Mary C. Rogers

Company:Abrakadoodle

Title: CEO/Co-Founder

Education: BS degree from Bridgewater State College and MA degree from George Washington University.

Work Experience:

Began professional life as a teacher of special needs children. Taught in public schools for ten years before launching her first buusiness.

Mary co-founded Abrakadoodle, remarkable art education for children and has an extensive background in franchising and education having founded two franchise companies. Her current responsibilites with Abrakadoodle include providing vision and leadership while charting new initiatives for the company. Mary is the 2007 recipient of International Franchise Assciation's Bonnie Levine Award, their highest award for a woman in franchising. She was also "Women Entrepreneur of the Year" for Washington Metro Area 1997, Ernst and Young.

After just three years in franchising, Abrakadoodle has been ranked largest art education franchise in Annual Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 (2008, 2007, 2006) and the "Best of the Best in Children's Franchises" (2007). Abrakadoodle and Rogers have been featured in Investor's Business Daily, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, USA Today, The Washington Business Journal and numerous other publications. She is a frequent speaker on business development, franchising and education addressing audiences from twenty to over two thousand.

Previously, Rogers co-founded and served as CEO of ECW Corporation, the US and International franchisor for Computetots and Computer Explorers. Under her leadership and vision, the company became the largest computer enrichment programs for children in the United States. When she left the company in 1997, it had experienced excellent growth resulting in 150+ franchises in the United States and programs in eleven countries.