Award Recognizes Outstanding Performance, Leadership, and Community Impact

COLUMBIA, SC. – (February 25, 2026) – AtWork®, an award-winning staffing agency franchise, proudly announces that David Walker, owner of AtWork Columbia, South Carolina, has been named a 2026 Franchisee of Excellence Award recipient by Franchise Business Review. This prestigious honor recognizes top-performing franchise owners who demonstrate exceptional leadership, financial performance, and commitment to their teams and communities. David is one of only 50 recipients of this coveted award.

A former educator with more than 17 years in teaching and school leadership, Walker transitioned into franchise ownership to broaden his impact in the community. Since joining AtWork, he has built a people-first business rooted in trust, service, and meaningful employment.

Under David’s leadership, AtWork Columbia has achieved extraordinary business results. His performance stands out even more given that much of this growth occurred during a period when the staffing industry overall experienced decline. Leveraging his deep ties to local schools, Walker has helped place hundreds of individuals into school-related roles, earning long-standing trust within his local district.

“David represents the very best of AtWork,” said Jason Leverant, President and COO of AtWork. “His leadership, heart for people, and ability to drive growth while making a real difference is exactly what this award is meant to recognize. We’re so proud he’s part of the AtWork family.”

Known for his servant leadership style, Walker fosters a family-like culture where employees feel valued and supported. He remains deeply involved in mentoring youth through his church and local community, continuing his lifelong commitment to education and service.

The Franchisee of Excellence Award from Franchise Business Review celebrates franchise owners who consistently go above and beyond for their teams, customers, and communities. David Walker’s recognition reflects not only exceptional business performance, but also a legacy of service that continues to change lives in Columbia and beyond.

*Headshot of David Walker available HERE.

For more information about AtWork franchise opportunities, visit https://www.atwork.com/franchise/.

About AtWork:

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, AtWork is an award-winning staffing franchise with more than 30 years of experience helping businesses find dependable talent and helping people find meaningful work. AtWork provides comprehensive workforce solutions, including temporary staffing, temp-to-hire, and direct hire services, supporting companies across a wide range of industries nationwide. AtWork delivers its staffing solutions through two distinct channels: their legacy brand, AtWork Personnel, focusing on commercial staffing (manufacturing, logistics, and administrative/clerical), and AtWork Professionals, the brand’s newest division, placing skilled professionals in areas such as accounting and finance, engineering, administrative and customer support, information technology, and other professional-level roles. AtWork is recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as one of the Largest and Best Staffing Firms to Work for in the U.S. and as an Entrepreneur Verified Franchise. The brand’s commitment to service excellence has earned ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing® Award for both client and talent satisfaction. AtWork’s strong growth and franchisee support have secured its place on Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises for eight consecutive years, along with induction into the FBR Hall of Fame for more than 10 years of outstanding performance. Additional recognition includes rankings in Franchise Times Top 400, and Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

For more information about AtWork visit https://www.atwork.com/franchise/. To learn about AtWork Professional visit: https://www.atwork.com/franchise/professional/.

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