The Dwyer Group CEO Named Chairwoman of the International Franchise Association

Founded nearly 50 years ago, IFA is the oldest and largest organization that works to protect, enhance and promote franchising, an industry that provides $2.3 trillion to the U.S. economy and employs more than 21 million people.  IFA is the only organization that represents all aspects of franchising, including 1,250 franchise systems, 11,000-plus franchisees and more than 500 firms that supply goods and services to the industry. 

Dwyer-Owens brings more than 28 years of industry experience to her new IFA position, which oversees the operations of the association and sets the strategic direction.  As chairwoman and CEO of The Dwyer Group, Inc., she presides over trade service brands that are welcomed into more than 2 million homes every year.  Headquartered in Waco, Texas, the company includes 1,400 franchisees in 13 countries who operate under the brands of Mr. Rooter Plumbing (Drain Doctor in the U.K. and Portugal), Mr. Electric, Mr. Appliance, Glass Doctor, Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning and Rainbow International Restoration & Cleaning.  In total, The Dwyer Group franchise network will reach approximately $880 million in system-wide sales this year, up from $ 424 million in 2003 when the company merged with The Riverside Company, a private equity group.   

Dwyer-Owens, whose late father Don Dwyer, Sr. founded the business in 1981, has worked for the company in several positions including the appointment as president and CEO in January 1999 at the age of 35, and chairwoman and CEO in 2007. 

Much of the company’s success stems from Dwyer-Owens’ strong advocacy of the company’s Code of Values.  In 2005, she launched the Live R.I.C.H. campaign to reinforce the values and its themes of Respect, Integrity, Customer focus and Having fun in the process.  She has extended the philosophy outside the company through her book, Live R.I.C.H.; How to build success in your company and your life with a proven Code of Values, now in its second printing and she also serves on the national board for the Lead Like Jesus Foundation.

As the second woman elected to chair the association, Dwyer-Owens has been an active member of the IFA Executive Committee for three years moving through the leadership chairs of the association.  Dwyer-Owens most recently served as chair of the IFA Convention Committee and the FranPAC Advisory Committee.  She was honored with the IFA’s Bonny LeVine Award in 2002 and she earned her Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation in 2004.

In addition to her leadership activities, Dwyer-Owens led the re-launch of the IFA VetFran program created by her father to honor those men and women who have served in the U.S. military and help them transition to civilian life. VetFran is a voluntary effort of IFA-member-companies that is designed to encourage franchise ownership by offering financial incentives to honorably discharged veterans.
 
Through the program, purchases of franchised businesses by former military personnel have reached 1,230 and more than 200 others are currently in negotiation.  There are nearly 350 franchised businesses from which to choose.  In 2005, Dwyer-Owens accepted the Support Sector Champion Award from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs on behalf of the program.  In 2008, the VetFran program received the coveted Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives. 

Dwyer-Owens and her husband Mike have two children and reside in Waco.

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Editor’s Note:  To request a JPEG of Dina Dwyer-Owens, contact IFA at 202-628-8000 or email Alisa Harrison at aharrison@franchise.org. For more information about IFA and franchising, visit www.franchising.org.

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