Join Footprints Floors in Welcoming Rich Ricciardi, Our Newest Virginia Franchise Owner

The Ricciardi’s Background
Like many of our candidates, Rich began looking at franchises after returning to civilian life following his time in the military across both the Marine Reserves and the U.S. Navy, as well as his 21+ years in the U.S. Secret Service. During this time, he had the opportunity to serve in several different capacities, including the New York Field Office, Special Operations Division, Presidential Protective Detail, Protective Intelligence Division, and his last assignment as the Resident Agent in Charge of the office in Estonia. Rich’s wife, Hannah, was also involved in government work and enjoyed a career with the U.S. Embassy at the same time.

Outside of work, Rich and Hannah enjoy spending time outdoors with their family, playing ball with their young son, or staying active at their local CrossFit gym. As a Pittsburgh native, Rich has also maintained his Steelers fandom throughout his life, so the family huddles around the TV after church every Sunday.

Retiring & Looking Into Business Ownership
Once the Ricciardi’s chose to retire from their government work and move to the country in Goode, Virginia, Rich knew the time had finally come to strike it out on his own and start a family business. While the pair originally started researching business concepts they could start from the ground up, they eventually settled on franchising because of the draw of a well-established system and the pressure it would take off their shoulders. Rich also recognized that their chances of success would be heavily influenced by a solid support team behind them, so they began their search and never looked back.

Why the Ricciardis Chose Footprints Floors
When Rich first jumped into the franchise world, he started his search with faith-based organizations that would align with his own values which led him to our flooring franchise. However, it was our focus on providing an exceptionally high level of service – both to their customers and their Franchise Owners – that won him over.

“When I met with owner Brian and some of his executive team during the trip to the corporate office in Denver, [I] saw and heard their genuine desire to support the franchisees in any way they can to help them be successful.”

As they look forward to the future, the Ricciardis aim to have Rich handle the majority of their Footprints Floors while Hannah plans to provide backend bookkeeping support. Together, the pair are excited to grow their business through charitable work with local organizations across their Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Charlottesville, VA territory.

Rich and Hannah Ricciardi – Footprints Floors Franchise – Goode, Virginia

Our Q&A Session with Rich
As the Ricciardi’s prepare to open their first business and Rich returns home from his onboarding training, it’s no surprise that the couple has had a busy schedule since their Approval Day. Even with their franchise launch just around the corner, Rich sat down with our team for a quick get-to-know-you session so we could learn more about his thoughts on becoming a flooring business owner and making his way through the franchise discovery process!

How did you first learn about Footprints Floors, and were you looking at any other franchises at the time?

Rich Ricciardi: “A few months ago, I did a search for any faith-based franchises, and Footprints Floors caught my attention. Honestly, I probably should have looked at other franchises more; however, after learning more about Footprints Floors, I never felt the need to look anywhere else. As we moved forward in the exploratory process, we continued to feel at ease with the decision to possibly move forward with Footprints Floors.”

What drew you to Footprints Floors, and why do you feel the model is the right fit for your lifestyle and your family?

R: “I was initially drawn to them because they had a faith-based culture. As I learned more, it was evident that their model prioritized the support of the franchisee and their success, [which] was important to me. They value family and having a good work/family balance, which I feel is very important to be fulfilled in both areas of life. These values aligned with ours and it ultimately became an easy choice in the end.”

What aspects of your professional background do you think will serve you most as a Footprints Floors Franchise Owner?

R: “During my career, I had the privilege to work with several men and women of high character [who] led with a selfless mindset and servant attitude. This helped me truly understand what good leadership looks like. I also understand the importance of working with others as a team and encouraging teammates when needed to ensure the job is completed at the highest level.

In several instances during my career, I ran up against challenges and learned the importance of perseverance and the willingness to adjust your plan in order to succeed. I hope that my understanding of what it takes as both a team member and team leader will help us become successful in the business world.”

SOURCE Footprints Floors