1851 University

Nick Powills, CFE, founded No Limit Agency in 2008 and serves as Chief Brand Strategist for the Chicago-based firm. No Limit is a full-service communications agency that establishes and elevates brands by bridging Public Relations, Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, Digital, and a lot of creativity, to best strategize well-rounded and successful campaigns for 50+ global franchise brands. By presenting visionary ideas and building real relationships, No Limit is able to create effective media branding strategies to help companies grow. Nick currently leads a staff of writers, media strategists, designers, social media experts and digital producers in an office think-tank where brands are humanized for strong, compelling media stories. Prior to starting No Limit at the age of 27, Nick spent four years working at a franchise PR agency where he mastered the art of building rapport with media outlets and creating newsworthy pitches for earned media placements. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Drake University in Iowa.

A senior level franchise executive with over 20 years of experience working with startup franchise concepts to large developed franchise systems and corporations in need of rebranding, giving a unique insight and perspective in growing, operating and building franchise brands. Experience includes: Franchise sales, marketing, lead generation strategy, lead flow, PR, content marketing, web design, SEO / SEM, CRM, franchise operations, multi-unit development, franchise compliance, new franchise training, and franchisor / franchisee relations. Formerly Executive Vice President for BrightStar Care, Senior VP of Quiznos and National Vice President of Franchise Development for Wireless Zone, a Verizon Wireless retail chain. In 2 years, lead the growth of Wireless Zone from under 200 locations to over 480 stores. Prior to Wireless Zone, he was COO of a startup women's fitness franchise that grew to over 100 franchisees and 250 locations in 3 years and Co-founder and COO of an automotive accessory retail chain out of Cincinnati, OH, which grew to a national franchise and eventual IPO trading on the NASDAQ-QTC.