Cindy Banchy. Cindy grew-up on a farm in Wisconsin and she learned two things: how to work hard and how to be an entrepreneur. After 16 years at IBM, she wanted to give others the same chance she had to better their lives so she purchased a Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Minnesota. Through the franchise, she gives hard working lower income individuals and immigrants the opportunity to apply their work ethic in building a cleaning franchise. “It is amazing to watch them take a very humble business, cleaning, and turn it into an opportunity for their families to better their lives,” she says.

Vanguard Minnesota is ranked second among 65 Vanguard locations for revenue growth. This is particularly noteworthy as all but one of the other Vanguard offices are male-dominated. As a female business owner, Cindy works hard to not only give her franchisees opportunities but engages her internal staff in creating a solid culture of curiosity, innovation, and focus on the customer.

Cindy enjoys the outdoors. For years she was the committee chair of a boy scout troop which traveled on high adventures all over the country. Her two sons were Eagle Scouts. After her sons graduated and moved on with their lives, Cindy needed something challenging to keep herself outside and moving. Alas, her next opportunity. At age 51 she started competing in Triathlons.

Cindy started with the YWCA women’s sprint. It took her six months to figure out how to do the free style for the 500-yard swim, run 3 miles and bike faster than 12 miles an hour. After she crossed the finish line of her first Triathlon, she was hooked! She gradually took on greater distances resulting in competing in the 2015 Ironman. Now the three sports and competing are a way of life. The physical strength, mental endurance, discipline, focus, endurance, team, and competition are now part of her business formula for success.