With more than 30 years in franchising, Mary Kennedy Thompson has led businesses and franchise of all sizes. She has extensive experience in global expansion, high growth organizations, integrations and leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prior to starting at BNI\u00ae in 2024, Mary served as Chief Operating Officer at Neighborly\u00ae, the world\u2019s largest home services company, where she worked since 2006. Mary\u2019s tenure at Neighborly included roles as Executive Vice President and President of Mr. Rooter\u00ae, their largest brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mary\u2019s career began as a multi-unit franchise owner at Cookies by Design, where she excelled in market penetration and sales, eventually becoming the brand\u2019s President at the corporate headquarters after successfully selling her locations. While a multi-unit franchisee, she joined BNI as a Member in 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mary served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Logistics Officer. She has received numerous accolades, including the IFA\u2019s William Rosenberg Foundation Leadership Award, The Bonny Levine Award, and the Crystal Compass award. Mary is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and currently serves as a Board Member and Chair Elect of the IFA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mary\u2019s passion for helping business owners aligns with BNI\u2019s mission to support its Members and franchisees, marking her appointment as CEO as a transformational opportunity for BNI\u00ae.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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