2026 Business Leaders of the Year: Brandon Welch

Brandon Welch believes leadership begins at home, then radiates out into the marketplace and community.

“Following God and faithfully caring for the family he has entrusted to me will always be my most important contribution,” he says.

The CEO and founder of Springfield-based Frank & Maven says he’s built a strategy-first growth firm that serves owner-led businesses across the country while keeping a tight focus on clarity of purpose.

“We developed a clarifying framework that any owner-operator can use to eliminate waste in advertising and build a confident plan for growth,” Welch says.

Frank & Maven starts by solving a problem Welch says he sees repeatedly: frustrated business owners unsure whether their marketing works. In response, he and his team developed The Maven Method.

Since 2014, Frank & Maven has grown into a 14-person team serving around 50 companies locally and nationwide.

“Our clients tend to stay with us indefinitely because our relationships are built on holistic business strategy, rich campaign development and measurable growth instead of just media management,” Welch says.

Whether the team is advising a 12-year employee, an intern or “a stranger emailing us on our podcast” – which has 15,000 subscribers and just shy of 1 million views – Welch’s crew spends the extra time to listen, teach and encourage.

That mindset extends to free resources. Welch says he invests more than 40 hours a month producing content for business owners and leaders across America.

“Simply put, we are on a relentless mission to help everyone we encounter get closer to their big dream,” Welch says. “I am proud that I get to lead a company that produces awesome results in the marketplace while simultaneously helping everyone involved achieve the best version of themselves.”

The firm’s approach is also reflected in client outcomes. Companies working with Frank & Maven have earned dozens of industry awards from peer groups and trade associations for exceptional growth and marketing impact. Welch says long-term partnerships and an eight-times-higher client retention rate than that of industry peers show that generosity can create synergy with strong strategy and business performance.

Away from the office, Welch’s leadership shows up in civic and nonprofit roles. He serves on the board of the Springfield Rotary Club Southeast Endowment, helping shape fundraising campaigns and storytelling that push the fund past $1.3 million and toward a $2 million goal.

Welch is a founding board member of It’s About Kids, which raises money to provide musical instruments to underresourced children, which he says gives “the life-changing gift of music.” He also serves on the board of Kinsmen Journal, helping guide conversations and gatherings that encourage men carrying significant responsibility to lead with faith, presence and purpose.

Welch says he’s gained best practices and wisdom from helping more than 1,000 companies over his career.

“Though we never expect a return from our culture of giving, it is evident that our core values enable us to enjoy a rare kind of success in our industry,” he says.