IFA Press Releases Posted February 19, 2024 International Franchise Association Names 2023 Franchisee of the Year Recipients Share 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: Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 806,270 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.7 million direct jobs, $858.5 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development. Contact Press Contact Name: Katherine Knight Patterson Phone: (202) 662–0783 Email: kpatterson@franchise.org