People First, Stories Forward with Debra Vilchis
Behind every great business story are people who believe it's worth telling.
And behind every meaningful partnership are relationships built through care, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose.
In this special episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we welcome Debra Vilchis, President & COO of Fishman PR and Partner at Franchise Elevator PR.
With nearly 27 years at Fishman PR, Debra has helped shape one of franchising's most recognized communications agencies, combining a journalist's instincts with a people-centered approach to leadership, storytelling, and business growth.
This conversation is particularly meaningful to us.
Since January 2025, our collaboration with the Fishman PR team has helped us welcome more than 47 guests from their client community, sharing the inspiring journeys of purpose-driven franchise leaders. More recently, our work with Franchise Elevator PR has opened the door to emerging brands with equally powerful stories.
We're especially grateful to Marisa, Dany, and Cole, whose collaboration has helped us build this growing community of conscious business leaders.
In People First, Stories Forward, we explore:
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Why emotional intelligence is essential to effective leadership
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How storytelling creates meaningful business connections
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What nearly three decades in franchising have taught Debra about people
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How PR agencies are adapting to new technologies and ways of working
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Why emerging brands deserve opportunities to share their stories
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How genuine partnerships create impact beyond business results
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Martha Huerta
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
The most powerful stories don't just help businesses grow. They help people connect, recognize possibility, and become part of something bigger.
PR Agency President & COO/Standup Comic/Sunday School Teacher
Debra Vilchis is President & Chief Operating Officer of Fishman Public Relations, the nation’s premiere agency offering integrated PR, content marketing and digital services for franchised brands. Fishman PR was recently ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as the No. 1 PR agency in franchising, for the ninth consecutive year.
Debra is also a partner at Franchise Elevator PR, a subsidiary agency under the Fishman umbrella that support the growth of emerging and re-emerging franchise brands.
Loyal to franchising, and to the company that helped get her started in the industry, Debra will soon celebrate 27 years with Fishman PR. She started at Fishman PR as an account executive in 1999, and gradually worked her way up through multiple positions through the years, serving clients and leading internal operations at the company.
Debra’s career journey has taken her from newspaper reporter to magazine editor to PR professional and now leader of – one that is able to see news angles from the lens of a journalist, giving her and the clients an edge in getting them the media attention they deserved.
Debra served a decade on the International Franchising Association’s (IFA) Women’s Franchise Committee, and, in 2024 received the IFA’s prestigious Crystal Compass Award for her contributions through leadership in franchising. She currently serves on the IFA Supplier Forum Advisory Board, and is an active partner of the Worldcom Public Relations Group.
Debra is the proud mother of 3 adult children. She lives in the Chicago area, where she te… Read More
