With 30 years in franchising, Mary Kennedy Thompson has supported businesses of all sizes and has extensive experience in global expansion, leadership, and integrations. Prior to starting at BNI® in 2024, Mary served as Chief Operating Officer at Neighborly®, the world’s largest home services company, where she worked since 2006. Her tenure at Neighborly included roles as Executive Vice-President and President of Mr. Rooter®.

Mary’s career began as a multi-unit franchise owner at Cookies by Design, where she excelled in market penetration and sales, eventually becoming the brand’s President. She also has served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Logistics Officer.

Mary has received numerous accolades, including the IFA’s William Rosenberg Foundation Leadership Award, the Bonny Levine Award, and the Crystal Compass award. She is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and currently serves as a Board Member and the 2024 Chair-Elect for the IFA.

Mary’s passion for helping business owners aligns with BNI’s mission to support its Members and franchisees, marking her appointment as a transformational opportunity for BNI.