Q&A with Danessa Itaya, President of Bio-One

1. Tell us about your hobbies, volunteer work, and interests outside of work?

As much as I love sitting on the couch, with a nice fire going and a good book, I probably like being out and about more. We love to travel, watch soccer games, and cook. I have recently cracked the code on making light and fluffy rolls, which has been my nemesis for years of flat Thanksgiving rolls. I really enjoy the outdoors and have taken advantage of having 4 national parks within 3-5 hours of home. I’m also a firm believer in giving back to your community, whether its through volunteer work, being a good citizen, or supporting local efforts. I’m actively involved in many local community efforts, including our church community, local sports activities, and small business mentorship programs. I currently serve on the International Franchise Association’s Women in Franchising Committee, focusing on helping empower more women into franchising.

2. What do you enjoy most about the #franchising industry?

One of the best things about the franchise community is that it is just that, a community. Entrepreneurs sharing ideas, supporting and mentoring each other, celebrating wins, and consoling each other as well. It doesn’t get much better than that. So many smart people, doing what they love, and helping others along the way.

3. What does Help First mean to you?

When I saw this as Bio-One’s tagline I knew that this is a brand that puts people first, whether it’s our customers, team members, or local community. Help First means to me that if we help our people first, everything else will fall into place. That’s a pretty powerful business model.

4. What excites you most about joining the Bio-One team??

I love surrounding myself with smart people, and I’ve found that with the Bio-One and Five Star Franchising team. They have great vision, passion, and dedication to Bio-One. Being able to lead a team like this is truly what any leader hopes for. I look forward to building on their foundation as we grow Bio-One to be the leading name in our industry.