Loading Preparing Cameras

Mandy Calara

About

Mandy Calara has been the CEO of Forever Brands since he founded the company in April 2014.

As CEO, Mandy implements his vision of making franchising about sharing the best local, craft brands with the country through an aggressive and streamlined expansion strategy. He is responsible for the strategic management and development of all of the unique brands that are invited to join the Forever Brands collection.

Mandy first found success in the franchising industry by co-founding the popular chain Forever Yogurt. As the first franchisor to bring the self-serve frozen yogurt craze to Chicago, Mandy was able to expand the brand around the world to over 30 locations, winning countless awards from TimeOut, Groupon, Chicago Reader and more.

While serving as CEO, Mandy responded to a need for simplified franchise funding by launching CrowdFranchise, an equity crowdfunding website tailored for franchise businesses. The new funding tool quickly gained attention from top franchisors, savvy community investors, and publications like The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times and Franchise Times.

Since then, Mandy has continued to be a leader in innovation for the franchising industry. He founded the BEE & TEA concept, the first franchisor to modernize the bubble tea trend, and has taken the locally popular Falafill brand under his wing to develop into the next Mediterranean franchise chain.

Mandy is a trained biochemist turned serial entrepreneur. Prior to Forever Brands, he led a vacation rentals brokerage, pharmaceutical research firms, and was even a professional poker player.

Mandy earned his Master's in Epidemiology the University of Illinois Chicago in 1996, and lives in Chicago with his wife and two children.

Videos (1)
Forever Brands’ CEO: Your Fro-yo Could Be Crowdfunded
Company Spotlight in Tech
Framework CareFree IT
videos (1)
Ben Kohn
BallotReady
videos (1)
Alex Niemczewski
eComfort.com
videos (1)
Pavel Sokolovsky
Foxtrot
videos (1)
Michael LaVitola
10th Magnitude
videos (1)
Alex Brown
Zebra Technologies
videos (1)
Lawson Products
videos (2)
Michael DeCata
SAP Fieldglass
videos (1)
Jai Shekhawat
Emmi Solutions
videos (1)
Devin Gross
LotLinx
videos (1)
Denise Chudy
Jobbatical
videos (1)
Karoli Hindriks
Vanco International
videos (1)
Brad Corbin
Middleground IT
videos (1)
Sagar Pandya
The Novo Group
videos (1)
Kelly Renz
Entara
videos (1)
Linda Maclachlan
ThinkCERCA
videos (1)
Eileen Murphy
LaunchPad Lab
videos (1)
Tom Cullen
XSELL Technologies
videos (1)
Matt Coughlin
Fooda
videos (1)
Orazio Buzza
Sandstorm Design
videos (1)
Sandy Marsico
Vertex Software
videos (1)
Dan Murray
CALIBR Merchant Solutions
videos (1)
Raymond Siffel
555 International
videos (2)
James Geier
Chicago Interactive Marketing Association (CIMA)
videos (1)
Eric Whobrey
Aginity
videos (1)
Doug Grimsted
Scientel Solutions
videos (1)
Nelson Santos
Integrated Project Management
videos (1)
Mike McLeod
Ensono
videos (2)
Tim Beerman
Catalytic
videos (1)
ActiveCampaign
videos (1)
Jason VandeBoom
Chicago Public Library
videos (1)
Brian Bannon
BMW Technology Corporation
videos (1)
Randy Cavaiani
Addison Group
videos (1)
Tom Moran
Elexa Consumer Products
videos (1)
Lawrence Beger
Syndio
videos (1)
Zack Johnson
SoloInsight Inc.
videos (1)
Farhan Masood
HighGround
videos (1)
Vip Sandhir
Ora Interactive
videos (1)
Mike Kelly
Tanvas
videos (1)
Greg Topel
Covalience, LLC
videos (1)
Kevin Sandahl
VineSprout Public Relations
videos (1)
Ben Pavlovic
Solving IT
videos (1)
Paul Taylor
Channel IQ
videos (1)
Andy Walker
Rippleshot
videos (1)
Canh Tran
Seller Labs
videos (1)
Jeff Cohen
DialogTech Inc.
videos (1)
IRVIN SHAPIRO
Elements Holdings Group & Subsidiaries
videos (1)
Rick Hammell
MotherG
videos (3)
Dave Davenport