Couple Engineers Success Out of Loss

One of the lemons handed on by the COVID-19 pandemic is job loss. The family of Michael and Erin Franco sweetened that sour moment by utilizing it as an evangelization opportunity.

Michael Franco’s engineering job at a local engineering construction firm was deeply affected by COVID-19 a year ago spring.

“Projects just came to a screeching halt,” said Michael. “Last spring I saw where it could be long term.”

He did drone videography, 3D scanning and video production to help make ends meet. In the fall, the couple looked into making the business full time.

Around that time the Francos, board members of the Domestic Church marriage and family movement who brought the movement to the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 2014, gave a retreat. As a gift, a friend gave the couple the book “Consecration to St Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father” by Father Donald Calloway MIC. 

“A few weeks later, I picked up the book and read it. I would go to Michael and say, ‘Do you think it’s possible?’ ‘Michael, listen to this. This is just amazing,’ ” said Erin.

Before Thanksgiving, the Francos prayed the Novena to St. Joseph. On the final day of the novena, the Francos met with a consultant to see if their business could be viable, and he recommended that they give it a try. 

The recommendation, along with the novena to St. Joseph, led the Francos, members of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge, to believe God was asking them to take a leap of faith, leading them to establish Red Stick Visual Solutions in December. The business offers drone and Matterport 3D virtual imaging for schools and churches and the architecture, engineering, construction and real estate industries. 

The Francos proudly noted the first school project for their business was creating a virtual tour of St. Thomas More School in Baton Rouge.

As an apparent nod of affirmation from Jesus’ foster father, the Francos ended up with two relics of St. Joseph, one of many visual reminders throughout the family’s home of St. Joseph’s presence. The saint has accompanied the family through the sacrifices they’ve made.

In the past six months, the Francos went from a single-income family to cutting their budget significantly and taking their children, Gabriel, 11, Faith, 9, Gianna, 7, Roman, 4, and Aidan, 3, out of their activities. Erin, who graduated from St. Jude School and St. Joseph’s Academy, both in Baton Rouge, had homeschooled their children, but the couple put them in a public school so Erin could work with Michael in the business.

Fortunately, the children have adapted well, and seeing the sacrifices and downsizing their parents are making deepens their understanding of the family’s situation.

“The children watch us, in obedience in providing for the family, as well as working together as a family,” said Michael, a cradle Catholic and Catholic schools graduate.

Going back to full-time “secular” work has also been a transition for Erin, who was a stay-at-home mom and whose blog, “Humble Handmaid,” is on her website erinfranco.com. She has given numerous talks around town through the years, in addition to online ministry and writing and hosting the ‘Catholic Mom Minutes’ on Catholic Community Radio. 

But with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and public relations from LSU, where she met Michael at Christ the King Church and Catholic Center, Erin is comfortable with the change.

“My family needs me so much but in a different way,” she said.

Michael relishes the fact that every day he is learning something new, which is essential in the technology business.

“If there’s one thing about Michael, he’s a ‘Mr. Can Do.’ He will find a way to do it and be the best,” said Erin. 

She noted Michael was a mission control flight controller for United Space Alliance in Houston. There he trained to work real-time operations in mission control for missions to the International Space Station.

But with all their talents and abilities, the Francos humbly acknowledge it’s a team effort of the whole family. During a typical day, one parent will help the children get ready for school while the other works in their office, a converted storage space in the carport area. The two work while the kids are in school, and after school one will pick up the kids and spend time with them while the other continues to work. 

Their schedule depends on priorities for that day. Erin handles public relations for the business and Michael handles the sales and technical side.

But smiling and nodding to Erin, Michael said, “She’s the boss.”

Work schedules aside, making family time is a priority. And no work on Sundays.

Furthermore, the Francos believe having strong Catholic values is a good way to evangelize in the business world.

“We have been blessed to plug into a network of incredible Catholic business owners here in Baton Rouge, and we’d love to talk about being a Catholic couple working together in business and what we’re finding in working with other Catholic business owners around town,” said Erin. 

And mostly, they share their message of hope.

“Faithful Catholic families can look like many different things as far as working, education and the directions God leads each unique couple and family,” Erin said. “God may often challenge us to let him guide us out of our comfort zones, yet he is very faithful in providing for what we truly need in surprising and overwhelmingly generous ways.”