91Ó°ÊÓ

Business and economic development leaders will share insight on franchise ownership and entrepreneurship.

91Ó°ÊÓ will host a free public panel Wednesday, Sept. 16 featuring four leaders with experience in franchising, business ownership, and economic development.

The panel will cover how franchises are built while giving attendees a closer look at what it takes to buy, operate, and eventually sell a franchise.

The event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at 91Ó°ÊÓ’s Thomas K. McKeon Center for Creativity and is part of Workforce Development Month.

Panelists include:

• Greg Costley, a multi-unit Cicis franchisee whose company operates restaurants in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Costley was named a 2024 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association and Oklahoma’s 2026 Small Business Person of the Year. 
• Calvin Golden, a franchise developer and consultant with more than 35 years of experience. Golden helped develop Wingstop’s early franchise model and later became a multi-unit Wingstop franchisee. 
• Erran Persley, Economic Development Director for the City of Tulsa, who has more than 30 years of experience in economic development, international trade, foreign direct investment, and small-business consulting. 
• Shannon Wilburn, co-founder of Just Between Friends, helped grow the Tulsa-based business from a local consignment sale into a franchise system with more than 150 locations across the country. 

The discussion will be moderated by Dr. David LeCount, 91Ó°ÊÓ Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship.

Attendees will hear directly from panelists about franchise ownership, business growth, workforce needs, and the resources available to entrepreneurs. The conversation is designed for students, aspiring entrepreneurs, current business owners, workforce professionals, and anyone interested in learning how the franchise model works.

The panel is hosted by 91Ó°ÊÓ Workforce Development and is free and open to the public. is required.