Students enrolled in franchise curriculum at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business recently stepped beyond the classroom to experience the inner workings of a leading franchise system firsthand. During an exclusive visit to AtWork, a national staffing franchise, students engaged in a powerful experiential learning opportunity. The field trip was led by Cordell Riley, a franchise expert and instructor for ENT 480: Franchising.
This visit offered students a unique, behind-the-scenes look at a successful franchise system, bringing to life the concepts explored in their coursework.
Lindsay Mahony, assistant head of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship and director of franchising program initiatives with the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, explained that the field trip is an example of the essential learning Haslam’s franchising curriculum provides.
“Franchising is an important vehicle of entrepreneurship, as well as a potential growth strategy for proven business concepts,” said Mahony. “Throughout our franchising program offerings, we seek to create opportunities for students to engage with franchises to enhance their learning — both in and out of the classroom. In addition to coursework and site visits like with AtWork, we partner with franchisors to provide meaningful internship opportunities for students to deepen their exposure to this business model.”
Getting to Know AtWork
Founded in 1986, AtWork has grown into one of the nation’s top staffing franchise brands, known for connecting businesses with highly qualified talent across a range of sectors, including administrative, light industrial and healthcare. With a proven model that balances national support with local ownership, AtWork has earned accolades from Franchise Business Review, Entrepreneur Magazine and other industry leaders.
During the visit, students gained insight into the company’s business model, support systems and franchisee relationships, the essential components of what makes AtWork a standout in the franchising world.
Jason Leverant, president and COO of AtWork, said the company was thrilled to offer Haslam students a direct look into the daily operations and strategic decision-making that drive a successful franchise organization. “We were honored to host the students of ENT 480 at AtWork’s headquarters in Knoxville and share a real-world view into the power of franchising,” he said. “Franchising is a major contributor to the strength of the U.S. economy and a tremendous engine for entrepreneurship — offering the opportunity to build a successful business with the support of a proven model. The staffing industry plays a critical role by connecting talented individuals with meaningful work, fueling both economic growth and community development.”
Real-World Lessons and Lasting Impressions
Throughout the day, students toured the facility, participated in in-depth discussions with AtWork leadership and explored actual challenges and strategies faced by franchise systems. The experience reinforced key ideas such as scalability, brand consistency and the importance of support networks.
“Experiencing firsthand the concepts they studied throughout the semester significantly enriched the students’ learning,” said Riley. “We are very grateful to the team at AtWork for partnering with us to provide this opportunity.”
About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, housed in Haslam, is the front door to entrepreneurship at UT, connecting entrepreneurs and innovators at every stage with the resources, networks and expertise needed to solve real challenges. By cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset across campus, connecting entrepreneurs with resources and mentorship they need to grow and collaborating with the UT and regional ecosystem, the Anderson Center is developing an entrepreneurial culture where Volunteers are empowered to identify unmet needs and take bold action to create value through new ventures.
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Morgan Lounds, marketing & events coordinator, mlounds@vols.utk.edu
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