IFA Salutes 116 Franchisees of the Year

Awards Recognize Their Business Achievements and Help to Others in 2024

The International Franchise Association has honored 116 owner-operators as 2024 Franchisees of the Year. The awards recognize franchisees among IFA’s member brands for achieving in business, giving back, creating opportunities for others, and supporting the franchise business model. The winners, who had been nominated by their parent franchisors, were announced Tuesday during the 65th IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas.

Franchisee ranks are growing steadily in the United States. Nationwide, there are about 830,000 franchise businesses, and that total is expected to climb to about 851,000 this year, according to the IFA’s 2025 Economic Outlook report. Statistics from that Feb. 5 report also indicate that franchising’s gross domestic product increased by 4.4% last year and predicted it would rise by 5% this year.

Research by Oxford Economics indicates that franchising is an opportunity equalizer for entrepreneurs, exceeding the norm in providing opportunities to minorities, women, veterans and other underrepresented segments of the U.S. population. But beyond owners and franchisors, the franchise business model generates income for rank-and-file members of the American workforce. Franchising is expected to add approximately 210,000 jobs in 2025, reaching a total of more than 9 million jobs, according to the 2025 Economic Outlook Report.

In a news release revealing the award recipients, IFA President and CEO Matt Haller said Franchisees of the Year “embody the American dream, create economic opportunity, serve their communities, and show what it means to go into business for yourself but not by yourself. We are proud to recognize these entrepreneurs.”

The honorees hail from coast to coast and from a huge array of industries. Many represent business-to-consumer (B2C) brands, while others are business-to-business (B2B). They provide services and/or sell products. Following is a full list of award recipients.

• Aaron and Danielle Katzoff: Spavia Moorestown/Guilford Commons/Stamford in Egg Harbor Township, NJ
• Al and AJ Rodriguez: Sport Clips of Mars, PA
• Alen McKnight: Athletic Republic Cary of Cary, NC
• Alex and Myriam Guerrero: Tint World of El Paso, TX
• Amber Walley: GK Property Holdings LLC in Warren, OH
• Anchal Lamba: Gong cha Franchise LLC of Hauppauge, NY
• Andrew D’Agosto: Panda Inc dba Arby’s of Omaha, NE
• Andrew Jones, Edward Amar, and Mateusz Dabrowski: TAM of Gonzales, LA
• Andy Freitas: Colonels Limited LLC of Purcellville, VA
• Angela Woodruff-Swarts: Spherion Staffing of Augusta, GA
• Angella Emmett: ATC Healthcare Services – PNW and Texas, in Austin, TX
• Anne Peters: Home Instead Greater Des Moines in Urbandale, IA
• Ashley Drake and Jonas Champlain: Radiant Waxing of Meridian, ID
• Asia Di Antonio and Daniel Stock: KidzArt and Club Scientific Hawaii (Da Dream Lab) in Kaneohe, HI
• Barbara Neall and Ryan Day: Home Clean Heroes of Huntsville in Madison, AL
• Bella Jing Wang: Steamoji Richmond Central in West Vancouver, British Columbia
• Blair Ramsing, Brendan Charles, and Michelle Kimble: Hydrate IV Bar of Dallas, TX
• Bob Stewart: Toprail Fence Richmond VA in Glen Allen, VA
• Brandon and Shaleeza Collins: IHOP – HBP Group in Baton Rouge, LA
• Brandon Bowen: FFSubs LLC in Henryville, IN
• Brett Itterman: Pentex Restaurant Group in Fargo, ND
• Brian and Denise Morrison: A Plus Automotive LLC dba SpeeDee in Charlotte, NC
• Brian Carmody: Patton Wings in Shelby Township, MI
• Brian Posen: Painting With A Twist – Lakewood, Colorado in Boulder, CO
• Brian Preuss: Green Home Solutions of Mount Airy, MD
• Cathy Carroll: Payroll Vault Mainline in Havertown, PA
• Coby Jones: Big Chicken of Edmond, OK
• Colleen O’Ferrall-Jones: Orangetheory Fitness of Kapolei, HI
• Corey E Robinson: BP Retail Partners Inc in Clinton, IA
• Cory Griggs: LIME Painting of Charleston in Mount Pleasant, SC

• Dane and Jaclyn Kopnisky: DAC Group LLC – DBA Donatos Pizza in Summerville, SC
• David and Allison McMurtry: The Goddard School Denver Highlands in Denver, CO
• David E. Gronewoller: GC Partners, Inc. in Winston Salem, NC

• David Ostrowe: O&M Restaurant Group in Oklahoma City, OK
• Derek Wachter: PostNet of Aurora, CO
• Dr. Anthony Tran: The Joint Chiropractic of Huntington Beach, CA
• Dr. Macmillan Innocent PT, DPT, CWS: Innocent Holdings LLC in Miramar, FL
• Emily E. VanCleef: Bloomin’ Blinds of Rock Hill & South Charlotte in Rock Hill, SC
• Eric Cook: WSI of Prudenville, MI
• Eric Salas: Valenta of Kenwood, CA
• Eric Wallentine and Nate Benjamin: Homewatch CareGivers of Southern Idaho in Meridian, ID
• Frank Wetegrove: Camp Bow Wow San Antonio Airport, Northwest, Stone Oak, Live Oak and Austin in San Antonio, TX
• George Juarez: Christian Brothers Automotive Woodstock in Woodstock, GA
• Greg Costley: Costley Enterprises LLC in Broken Arrow, OK
• Gus Herlong: Palmetto Garage Works LLC, dba Midas in Columbia, SC
• Heidi Simos: Bound for Success Coaching LLC in Ormond Beach, FL

• Helen Liu: The Bar Method Berkeley in Berkeley, CA
• Ian Kaner: Budget Blinds of the Seacoast and Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard in Portsmouth, NH
• Jaime Zilverberg: SafeSplash Swim School Castle Rock in Castle Rock, CO
• Jason Summers and AJ Arthus: JSA Tires dba RNR Tires Express in Lubbock, TX
• Jeff Chew: Pizza Factory, Inc. of Jamesville, CA
• Jefferey Oslund: ReBath Michigan in Troy, MI
• Jeffrey Warden: The Rose Group in Newtown, PA
• Jim and Stacey Casey: Rainbow Restoration of Athens GA in Bogart, GA
• Jim Carteris: FirstLight Home Care of The Peninsula in San Carlos, CA
• Joanna Johnson: Foxy Box Laser and Wax Bar Port Coquitlam in Coquitlam, British Columbia
• Joe and Marci Natale: Grasons Estate Sales of Southern Az., Chandler and Mesa in Tucson, AZ
• John and Sara English: JS English Enterprises LLC in Chesterfield, MO
• John Breton: Pool Scouts of McKinney & Northeast DFW in McKinney, TX
• John Colon: Wise Coatings of Central Michigan in Midland, MI
• Jolie and Jordan Cypert: FASTSIGNS, International in Austin, TX
• Jordan Black: Two Maids of Boulder/Denver, CO region and Chesterfield/O’Fallon, MO in Littleton, CO
• Josephine Suryono: AtWork Roseville & Sacramento in Rocklin, CA
• Joshua Bowie: The Brothers that just do Gutters Atlanta in Suwanee, GA
• Julie and Scott Beville: Sing Bev Hospitality LLC in Simpsonville, SC
• Kajal Patel: The Hena Group in Norridge, IL
• Katie Hillyer and Erik Skovgard: True North Restoration of Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA
• Katie Young: Celebree School of Nottingham in Joppa, MD
• Kelly Comin: Ivy Kids of Young Ranch in Cypress, TX
• Kenneth D. Adair: Pirtek of Homer Glen, IL
• Kimberly Roman: Owl Be There Wilmington West Chester in Wilmington, DE
• Lee Turrini and Team: Junk King Orange County/Anaheim in Irvine, CA
• Luke Andrus: Blue Star Investments in Arnaudville, LA
• M. Denise Simmons: Wisdom Senior Care in Miramar, FL
• Mariano Llorian: AdvantaClean of Fort Lauderdale in Oakland Park, FL
• Mary Zabian: Assisted Living Locators MetroWest Massachusetts in Boston, MA
• Matt and Alison Bengochea: Hams 4 Him LLC in Bogart, GA
• Matt Walin: Daisy Orange County in Costa Mesa, CA
• Max D Gelwix: Sonic Drive In of Poway, CA
• Mehul Patel: AlphaGraphics 711 of Dallas, TX
• Melanie Ramos: Blue Moon Estate Sales of Knoxville, TN
• Melissa and Brian Markus: Scenthound – Overland Park, KS in Olathe, KS

• Michael Carilo Jr.: Aussie Petmobile Of The Desert in La Quinta, CA
• Michael Haines: Ovation Hospitality Group in Cumming, GA
• Michael Nungesser: Five Star Painting of Central Georgia in Macon, GA
• Michele Zimmer: Woodhouse Spa – Buffalo in Buffalo, NY
• Michelle & Richard Lee: Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii in Falls Church, VA

• Michelle Marcus Rodriguez: Season 2 Consign Orlando in Orlando, FL
• Mohit and Bejal Patel: Primrose School of Evergreen in San Jose, CA
• Monica Holguin: Basecamp Fitness of El Paso, TX
• Neelima Gaikwad: A Place At Home Schaumburg in Hoffman Estates, IL
• Parag Patel: Lala Companies in Yorba Linda, CA
• Paulo Portela: School of Rock Brazil, Portugal & Spain of São Paulo, SP
• Penny Ellison: Mr. Handyman of West Knoxville in Knoxville, TN
• Peter McCormick and Alex Zega: Five Iron Louisville in Louisville, KY
• Philip and Katelyn Schultz: Glass Doctor of Lexington in Lexington, KY
• Randy Chipman: CarePatrol of Utah in Spanish Fork, UT
• Rasheen Hartwell: Rage Management DBA Stretch Zone in Spring Hill, TN
• Richard Alan Webber: CertaPro Painters of Morristown, NJ
• Robert “Bob” Harms: Huntington Learning Center of Weston, FL
• Robert Pina: Marco’s Pizza Multi-Unit Franchisee in Scottsdale, AZ
• Ron Morrow Jr: Oilex Operating LLC in Denver, CO
• Sam Patel: Kisna Hospitality in Knoxville, TN
• Scott Davis: DHR Slim Chickens in Tumbling Shoals, AR
• Senen De Castro-Cabalfin RN, MSN: Executive Home Care of Freehold, Toms River, Bergen and Somerset in Marlboro, NJ
• Shai Jiwani: Altitude Trampoline Park – East Cobb in Marietta, GA
• Stephen and Richelle McCabe: Aroma Joe’s of Indiana, PA
• Steve Sargent: Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission in Fuquay Varina, NC
• Sumit and Monica Bansal: Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa of Troy, MI
• Susan and Ronnie Morris: Express Employment Professionals of Jackson, TN
• Taylor Johns: Karalina Enterprises (Little Caesars) of Greer, SC
• Thomas Keller, Marsha Keller and Laura Eads: Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care of Chesterfield, MO
• Tim Roberts: Success Through Referrals LLC in Salem, NH
• Toby and Amy Tabor: Floor Coverings International of Vancouver, WA
• Tracey McCaghy and Steve Marszalek: McCaghy/Marszalek Group in Royal Oak, MI
• Veny Pirochta and Nick Granato: Premier Garage and The Tailored Closet of the Bay Area in Foster City, CA