Home Instead Founders Fund Franchise Leadership Program at Nebraska

Paul and Lori Hogan, the founders of Home Instead, have given a gift to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to create the Hogan Franchise Leadership Program, Nebraska Today reported. The report did not state the amount.

The program is housed in the College of Business but open to students in any major. It pairs franchise coursework with hands-on learning, internships and the Husker Franchise Club, and it puts students in contact with franchise owners and industry professionals.

It extends work by the school's Center for Entrepreneurship, which turns 40 this fall. Lindsay Thomsen, an assistant professor of practice in management who directs business development for the center, helped revive the student franchise group and rebuild an introductory franchising course in 2022. She said the International Franchise Association ranks Nebraska among the top states for franchise growth.

Paul Hogan said he studied franchising, joined a franchise club and interned at a franchise company at Nebraska in the mid-1980s. "That set me on a life-changing journey," he said. He also said franchisors and companies serving them now have higher expectations of new hires.

Kathy Farrell, dean of the College of Business, said the gift will let students learn franchising more directly and meet leaders in the field.

This story was first reported by Nebraska Today.