International Franchise Association Names 2023 Franchisee of the Year Recipients

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Recognizes 109 individuals for being outstanding owner-operators, exemplifying excellence in franchising and service to others

PHOENIX, Feb. 18, 2024 – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today recognized 109 individuals with its 2023 Franchisee of the Year awards, representing IFA member brands across all industries from communities around the country and across the world. The annual Franchisee of the Year award recognizes outstanding franchise establishment owner-operators, honored at the 64th IFA Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Franchisees of the Year exemplify what franchising is all about – providing opportunity, serving others, and fulfilling the American Dream,” said Matt Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association. “We are proud to recognize these entrepreneurs with the highest honor IFA awards to individual franchisees, and we thank them for the work they do day in and day out to uplift their communities and all they serve.”

The Franchisee of the Year Award recognizes leading franchise owners from IFA member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.

There are approximately 806,000 franchised businesses across the U.S., providing over 8.7 million direct jobs and generating over $858 billion in economic output. According to Oxford Economics, franchising on average provides higher wages and better benefits than non-franchised businesses, as well as greater entrepreneurial opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, and other underrepresented communities. 

The full list of recipients is below:

Name

Company

Location

Aaron Carpenter and Joanne Oh

Grand Welcome Bend and Central Oregon

Bend, OR

Adam and Matt Saxton

The Saxton Group (McAlister’s Deli)

Dallas, TX

Angela Goodman

Eateries of Loudon, Inc.

Ashburn, VA

Anne and Matt Evers

Drybar

Houston, TX

Austin Wighaman

BODY20 Bee Cave

Lakeaway, TX

Azim F. Saju

Ark Hospitality Management and Development

Ocala, FL

Bashnin Sherali

Ivy Kids of Alamo Ranch

San Antonio, TX

Beth Dotson

Huntington Learning Center

Fairhope, AL

Brandon Hudson and Damion Mason

H&M Pizza, LLC dba Marco’s Pizza

Midlothian, VA

Brent Chapman

Window Hero Triad & Top Rail Fence Triad (HomeFront Brands)

Whitsett, NC

Brian Wick

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning

Medina, OH

Bruce and Sarah Seidel

Live Healthy Enterprises, Inc. (GNC)

Fort Thomas, KY

Bryan Frnka

Amazing Lash Studio

Austin, TX

Candice and Brian Winterringer

Sonic

Flower Mound, TX

Christopher Baker

Twin Coast Enterprises (Tropical Smoothie Café)

Salem, NH

Chris McJunkins

McJunkins Restaurant Group (Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux)

Shreveport, LA

Christopher Shimer

Ruby Food Company (Capriotti’s Sandwich Shops)

Royersford, PA

Christy and Jim Boswell

Scenthound – South Denver

Castle Pines, CO

Chris Sikes

Handyman Connection of Wilmington

Wilmington, NC

Craig Smith Family

Kitchen Tune Up Williamsburg/Hampton Roads Virginia

Hayes, VA

Dan Parlin

Budget Blinds of Durham, Cary, and North Raleigh

Durham, NC

David Wagner

Bad Ass Coffee

 Rancho Cucamonga, CA

David and Lesly Lytle

Concrete Craft of Northern Indianapolis and Hamilton County

Carmel, IN

David and Lorri Jones

BC Northwest (Big Chicken)

Bothell, WA

David Pawek and Chris Hordyk

Screenmobile of the North Bay

Santa Rosa, CA

David Potts

A&L Insulation Operations (USA Insulation)

Waterville, OH

Denise Cross

The Goddard School of Reno, NV

Reno, NV

Dianne and Gabrielle Melillo

Season 2 Consign Central New Jersey

Colts Neck, NJ

Don Ruggery, Jr. and Jay Ruggery

Spherion Staffing

Altoona, PA

Ed Taliaferro

Rose City Pizza, LLC and Cascade Dining, LLC (Papa John’s)

Bothell, WA

Eli and Abby Power

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

Montrose, CA

Eric Danver

Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa

Medford, NJ

Erik and Wendy Skaalerud

Big Blue Swim School

Centennial, CO

Evan McIntosh

Green Home Solutions of Asheville

Mills River, NC

Fernando and Kimberly Rosario

Flour Power Cooking Studios

Alpharetta, GA

Fred, Debbie and Stephen Franchuk

Home Instead

Calgary, AB

Gloriaellis Mattei and Sergio Pacheco

Zags Enterprises, Inc. (Nothing Bundt Cakes)

Addison, TX

Hajira & Zubair Khan

Kiddie Academy of Fort Wayne and Southwest Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne, IN

Hicham El Abbassi and Isalmou Boussaa

DT NOVA LLC (District Taco)

Falls Church, VA

Jace Stickdorn and Annette Payne

Vitall Partners, LLC (Golden Corral)

Beavercreek, OH

Jacob Stump and Sarah Simpson

Artworks of Jacksonville, Inc. (KidzArt & Club Scientific)

Jacksonville, FL

Jake Kiser

CertaPro Painters of Athens/Gwinnett

Athens, GA

Jason Edge

Junk King Portland

Portland, OR

Jason Kline and Cecilia Yi-Kline

School of Rock NorCal

Elk Grove, CA

Jeff Baker

The Grounds Guys of Wichita

Wichita, KS

Jeffrey J. DeCoste

The Cleaning Authority – Brookfield

Brookfield, WI

Jeremy and Jenny Smith

Mr. Electric of Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Norman

Tulsa, OK

Jesse Keyser and Charles Keyser

Keyser Enterprises (Sport Clips, OxiFresh Carpet Cleaning, Ideal Image MedSpa)

St. Louis, MO

Jessica Hackney and Don Pingley

Hydrate IV Bar Highlands Ranch

Highlands Ranch, CO

Joe Sandoval

The Junkluggers of Orange County, CA and East Valley, AZ

Villa Park, CA

John Carlson

Christian Brothers Automotive — North Scottsdale

Chandler, AZ

John Duffy and Steve Howerton

City Wide Facility Solutions – Tampa Bay

St. Petersburg, FL

John Kim

Baskin’ Robbins

Japan

John Villon and Nilo Quiroz

PuroClean of Central Southwest Houston

Houston, TX

Jon Witmer and Mark Clapper

Re-Bath Lancaster and West Chester

Lancaster, PA

José Morillo

Camp Bow Wow, Katy, Kemah and Cypress

Katy, TX

Joseph C. Erickson

Jimmy John’s

Decatur, IL

Joseph E. Christie

A Place At Home – North Texas

Allen, TX

Judi Tompkins

ATC Healthcare Services

Milledgeville, GA

Julie and Lance Turner

Express Employment Professionals

Fort Worth, TX

K.C. Ryerson

Owl Be There of Frederick and Loudoun

Frederick, MD

Karen Mora

Payroll Vault

Santa Barbara, CA

Katie Edge

Renovation Sells San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Kerry Sawyer

BE Infinite Inc. (Painting with a Twist)

Noblesville, IN

Kevin Schramm

LIME Painting of Boise

Boise, ID

Kobad and Nancy Bogwadia

Mathnasium, Operated by Bugwadia Enterprise, LLC

San Jose, CA

Larisa and Jeffrey Posner

Goldfish Swim School Livingston

Short Hills, NJ

Lawrence Kourie

Dave’s Hot Chicken

San Diego, CA

Marc Rogers

Rogers Restaurant Group (Fuzzy’s Taco Shop)

Johnstown, CO

Mark and Charlie Paretchan

First Light Home Care of Marin and Sonoma Counties

San Rafael, CA

Matt and Tracy Moten

Floor Coverings International Cleveland/Akron

Stow, OH

Matt Skellan

Bath Tune-Up Columbus North

Columbus, OH

Michael Jania

The Lash Lounge

Chicago, IL

Michael and Ana Guasch

SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service

Modesto, CA

Michelle Ginn

Stretch Zone

Encinitas, CA

Mike Davis

Restorative Touch, Inc. (Elements Massage)

Spokane, WA

Nicholas Lambie

Ziebart of Morgantown

Morgantown, WV

Noah Gross

Two Maids of Spokane

Spokane, WA

Noah Witt

True North Restoration of SW Oregon

Roseburg, OR

Patrcia Miller

Wisdom Senior Care

Durham, NC

Patrick and Erin Elgin

Sola Salons – Twin Cities

St. Paul, MN

Paul A. Groshko

Spavia Lincoln Park

Chicago, IL

Phillip Scotton

PRIMO Partners (Ben & Jerry’s)

Atlanta, GA

Rich Schepler

AlphaGraphics South Charlotte

Charlotte, NC

Robert Branca

Branded Management Group (Dunkin’)

Worcester, MA

Robert Stapf

British Swim School Hudson Waterfront, NJ

Jersey City, NJ

Robin Bray

Woodhouse Spas

Trophy Club, TX

Rontario and Sheena Hicks

Pool Scouts of Huntsville

Huntsville, AL

Roz Mallet

Buffalo Wild Wings

Plano, TX

Sai Hossain

Wetzel’s Pretzels

Glendale, CA

Sanjiv Chand

Jasam Enterprises, LLC (Checkers)

New York, NY

Samantha Loy

Always Best Care Senior Services

Burlington, NC

Sari Papazian

AdvantaClean of Norcross and Buford

Norcross, GA

Sergio Angione

SRA Home Inspections (HouseMaster)

Towaco, NJ

Sergio Rodriguez

Aire Serv of the Coastal Bend

Rockport, TX

SG Ellison

Diversified Restaurant Group (Arby’s)

Sonoma, CA

Shae Sims

Athletic Republic Park City & West Jordan

Park City, UT

Shawna Hicks-Cranston

PostNet of Lakewood Ranch

Bradenton, FL

Stephanie O’Neill & Whitney Learie-Kellam

Foxy Box Laser & Wax Bars, Kamloops

Kamloops, British Columbia

Susan Mendenhall

Mendenhall Restaurants LLC (IHOP)

Pasco, WA

Teresa Hatter

Radiant Waxing Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

Tim Kurtz and Chris Taddonio

Alpha Management Group (Altitude Trampoline Park)

Trophy Club, TX

Tom and Sherri Tobin

Tobin Auto Services (Grease Monkey)

Cibolo, TX

Toni Gilbert

The Honey Baked Ham Company

Phoenix, AZ

Tony Zack

Mister Sparky of Myrtle Beach, SC

Conway, SC

Travis and Kirsten Hibbert

Smoky Mountain Pizza (Donatos Pizza)

Knoxville, TN

Trey and Cindy Powell

Mosquito Joe of Lake Murray and Augusta

Lexington, SC

Val Hill and Jared Lee

Lee Hill Investments (Sport Clips)

Chandler, AZ

Woodie Hippler

Any Lab Test Now

Louisville, KY

# # #

About the International Franchise Association:
Contact

Press Contact

Name:

Katherine Knight Patterson

Email:

kpatterson@franchise.org

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