Michael Sertich never imagined becoming the fastest-growing franchise owner in Lorain County. Like many ambitious kids, he left home for college, eager to see what else was out there. A degree and the first stretch of his career took him further still, from American University to a job in marketing in the hospitality industry to graduate school at Cornell University. As a result, he learned about business operations, marketing, customer service, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
“I always thought I wanted to move back and build something,” said Sertich, who grew up in Avon Lake. “After I gained some experience, I saw an opportunity to grow in this area.”
In 2014, Sertich opened his first Jimmy John’s franchise store. His first store wasn’t his only one for long, thanks to a strong work ethic, long hours, a clear vision, and a willingness to bet on growth in the area. Today, Sertich’s portfolio includes 12 Jimmy John’s locations in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties and five Biggby Coffee franchises.
With Sertich’s commitment to recruiting and developing exceptional employees, each store has become a neighborhood fixture in the area it serves.
“Success doesn’t come from having a good idea. It comes from working hard and surrounding yourself with people who believe in what you’re trying to accomplish,” said Sertich. “Entrepreneurship is always exciting because the demands change continuously. In the beginning, we focused heavily on operations and doing everything on the frontline to gain traction. When the number of stores grows, the focus shifts to evolving the strategy. As you scale, there’s the opportunity to build out the leadership team around you with additional strengths and skills that can be leveraged to accomplish even more, which is really rewarding.”
Sertich says Buckeye Community Bank has been an invaluable partner in his portfolio’s growth. It was essential to have a partner who understood the rhythm of a growing business, such as seasonal cash flow, buildout timelines, and the reality that franchise growth Is rarely linear.
“Through this journey, I have enjoyed building trust with the Buckeye Community Bank team. They understand the market very well,” Sertich said. “In the hospitality industry, we’re all about people. We emphasize treating people internally well, and that translates into delivering great customer service and being there for them consistently. I feel like that’s the same for Buckeye.”
“It’s a rarity these days to have a real local bank. The people at Buckeye know me personally, they know my business and understand it and that’s great. I appreciate they’ll back a business like mine and be there to support our growth path,” Sertich added.
For Sertich, whose firms now employ more than 150 residents, the partnership with Buckeye has made ambitious next chapters feel achievable. His team continues to explore opportunities to extend the brands and grow to new sites. This fall, Sertich will open a new site in Rocky River.
“Michael Sertich represents exactly the type of entrepreneur Buckeye Community Bank was created to support,” Buckeye President and CEO Ben P. Norton said. “Since returning to the area, he has invested in the greater community and is building businesses that create jobs and energy. Helping business owners like him grow isn’t just what we do, it’s the reason we are here.”
