8 Friday, April 21, 2017 brooklintowncrier.com For more information about this feature contact the Brooklin Town Crier at 905.655.7642 Meet Your Local Merchant Trisha Dosaj Makarov, franchise owner of Brooklin's Oxford Learning, was recently acknowledged by The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) in a March article highlighting her as a successful millennial in franchising. Two years ago, Dosaj Makarov was offered the opportunity to take over the Oxford Learning franchise. The CFA feature highlights some of the reasons her entrepreneurship has found success. With a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor's in Psychology and a teaching degree, Dosaj Makarov's education background makes her well suited to run the franchise. Having worked at the Richmond Hill franchise since 2007, she knew the benefits of Oxford Learning and by the end of 2015 was the new "millennial" owner of Brooklin Oxford Learning. Dosaj Makarov attributes the Brooklin franchise's success to three key factors: - Overcoming the age barrier was at first a challenge, but once people began to understand she'd been with Oxford since 2007, the doubters became believers. - Being present in the business turned out to be a big asset. "Especially when you're starting it," she says. "You need to be hands on and part of everything." - Being an active participant in the community has meant building trust. A member of the Rotary Club, a ladies networking group, and a volunteer with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Dosaj Makarov says, "I love doing that, and by getting out in the community, you make your business known. Maybe somebody doesn't need you today, but maybe next week they do or their cousin does. And because they know you, they'll trust you." More recently, she's added the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and the Young Entrepreneurs and Professionals Com- mittee to the list. The CFA article expands on the programming available at Oxford and how she has expanded it. Today, children from pre- school to post-secondary can reach their goals through Oxford's various options. When asked why she decided to buy into Oxford, she states, "I love what I do; I'm very passionate. I wouldn't have bought my own franchise had I not believed in Oxford Learning and what we do on a daily basis." Oxford Learning's Trisha Dosaj Makarov Featured by Canadian Franchise Association