In 2012, Michelle Dacy had a personal revelation when she experienced firsthand the challenges of ensuring her grandmother’s medical appointments and essential errands were met. Recognizing the difficulties that many individuals with mobility or cognitive challenges face when trying to access reliable transportation, Michelle was inspired to take action.
Driven by a deep sense of empathy and a desire to address this crucial need, Michelle decided to establish her own NEMT business. This decision was not just a business venture; it was born out of a personal mission to make a positive impact on the lives of seniors and individuals with mobility or cognitive challenges.
After operating successfully and making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with mobility challenges in Chicago, Michelle Dacy and her husband Tom had a vision. They aspired to extend the impact of Tootl by franchising the concept.
Their motivation was clear: they wanted to broaden the reach of Tootl’s services to more communities across the country. Their goal was not just to run a successful business but to improve as many lives as possible by offering access to high-quality and dependable transportation services for people of all abilities.
TRUST
RESPECT
EMPATHY
KINDNESSWe take the difficulty out of the journey with TREK.
Each partner on the Tootl Transport corporate team has decades of experience in their area of expertise.
Michelle has been in the special needs transportation segment for 20+ years. Inspired by a personal need, in 2012, she launched her own non-emergency medical transportation business in Chicago with a goal to provide high-quality customer service to seniors and the disabled. Her husband Tom, with a background in hospitality, soon came on board to join her venture. Together, they have grown their vision and company.
With nearly 30 years in franchising as a founder and CEO, Steve has a wealth of experience and in-depth perspective on building teams, building brands and building relationships and trust within franchise communities. Steve founded PostNet in 1992 to help simplify business needs and make entrepreneurs’ lives easier by offering graphic design, shipping and printing solutions all in one place. Over 25 years, he led the growth of PostNet’s franchise system to over 660 locations in nine countries. After selling PostNet in 2017, Steve served as CEO of Best Life Brands, a franchised multi-brand platform company in the healthcare industry before launching Full Contact Franchising, a boutique consulting firm that advises, invests and supports franchise businesses. Steve was featured in CBS’s Undercover Boss (Season 4) and is a Certified Franchise Executive, a former Chairman of the International Franchise Association and a well established speaker, mentor, and advocate for the franchising industry.
Brad Fishman is Co-CEO of Fishman Public Relations, the premiere national agency specializing in PR and content marketing services for franchise brands. He also founded Franchise Elevator, a fast-growing specialty PR agency serving emerging franchise brands. On a global level, Brad also operates Fishman Canada, a PR firm providing lead generation and consumer PR for franchise brands in Canada, as well as co-founding Rev PR, a leading franchise PR firm in the United Kingdom. He spent nearly 30 years helping hundreds of franchisors raise awareness of their brand among consumers and expand their franchise systems through lead generation PR and content marketing.
Brad also sits on the board of directors of many franchise organizations and franchise suppliers including Franchise Payments Network and FranFund and previously served on the Board of Directors of FranChoice. He is the past chairman of the International Franchise Association’s Supplier Forum, a past member of the IFA’s board and executive board and serves on the IFA’s Membership Committee.
Debra brings 25+ years’ experience in franchise public relations and content marketing expertise to Tootl. As President of Fishman Public Relations, Debra manages client relations, develops new client services offerings, and builds operational systems and best practices to keep the agency on top of its game in the franchise industry. Debra’s main emphasis is on outcomes – ensuring the agency’s franchise client campaigns generate franchisee and customer leads. A former journalist, Debra covered the Illinois legislature for the Associated Press, was a municipal and business reporter for The Daily Herald Chicagoland newspaper, and served in editorial positions with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Safety Council. Debra serves on the IFA Women’s Franchise Committee, the IFA Annual Leadership Conference Task Force, the IFA Suppliers Board and serves on the Board of Directors for Worldcom Public Relations Group.
Jeff Mathews has been working within the franchise industry for over 22 years, representing a multitude of brands and helping them grow. His responsibilities with franchise brands have ranged from strategic development, new sales of existing brands, startups, conversions, re-sales and overall brand development, executing over 1000+ franchise licenses. Many of the franchise systems Jeff worked with have been in the fitness sector, first with Snap Fitness and then as the SVP Development with 9Round, placing 739 licenses in just under 10 years. It was during this time that he realized that his personality, interests, skill set and passion for people and helping them to achieve their dreams and goals were perfectly tailored to help any and all franchise concepts. Jeff joined the Tootl team in March of 2023.
