Mary Ellen Sheets
Founder
History with company:
In less than 20 years, Mary Ellen Sheets has taken her sons’ small moving business and driven it to an international corporation with more than 1,300 trucks and more than 200 locations worldwide.
After her sons, Brig and Jon Sorber, left for college, the business continued to receive numerous requests so Sheets decided to take it over. She purchased an old moving truck for $350 – the only money she ever invested in the company – and hired two movers. The business grew steadily and Sheets’ entrepreneurial spirit became well known in the Lansing area. Eventually, she quit her state government job (foregoing her retirement) to put 100 percent into her thriving moving business.
She awarded the first franchise to her daughter, Melanie Bergeron, a year later. It was located in Atlanta, Ga.
By 1989, Sheets had developed the business into the first and only local moving franchise in the country. Last year,
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc.’s annual revenue was $193.3 million.
Sheets considers herself fortunate to have all three children actively involved in running the company. Brig Sorber is presently president & CEO. Melanie Bergeron acts as chair of the board of directors. Jon Sorber is executive vice president.
“When I look back, I can’t believe this all happened,” she says. “I am in shock and so grateful. I definitely think this is the American dream. We live in a wonderful country.”
Awards:
2005 Ernst & Young International Runner-up Entrepreneur of the Year
2004 Entrepreneur of the Year by the International Franchise Association for her vision and savvy. She was the first woman to earn this award in its 40 year history.
2004 Michigan Women’s Foundation Women of Achievement and Courage Award
2002 Athena Award
1999 Working Women’s 500 Congress
1999 Working Women’s Best Employer Regional Finalist
1998 Blue Chip Award
1995 Michigan Entrepreneur of the Year Award
1994 Top 25 Michigan Business Woman of the Year
1993 Lansing Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year.
Community service:
A key portion of Sheets' business model is to give back to the community. Always active in local service projects, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s commitment to the community began with Sheets. At the end of her first year in business, she profited $1,000 and then donated all of it -- giving $100 to 10 different charities.
Sheets established the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Micro Enterprise Fund to encourage fledgling business owners. She is the supporter of many other charities.
Book mentions:
What’s Luck Got to Do With It?
Start Small — Finish Big
Women Entrepreneurs Only
The Girl's Guide to Building a Million Dollar Business
Masters of Success
Glorious Accidents
Millionaire Women
Among her hundreds of speaking engagements:
Louisiana State University
Michigan State University
Wake Forest University
University of Texas at El Paso
Michigan Women’s Attorney Association
International Franchise Association’s Franchisor Forum at McDonald’s University
The Ohio State University
Wayne State University
Grand Valley State University
Shanghai University
Australian Franchise Annual Convention
Mexican Franchise Annual Convention
Canadian Franchise Annual Convention
Features/publications:
Pink Magazine
The Franchise Times
BusinessWeek Online
The Detroit Free Press
The National Enquirer
The Oprah Winfrey Show
NBC’s Today Show
Boards Sheets has served on:
International Franchise Association
Lansing Chamber of Commerce
Lansing Regional Business Travel Trust
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Freedom Foundation
M-LAW ( Michigan Law Abuse Watch)
Sparrow Hospital
Commissioner on the Michigan Truck Safety Commission
Capital Region Community Foundation
Gateway
Capital Area United Way (Campaign Chair)
Lansing Art Gallery