#46 Catherine Monson

FASTSIGNS (asi/395000) – CEO

2021 Rank: #29

Industry Experience: 38 years

Previous Power 50 Appearances: 3

Monson, a longtime franchise advocate and natural-born leader, is willing to go the extra mile for her franchisees – once even appearing in rocker garb in an episode of Undercover Boss. And she continues to make strides for FASTSIGNS and the other companies under the Propelled Brands umbrella. In fact, last year FASTSIGNS saw record growth – reporting more than $600 million in revenue – thanks to would-be entrepreneurs’ growing interest in the franchise model and Monson’s astute guidance. Still, lower scores from both her Power 50 peers and the industry caused her to drop 17 places on this year’s list. And while Monson has limited visibility within the promotional products industry, she’s a visible face of the franchising world, including a recent stint as chair of the International Franchise Association and a go-to interview for both the mainstream and business media.