In this episode, we sit down with longtime Fibrenew franchisees Al Crnjac (34 years), Michael Carter (24 years), and Ann Benes (24 years) to explore what it takes to endure and succeed through decades of economic uncertainty. From 9/11 to the 2008 recession, through COVID and today's shifting landscape, they've faced it all. Their stories reveal a consistent theme: resilience through adaptability. No matter the conditions, they've continued to evolve, grow, and thrive. Their philosophy is simple: keep moving forward, because there's always a place for Fibrenew in the broader economy.

In this episode, we talk with Marsail and Tony Abuaita just after they completed two weeks of Fibrenew training in Calgary. They're the new owners of Fibrenew Irving, Texas, bringing together Marsail's artistic eye and Tony's business experience.

At the time of this recording, Marsail was entering her final semester at Texas State University, studying scenic painting. She's used to turning design ideas into large-scale theatre sets, so when she discovered Fibrenew, it felt like a natural extension of what she already loves: taking a vision and making it real. Color, texture, and detail all matter to her—if her name is on the work, it has to be something she's proud of.

Tony has built and run multiple businesses since immigrating to the U.S. in 1990, including convenience stores, Dairy Queen franchises, and a travel agency focused on religious group tours. After talking with other Fibrenew franchisees, he saw an opportunity for a flexible, scalable business that his daughter could own and grow.

A turning point for Marsail was her first ride-along, restoring a small burn in a Porsche seat. The customer's reaction reminded her of seeing an audience respond to a finished stage production—it proved that this work has real emotional impact.

Now, Marsail is preparing to juggle her final semester with planning her new business, aiming to “take Irving by storm” once she graduates. With Tony supporting her on the operations and admin side, they see Fibrenew as both a business opportunity and a way to grow together as a family.

For more info on Fibrenew Franchising, visit www.fibrenew.com/franchising

2022 was a gigantic year for Trevor and McKenna. They finished their schooling, wrapped up their jobs, got married, and decided to move from their native California to Florida, to start a business and begin an exciting new chapter in their lives.

Their positive mindsets and sense of adventure are infectious. In this podcast, they recount the moment they decided to 'go for it' and start anew on the other side of the country. Shortly after the move, they faced unbelievable adversity between family deaths and unprecedented hurricanes; their world was turned upside down.

By maintaining positive attitudes, working through adversity one step at a time, and treating everything that came their way as learning opportunities, they came out on the other side stronger than before. We hope you enjoy listening to the inspiring story of Fibrenew St Pete owners, Trevor and McKenna Vanden Bos.