- About Us
- Leadership Team
Sola Salons Leadership Team
Meet the Team Driving the Sola Salons Franchise Forward
One of the cornerstones of Sola Salons is our strong leadership team. We are proud to have a diverse and experienced group of individuals leading our salon franchise to success. Our leaders come from various backgrounds and bring unique perspectives, but they all share a common goal: to support and guide our franchisees toward achieving their dreams.
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Ben Jones Chief Executive Officer
Ben Jones is a seasoned executive and visionary leader, currently serving as the CEO of Radiance Holdings. With over two decades of experience in franchising, Ben has a proven track record of driving innovation and delivering results. Ben's journey with our organization began in 2012, when he joined the executive team of Sola Salons. During his tenure, Ben not only led business development efforts but also demonstrated his entrepreneurial acumen by establishing and managing three successful Sola Salons franchise locations in the Colorado market. Known for his strategic mindset and collaborative approach, Ben is passionate about empowering teams to achieve excellence and fostering a culture of innovation.
Ben earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University, followed by a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Ben currently sits on the board of The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, which provides grants to those seeking to effect positive change in North Carolina and at Duke University. Ben is also a past-member of Duke’s Board of Visitors and the past-president of Duke’s Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation.
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Bob Bell Chief Financial Officer
Bob Bell serves as Chief Financial Officer at Radiance Holdings after six years at WellBiz Brands, where he served as both President and CFO. At WellBiz, Bob led a portfolio of brands, including Drybar, Elements Massage, and Amazing Lash. Prior to that, he held leadership roles in the finance organizations at Raising Cane’s and Smashburger within the restaurant industry.
Bob is passionate about combining financial insights with strategic vision to drive sound business decisions and profitable growth. He is committed to building world-class teams that thrive in their daily work.
Bob lives in Denver with his wife, Angie, and their three boys – Banks, Boyd, and Jones. He’s excited to join the Sola Salons community and looks forward to building lasting relationships with its franchisees.
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Daryl Hurst President and Chief Operating OfficerDaryl Hurst is the President and Chief Operating Officer at Sola Salons, bringing over 20 years of experience in operations leadership with a focus on scalable systems and process optimization. Renowned for his strategic mindset and operational expertise, Daryl has a proven track record in building high-performing teams that execute with precision. His leadership philosophy is rooted in creating a culture of accountability, customer-centricity, and continuous improvement—all vital components in his pursuit of operational excellence at Sola Salons.
Daryl previously held multiple executive roles with Maaco Corporation, part of Driven Brands within Roark Capital’s portfolio, including President and Chief Operating Officer of the iconic auto painting and collision repair franchise. In these roles, he implemented efficient systems and processes that enhanced operational performance across over 400 franchise locations, contributing to substantial brand sales and revenue growth. His earlier career at Outback Steakhouse and Bloomin’ Brands also highlighted his dedication to rigorous operational standards, consistent brand experiences, and a motivating culture. During his time there, he led the rollout of new products, processes, and training programs, ensuring each initiative was scalable and impactful.
A continuous learner and advocate for innovation, Daryl is an Agile Ambassador, trained in Ken Blanchard’s Situational Leadership, and is always striving to increase his knowledge through new learning opportunities. . This commitment to development has empowered him to adapt his leadership style to meet the evolving needs of his teams and the franchise network. Known for his curiosity and drive for improvement, Daryl approaches each challenge with a blend of analytical rigor and innovative thinking. Based near Nashville with his family, he will be working remotely and plans to bring his expertise to Sola Salons through frequent collaboration, helping to set new standards for growth and efficiency in support of the brand’s expanding community. -
Jeff Pleis Vice President, Franchise Operations
Jeff is the Vice President of Franchise Operations of Sola Salons. He joined the brand after 14 years in the franchised childcare industry, where he was able to continually increase his roles and responsibilities. Jeff started as a Franchise Business Consultant for several years before being promoted to Director of Operations, overseeing a team of Consultants. He was then promoted to Senior Director of Operations and, ultimately, Vice President of Operations. Throughout his career, Jeff has focused on training relationship-based sales and customer experience while leading and developing teams that focus on building relationships with franchisees to help them grow their businesses.
Jeff lives in Maryland with his wife, four boys, two dogs, and a cat.
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Annie Winship Senior Vice President, MarketingAnnie is a seasoned marketing leader with a deep passion for driving growth across industries such as travel, healthcare, eCommerce, and hospitality. She brings a unique blend of experience from both high-growth startups and established companies.
Throughout her career, Annie has had the privilege of leading marketing teams through transformative phases, from scaling early-stage companies to managing complex, global campaigns. Her time at Expedia equipped her with a solid understanding of the travel industry's intricacies, while her work across healthcare, eCommerce, and hospitality has given her a broad perspective and the ability to adapt to different market dynamics.
Driven by a commitment to innovation, data-driven decision-making, and building strong, customer-focused brands, Annie thrives in launching new products, entering new markets, and scaling marketing operations. She is passionate about creating impactful marketing strategies that align with business goals and resonate with target audiences.
Annie earned a BA in Science, Technology, and Society from Stanford University and later completed her MBA at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, with a focus on entrepreneurship and marketing. She currently resides in Marin County with her husband and three young children.