Omaha Franchise Owners Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Franchising
Franchise Leaders Deliver “Franchising Counts” Message to Congress

WACO, Texas (Sept. 22, 2010) – Kevin and Shannon Cargile, owners of the Aire Serv of Omaha franchise, were honored by the International Franchise Association (IFA) with its annual Franchisee of the Year Award in Washington, D.C.  

“The IFA is proud to recognize the outstanding efforts of Kevin and Shannon Cargile with the Franchisee of the Year Award,” said IFA Chairman Ken Walker, chairman & CEO of Driven Brands.  “The franchising community is an important component of the U.S. economy due to the hard work of these exemplary individuals who have helped bolster the growth of the industry.”

Franchise owner-operators representing 30 franchise systems were recognized during the IFA’s 11th Annual Public Affairs Conference for their outstanding performance and the contributions they have made to enhance the growth and development of franchising. Doyle James, president of Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., accepted the All Star Award on behalf of The Dwyer Group^® for bringing the most attendees to the event.

The Dwyer Group’s nearly 50 participants at the two-day event, which was supported by founding sponsor, ADP Small Business Services, featured more than 500 franchise industry leaders. These leaders met with more than 200 congressional offices about issues important to the future of franchising, such as healthcare reform and access to credit.

“The conference was an eye-opening experience on how the government directly effects businesses on the local level,” said Kevin Cargile. “It gave me an opportunity to appreciate the need to be more knowledgeable and outspoken about laws before they are passed, so we can be more proactive on these issues.”

According to a study conducted for the IFA Educational Foundation by PricewaterhouseCoopers on the economic impact of franchising, there are more than 900,000 franchised businesses in operation across the country which is indirectly responsible for providing 21 million jobs and generating $2.3 trillion in economic output. In Florida, 61,649 establishments directly provide 728,200 jobs and contribute $56 billion to the U.S. economy.

“The IFA conference came at a great time because of the pressures on small businesses, which are caused by the potential of increased taxes, costs of additional healthcare and legislations that could lead to additional expenses,” said James. “By bringing our top franchise owners to Capitol Hill, lawmakers were able to hear directly from small business owners and hear their stories about what impact potential laws could have on their business.”

About Aire Serv®:

Established in 1992, Aire Serv is a global franchise organization providing heating, ventilation and air conditioning and repair services. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500”, Aire Serv franchisees provide these services to both residential and commercial customers at more than 170 locations in the United States and Canada. Aire Serv is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. For further information or to find the location nearest you, visit AireServ.com.

About the International Franchise Association:

The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs. Through its awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the 21 million jobs and $2.3 trillion of economic activity generated by franchising. IFA members include franchise companies in over 90 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

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