Across the country, more women are stepping into business ownership through franchising, drawn by the opportunity to lead teams, support their communities and build something of their own. In service-based industries, especially, franchising can offer a pathway into entrepreneurship for professionals coming from a wide range of career backgrounds.
At Express Employment Professionals, many owners discover that helping people find work can also create lasting local impact. This Women’s History Month, the company is highlighting three franchise owners whose paths to ownership were very different, but whose goals are closely aligned: Kelly Gillespie in Illinois, Paula Schmidt in Pennsylvania and Debra Dickinson in Missouri.
Each entered franchising from a different starting point: corporate leadership, career reinvention and an entry-level job placement, yet all three now serve as workforce partners in their communities, connecting employers with talent and individuals with new opportunities.
Kelly Gillespie: Experience Turned Into Ownership
Kelly Gillespie’s journey to ownership began inside the Express system. After years working in a local office and later in a leadership role at a franchise branch location, she developed a strong operational understanding of recruiting and client support. During that time, she earned multiple Top 50 sales recognitions and was invited to present to peers at the company’s International Leadership Conference on streamlining hiring processes. Those recognitions reflected her performance within the system and helped prepare her to run a business of her own.
In 2020, Gillespie opened her Express office in DeKalb, Illinois through the Bridge to Ownership program in partnership with Express Employment International. The office serves DeKalb, Boone, Ogle and Lee Counties. Opening during the COVID-19 pandemic created immediate challenges and reinforced the importance of the service. Employers were navigating uncertainty while job seekers were looking for stability, and the office quickly became a resource for both.
Operating as a sole owner with a small team, Gillespie works closely with local manufacturers, offices and skilled trades employers to understand hiring needs and match candidates accordingly. Family support played a role in the launch, with relatives assisting during the build-out of the office.
For Gillespie, staffing supports both sides of the local economy. Each placement helps a business operate and gives an individual a clearer employment path. She plans to continue expanding her impact across Northern Illinois and is interested in opening additional locations in the future.
Paula Schmidt: Creating Opportunity Through Determination
Paula Schmidt’s path to franchise ownership was built through persistence and a clear understanding of what employers need to grow. A single mother of three in the Pittsburgh area, she built her career in outside sales and business development while pursuing long-term stability and a bigger impact in her community.
Her introduction to Express began when an Express franchise owner came into her workplace, noticed her drive and potential, and asked for her resume. Not long after, she called Paula in for an interview for a business development role. After six years learning the business, Schmidt opened an Express office in Irwin, Pennsylvania in 2016, choosing the territory for its strong manufacturing base and proximity to her family. In 2022, she expanded by acquiring the Pittsburgh East location.
Schmidt’s experience supporting companies through changing demand has shaped her approach today: helping employers solve workforce gaps quickly without sacrificing quality. She partners closely with local leadership teams to understand production goals, culture, and performance expectations. She then builds reliable hiring pipelines that improve retention and keep operations moving.
Outside the office, Schmidt is active in community outreach, supporting organizations such as the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank and local veteran initiatives. Through volunteer efforts and donation drives, her team contributes to needs beyond hiring.
Looking ahead, her goal is to keep growing both offices while helping more employers stabilize their workforce and scale with confidence – proving that disciplined service, strong relationships, and consistent execution still win.
Debra Dickinson: A Career That Came Full Circle
Debra Dickinson’s relationship with Express Employment Professionals began as a job search. At 20 years old, she walked into an Express office looking for work outside of waitressing. A temporary placement at the Springfield Business Journal turned into a long-term career in staffing.
Over the next three decades, Dickinson worked for franchise owners and learned every part of the operation, eventually becoming a top-performing sales leader. Through the company’s ownership pathway, she purchased her own office in Sedalia, Missouri in June 2020.
Dickinson leads with what she calls an “Associate for Life” philosophy. Her team stays in contact with workers after placements, checks in periodically, and builds relationships that often lead to referrals. Many job seekers want to feel recognized as individuals.
Family is connected to the business, with her husband as a part owner and her son working as a remote recruiter. She also supports local nonprofit fundraising efforts benefiting service animal organizations.
Looking ahead, Dickinson aims to grow the office, develop future leaders within her team, and expand the number of people she can help find employment.
A Shared Impact Through Franchising
Although their paths differed, Gillespie, Schmidt and Dickinson share a common perspective: staffing is centered on people. Franchising provided each of them with structure and support while still allowing independence in how they operate their offices and serve their communities.
Through Express Employment Professionals, they gained training, operational guidance and a network of fellow owners, while their day-to-day work remains local. They help companies build teams and help individuals build careers.
As Women’s History Month highlights women in leadership, these franchise owners demonstrate how entrepreneurship can grow from experience, resilience and community connection. Their work shows that business ownership is not only about running a company. It is also about opening doors for others and strengthening the communities they serve.