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Posts Tagged ‘Dina Dwyer-Owens’
Friday, November 11th, 2011
Today marks an exciting time for the Dwyer Group and for the future of the franchising industry. The International Franchise Association just announced “Operation Enduring Opportunity,” which is a campaign to eventually recruit 75,000 veterans and 5,000 wounded warriors into franchise establishments by 2014.
This campaign is a part of the White House Joining Forces Initiative, which was announced by Michelle Obama on Thursday. This plan marks the largest industry veteran hiring commitment to date. Chairwoman and CEO of the Dwyer Group, Dina Dwyer-Owens and Mary Thompson, President of Mr. Rooter Corporation met with First Lady Michelle Obama in Washington, DC to film the announcement.
“Honoring the brave men and women who have served our country and protected the very freedom under which we own and operate businesses across America is a testament to good ideas and doing what is right in life,” Dina Dwyer-Owens said. “We are incredibly proud of the veterans in our system and the chance to help them into the work of franchise ownership.”
Thursday’s press conference about the announcement featured a welcome by Maggie McCarthy, the Coordinator for the Veterans Coalition for the Heart of Texas before Jeff Moody, Mr. Rooter VP of Operations, made the Dwyer Group announcement. The announcement featured First Lady Michelle Obama with Dina Dwyer-Owens and Mary Thompson unveiling the plans for “Operation Enduring Opportunity.” The IFA is launching “Operation Enduring Opportunity” in response to the 11.7 percent unemployment rate amongst veterans. The press conference finished with a success story from VetFran franchisee Chrislynn Casiano, the Mr. Electric Franchisee of the Year.
VetFran was founded after Desert Storm in 1991, by Don Dwyer, the founder of the international franchise company, The Dwyer Group. After 9/11, Don Dwyer’s daughter, Dina Dwyer-Owens took it upon herself to revitalize the VetFran program. There are over 400 members of VetFran, all franchisors looking to give discounted franchises to veterans. The current chair of the program is Mary Thompson, the president of Mr. Rooter. So far there have been over 2,100 deals given to veterans throughout the years. And Mr. Rooter, Thompson’s own company, has been named by USA Today as one of the Top 50 Companies in American to work with veterans.
“I was a franchise owner before, and I’ve done every job since. I’ve been on every side and seen it from all levels,” Thompson said. “That’s why I’m so passionate. I know I would not have had the success I’ve had without the marine corp. and the franchising business teaching me how. Veterans make the best franchisees: they are disciplined, but follow a system. We are looking for leaders who want to lead toward a common goal.”
As the chair for VetFran, Thompson has spent her time trying to expand the program to its limits. Through her leadership, the website has been redone and a portal is being created to marry veterans with different job opportunities. Their goal is to increase the number of franchisors on VetFran 15 percent, and they’re already part of the way there to next year’s goal.
“At a recent event, VetFran experienced 4 percent growth at a single event,” Thompson said, relish in her voice. “The greatest thing about the program is that VetFran isn’t just doing ‘the right thing to do.’ VetFran is the right thing to do, but it’s also the smart thing to do. Franchising is a great medium and a great match between veterans and franchisors. Veterans ‘get’ the system. Most people have to be taught that.”
VetFran provides returning veterans with economic opportunities in a time where jobs are hard to find. In fact, according to VetFran committee member Chris Loudermilk, a veteran runs one in every seven small businesses in the United States.
“At the core of a franchise are business systems, procedures and manuals. A franchise is basically an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) on how to run a specific business,” Loudermilk said. “And veterans are skilled in following SOPs.”
According to recent U.S. Census data, there are more than 66,000 veteran-owned franchise establishments in the United States, which provide jobs for 815,000 Americans. By partnering with the White House Joining Forces Initiative, the expansive goals of “Operation Enduring Opportunity” have the chance to become reality.
Tags: Dina Dwyer-Owens, Joining Forces Initiative, Mary Thompson, Operation Enduring Opportunity, The Dwyer Group, Veterans Coalition, VetFran
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Friday, September 17th, 2010
In an interview with Axiom News, CEO and Chairperson Dina Dwyer-Owens proves that The Dwyer Group’s 14 values contribute to the company’s success. When she would meet with potential investors, she would spend the majority of the time discussing the leadership approach she sees the most value in; the approach which involves serving people, including the staff, as the company’s top priority. Only after that was understood would she turn to talking shop and numbers.
In response to why she does this, Dwyer-Owens would respond by saying that if a company puts its emphasis on its people, then profits will follow.
The Waco, Texas-centered company’s success is proof of this principle. Year after year it experiences growth, aside from the last three years in which it has maintained “flat growth” even through the recession. Dwyer-Owens says she links the recognition of being one of the best companies to work for in Texas (in Texas Monthly 3 years in a row!) to the company’s commitment to a servant leadership mindset.
“We’re certainly in the business to make money…At the end of the day, that’s the purpose of any business,” said Dwyer-Owens, “but our mission is not to make money. [It] is to teach our principles and systems [for] personal and business success so that all people we touch will live happier, more successful lives . . . and that’s why we get up and do what we do every day. We want to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and franchising just happens to be the vehicle we use.”
The Dwyer Group was founded in 1981 by Don Dwyer, with its first holding being Rainbow International. In 1994, when he passed away, daughter Dwyer-Owens first served as the executive vice-president until she was promoted a couple of years later.
Now, nearly three decades after it was founded, The Dwyer Group is the holder of seven service-based franchises. The group provides service to over 1,250 franchises in the United States and Canada, and also more than 300 franchise locations internationally.
Stay tuned for more of this story!
If you are interested in franchising with The Dwyer Group, please visit: www.LeadingTheServiceIndustry.com
Tags: Dina Dwyer-Owens, franchise, service, Texas Monthly, The Dwyer Group, Waco
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Friday, September 3rd, 2010
While it is no secret that beginning your own franchise is challenging, Dina Dwyer-Owens, CEO of The Dwyer Group®, discusses her thoughts on women in the franchise business.
Franchises have a lot of appeal to women. They offer a flexible schedule, perhaps the opportunity to work from home or maybe the chance to go into business with your spouse. Specifically to The Dwyer Group, there are many husband-wife teams in which the women are involved in running the office while the husband is training and inspecting jobs. Some own their own business, keeping in mind that since women are the customers, who better to know what is needed?
But why should women even consider beginning their own franchise? According to Dina, women are naturals when it comes to business. Women are willing to collaborate, organize and hear from a team of people on how to improve.
There are countless women who have founded great franchises, many who have gone unnoticed. “We just can’t ignore that there are great women like Debbi Fields, who started Mrs. Fields® Cookies, one of my favorites. Then there’s Mary Ellen Sheets, a good friend of mine. Her and her daughter, Melanie Bergeron, franchised Two Men and a Truck®. That’s a very nontraditional business for a woman, but you know what? It’s perfect for them because they get what they want from a mover.”
With over 80 industries that are franchising, there are more opportunities to find one geared to a service or product interesting to women. “There are those women who are getting into the very specific-women type businesses. I’ve got some friends who own Young Chefs®. I think women are going toward what attracts them. For some women, it’s not so much that they love plumbing, but they love the idea of making that customer have a wonderful experience with a service provider.”
A great aspect of franchising is that there are businesses to fit all lifestyles. Some, like tutoring or cooking lessons, are more structured for those women who perhaps are looking for that sense of fulfillment or accomplishment during the day when their children are away at school. Others can ask you to devote your day to ensuring the business thrives.
Some words of wisdom from Dina to her female audience:
Think of the opportunities before you anticipate obstacles. There are special programs offered through lending institutions for women getting into business.
One of the most likely hurdles to overcome is the desire to be great at everything; best mother, spouse, business leader. We just have to be happy with letting go or delegating. Try joining IFA, if you are looking for mentorship, where people are so willing to talk and help.
Finally, get clarity about your passions before you get into franchising. Look for what doesn’t feel like work for you. Do your homework, visit the franchise sites and just practice smart business to discover what drives you. It might even be plumbing!
Tags: Dina Dwyer-Owens, franchise, HVAC franchise support, new franchise owners, The Dwyer Group
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Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
The Dwyer Group has announced a business agreement with Canadian-based Sunshine Grounds Care and will market franchises in the United States under the brand of The Grounds Guys, effective immediately. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The deal introduces the first grounds care franchise to The Dwyer Group’s trades service brands, which include: Aire Serv, Glass Doctor, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric, Mr. Rooter and Rainbow International.
The Grounds Guys franchise opportunity will offer lawn care, landscaping and maintenance services — a complementary line of business to the residential and commercial target customers that The Dwyer Group’s existing concepts already serve.
“The grass is now greener at The Dwyer Group,” said Dina Dwyer-Owens, CEO and Chairwoman of The Dwyer Group. “We knew that landscape maintenance was a natural extension of our family of franchise brands, but it was the expertise of Sunshine Grounds Care in Canada that helped us deliver a business model with a proven track record.”
Based in Orangeville, Ontario, Sunshine was established in 1987 by Tim van Stralen and quickly grew to include his nine brothers. By 2004, the grounds care division of Sunshine, began franchising and today counts 25 franchisees in its network.
Then in 2009, the van Stralen family met The Dwyer Group, and conversations began on how they could collaborate to benefit both companies.
“The Dwyer Group brings extensive franchising experience and Sunshine Grounds Care brings the grounds care expertise,” said Peter van Stralen, President and CEO of The Grounds Guys Canada. “It was clear that we each had good things to offer one another.”
“Having grown up in a family business, we saw a lot of ourselves in the van Stralens and what they were doing in Canada,” said Dwyer-Owens.
Peter van Stralen added that his company was attracted to The Dwyer Group’s Code of Values as a foundation that has helped grow and sustain a large franchise network. “The corporate culture they have created and the values they promote made this a relationship we could all feel good about,” he said.
The result is a one-of-a-kind agreement for The Dwyer Group to sell franchises in the United States with added business training to be provided by Sunshine Grounds Care.
More information about The Grounds Guys and Sunshine Grounds Care -
Sunshine Grounds Care was founded by Tim van Stralen, the oldest of ten brothers, in the town of Caledon in 1987. Since then, Sunshine Grounds Care has expanded rapidly across Ontario and even to other parts of North America. As the company has grown, so have the other nine van Stralen brothers, who today all play a part in making Sunshine a business that operates on family values of respect, effort and a mutual interest in the well being of the group. For more information about Sunshine Grounds Care, visit www.sunshinelandscape.com.
Tags: Aire Serv, Canada, Dina Dwyer-Owens, franchise, franchise opportunity, franchisee, Glass Doctor, grounds care franchise, Grounds Guys, landscape franchise, lawn care franchise, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric, Mr. Rooter, Ontario, Orangeville, Rainbow International, Sunshine Grounds Care, Texas, The Dwyer Group, The Grounds Guys, Tim van Stralen, van Stralen, Waco
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Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Great news from the February edition of Texas Monthly. The Dwyer Group was ranked No. 14 in the its list of best companies to work for in the state of Texas. This was a jump up by 10 spots from last year’s rankings.
Dina Dwyer-Owens, CEO and chairwoman of The Dwyer Group, said the credit goes to the associates.
“It’s true when people say the third time is a charm, because this honor is a direct reflection of how our associates continue to feel about our company,” said Dwyer-Owens. “Running a good business means creating a great workplace that attracts wonderful people. And this ranking helps us see that mission in action.”
The ranking, promoted by Texas Monthly, is sponsored by the Texas Association of Business (TAB), the Texas State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management (TSC-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group.
The Dwyer Group is one of 85 companies to make this year’s listing. The annual survey and ranking is designed to recognize and honor the best employers in Texas.
Companies were judged on their benefits, leadership programs, corporate culture, interviews with company employees and more. To be eligible for the ranking, companies must have a facility in Texas, at least 15 employees in Texas, and a minimum of one year in business among overall criteria.
Tags: Best Companies to Work For, Dina Dwyer-Owens, franchise, Texas, Texas Monthly, The Dwyer Group, Waco
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