchise Update magazine, USA Today and Entrepreneur Magazine. He lives in Oswego, Illinois with his family.