December 2023 | Page 6 of 6 | Franchise Dictionary Magazine

4 12, 2023

Cruise Planners Makes Exciting Announcements during “CP World 2023: Limitless” Convention

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-04T18:53:12-05:00December 4th, 2023|Tags: Cruise Planners, home based franchise, travel advisor franchise network, vacations and travel experiences|

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners celebrated 30 years of success at its annual convention at the Broward Convention Center in South Florida. This year’s CP World theme was “Limitless,” showcasing that not even the sky is not the limit for Cruise Planners advisors. The convention took place from Nov. 27-29 followed by 2 nights onboard the new Celebrity Ascent.

The convention hosted more than 1,000 travel advisors from across the country and included supplier executives and representatives from all major cruise lines, tour companies, and all-inclusive resorts. Cruise Planners executives Michelle Fee, Founder and CEO; Theresa Scalzitti, COO; Brian Shultz, CIO and Scott Koepf, CSO shared a series of significant updates, encompassing this year’s record-breaking incredible financial performance, new proprietary tools and technology, marketing initiatives and 2024 in-person events. Cruise Planners also celebrated a major milestone of more than $1 Billion in sales in 2023 as well as a record year in both purchases and departures.

“I am inspired by our network of over 2,500 travel franchisees and our innovative home office team. Charting new courses, embracing change, and navigating uncharted waters have been the heart of our journey over the last 30 years,” said Michelle Fee, Founder and CEO of Cruise Planners.

Below is an overview of many of their exciting announcements made during their annual convention:

MAXX INTELLIGENCE: Maxx Intelligence is a new tool within CP Maxx that is designed to enhance content creation for agents through the power of AI and ChatGPT program. With Maxx Intelligence enabled, agents will gain access to a content generator that empowers them to effortlessly create new content by utilizing artificial intelligence. By inserting a prompt, agents can request artificial intelligence to generate responses that can be inserted into content and message fields to help create engaging ecards, blog pages, cruise sheets, lead forms, and much more.

MAXX CREATOR: Maxx Creator is a new tool within CP Maxx that enables agents to create visually appealing emails based on one of three layouts that are provided to them with each one including several elements to add to their emails such as banner images, messages, call to actions (links), and content blocks with or without images. With these elements, agents can shape their emails from simple emails to visual and content rich newsletter-style emails to send to their clients. With Maxx Creator, agents will also have the ability to create templates, reuse templates that have been created and shared within the franchise or utilize home office global templates to use when creating new emails as well as manage custom content such as custom banners, custom images, and attachments that have been uploaded.

EMAIL CAPTURE: Email capture in CP Maxx provides advisors with an efficient and convenient way to store, track, view and search client email communications in CP Maxx. Regardless of the email platform being used, advisors can add an easy to remember email address to the carbon copy (CC) field, and the email will automatically be saved in the “Sent Email” area of the email section of the client’s profile within CP Maxx and can also be saved to the client’s reservation for easy reference in the future.

CP MAXX VIDEO LIBRARY: The new Video Library tool in CP Maxx will give Cruise Planners advisors the ability to further customize and personalize their client experience. Using this tool, advisors may upload a video file or record their own video directly in CP Maxx via web browser to include within various other CP Maxx content tools and features. When recording a video, advisors will have the option to create a script to assist with the recording process and ensure a smooth recording experience. Furthermore, videos that are uploaded by advisors and the Cruise Planners Home Office team or recorded by advisors can be presented to clients during an interactive LivePlanner session.

WHERE2NEXT VIRTUAL SERIES: The award-winning Where2Next Virtual consumer series, launched during the pandemic, has been a success story ever since. In 2024, Cruise Planners will be enhancing this program to be an interactive experience for the clients to choose their own journey of learning and discovery for specific destinations, travel suppliers and more through various options of discovering information about various destinations and travel brands – all series will include a limited time exclusive offer.

LIVEPLANNER COLLECTIONS: LivePlanner Collections are curated assets sourced between Cruise Planners Home Office team and their supplier and tourism board partners. Comprised of links, images, videos, and documents, Collections bring groups of partner-driven assets directly to Cruise Planners advisors and their clients. Using the LivePlanner program, advisors may present Collections to their clients during an interactive LivePlanner vacation-planning session to gain a better understanding of their clients’ preferences for their next vacation.

LIVEPLANNER GROUP SESSIONS: Coming soon! The CP Maxx LivePlanner program will allow Cruise Planners advisors to complete interactive LivePlanner sessions with multiple clients at one time. This program enhancement will benefit advisors who would like to present vacation options to families, groups, or clients travelling together from different locations who would like to be part of the vacation-planning process. More details regarding LivePlanner will be available to our advisor network in 2024.

TRAVELTEK: Cruise Planners’ booking engine has integrated with a new Cruise API from Traveltek. This enables agents to get pricing, make live bookings, and retrieve cruise reservations. This partnership also provides significant advantages that will be available soon for the agents, such as making live bookings with more cruise lines than ever before and the ability to book into Cruisetours and group space.

2024 IN-PERSON EVENTS: (25+ Opportunities)

2 Bootcamps
3 Tech days
3 Sales Academy
Land Symposium
Luxury Forum
6 Star University Trainings
Annual Convention
2 Elite Summits
Signature Travel Network Regional Events
Signature Travel Network Annual Conference
Signature Travel Network FAM Opportunities

This year’s convention introduced an exciting addition: the Destination Welcome Showcase, designed to illuminate numerous captivating destinations and countries represented by several Tourism Board partners. Advisors had the opportunity for one-on-one interactions to delve deeper into new countries, hotel properties, key tourist attractions, and distinctive selling propositions. Another exciting feature to the convention was the supplier tradeshow which marked Cruise Planners’ largest event ever, hosting over 170 partners, including cruise lines, tour operators, hotels, resorts, and destinations.

“Cruise Planners success is based on our five main pillars – Marketing, Technology, Training, Support and our People & Culture. Our annual convention is the culmination of dedication, hard work, perseverance and innovation and I could not be more proud to lead this amazing organization,” said Michelle Fee, Founder and CEO of Cruise Planners.

About Cruise Planners

Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 2 years.

Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/.

4 12, 2023

Pvolve Announces Northwest Expansion Following Franchise Deal for Spokane, Washington

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-04T18:43:07-05:00December 4th, 2023|Tags: fitness company, functional movement, proprietary equipment, Pvolve|

Functional Fitness Brand to Debut New Studio Location in Fall 2024

SPOKANE, Wash. — Pvolve, the omni-channel fitness company with an innovative, science-led method that pairs functional movement with proprietary equipment, is breaking into the Northwest region following their latest franchise deal for Spokane, Washington, with Teresa and Scott Hatter.

Both Teresa and Scott have spent the entirety of their professional careers in franchising, operating business concepts in the restaurant and personal care industries before embarking on this most recent endeavor in the fitness space. According to Teresa, she and her husband believe the trajectory that the boutique fitness category has been on in recent years lends confidence that Pvolve will find success in the Spokane community.

“Pvolve is a passion project for us more than anything else,” Teresa shared. “We have first-hand experience with the results that the method delivers. We are honored to offer our community this modality, which is more approachable for those of all different health backgrounds who still want to move and see physical changes to their bodies.”

The Hatters hope their studio will serve as a sanctuary of sorts; a safe space where everyone can feel encouraged to pursue their personal health journeys, wherever their fitness levels may lie on the continuum. While the location has not been confirmed yet, their goal is to open in the South Hill area.

“Our entire team is incredibly excited to introduce our method to Spokane,” said Pvolve President Julie Cartwright. “Teresa and Scott bring deep franchise experience and so much passion for the method, a winning combination for operating a successful studio. We are so lucky to welcome the Hatters to the Pvolve team and look forward to watching their community in Spokane grow.”

Cartwright credits the efficacy of Pvolve’s signature method, along with its recent partnership with world-renowned actress, producer, and director, Jennifer Aniston, as the reason the brand has experienced explosive growth this year. In addition, the franchise offers a multi-revenue stream business model, proprietary equipment, and hybrid class experiences that further fuel its expansion.

For more information on Pvolve and its franchising opportunities, please visit https://pvolvefranchise.com/.

About Pvolve
Pvolve LLC, or Personal Evolution, is an innovative fitness company that pairs functional movement with resistance-based equipment to sculpt, tone, strengthen, and restore the body while enhancing mobility and stability. After being introduced to functional fitness in 2017, founder  Rachel Katzman was determined to help others experience an approach that respects the body’s holistic needs while making you look and feel great. Pvolve’s method is supported by a Clinical Advisory Board of highly credentialed doctors, trainers, and experts to offer safe and effective workouts that help you break a sweat, not your body. In June 2023, world-renowned actress, producer, and director, Jennifer Aniston, officially partnered with Pvolve after falling in love with the method as a member in 2021. Through its hybrid fitness model, Pvolve can be experienced via a streaming membership that offers live and on-demand classes on Pvolve.com and on the Pvolve App, and via physical studio locations. For more information, please visit https://www.pvolve.com/, https://pvolvefranchise.com/ and @pvolve on Instagram.

4 12, 2023

Assisted Living Locators Named Among Top 100 Game Changers in Franchising for 2023

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-04T18:27:34-05:00December 4th, 2023|Tags: assisted living communities, Assisted Living Locators, franchisee sales training, in-home care, independent retirement options, memory care, senior care placement|

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Assisted Living Locators, a nationwide senior placement and referral franchise, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Game Changers in 2023 by Franchise Dictionary Magazine. The annual list recognizes proven franchises that focus on impacting veterans, filling a niche in the market, millennials’ choice, making an impact, serving the community, and creating opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s Dec. issue cites that Assisted Living Locators has revolutionized the way senior care services are delivered. The company offers tailored solutions, considering individual needs and resources, which goes beyond typical services. Celebrating its 20^th anniversary, the company’s financial stability, consistent growth and brand power offers a great opportunity for business ownership. Assisted Living Locators also fosters a culture of social responsibility and service, investing in the community and encouraging franchisee volunteerism and philanthropy.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as a Top 100 Game Changer. Our innovative and empathetic approach in senior care sets new standards and contributes uniquely to the franchise landscape,” says Angela Olea, RN, Founder and Brand President of Assisted Living Locators.

Alesia Visconti, CEO of Franchise Dictionary Magazine / FranServe, adds, “2023 was a year of explosive growth and success for the franchise model. A brand that earns the Top 100 Game Changers designation has gone the extra mile to improve people’s lives and sets itself apart! We are thrilled to recognize and showcase these 100+ FRAN-TASTIC brands that went above and beyond. Here’s to #ChangingLives and congrats to this year’s Game Changers!”

You can find the special Game Changer section here: https://franchisedictionarymagazine.com/2023-game-changers/.

About Assisted Living Locators

Assisted Living Locators, part of the respected Evive Brands family, offers a no-cost service for seniors and their families, providing expert advice on top-rated in-home care, independent retirement options, assisted living, and memory care. For more information, visit www.assistedlivinglocators.com.

4 12, 2023

Grasons Leads Estate Sale Industry as a Top 100 Game Changer in 2023

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-04T18:21:52-05:00December 4th, 2023|Tags: Business Liquidation, Estate Sales, Grasons|

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Grasons, a trailblazer in the estate sale franchise sector, has been named one of Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s Top 100 Game Changers for 2023. The annual list recognizes proven franchises that focus on impacting veterans, filling a niche in the market, millennials’ choice, making an impact, serving the community, and creating opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Franchise Dictionary’s Dec. issue cites Grasons has distinguished itself as a leader by offering transparent and professional estate sale and business liquidation services. The company’s unwavering commitment to integrity and customer satisfaction has set new benchmarks in the market. By employing innovative technologies and strategies, Grasons empowers its franchisees, transforming estate sales into opportunities for community connection and trust-building.

“This recognition as a Top 100 Game Changer is a testament to our holistic approach in the estate sale industry. Our commitment to integrity, customer satisfaction, and innovation has been pivotal in establishing our reputation as an industry leader,” remarks Dave Dembinski, Vice President of Operations for Grasons.

Alesia Visconti, CEO of Franchise Dictionary Magazine / FranServe, states, “2023 was a year of explosive growth and success for the franchise model. A brand that earns the Top 100 Game Changers designation has gone the extra mile to improve people’s lives and sets itself apart! We are thrilled to recognize and showcase these 100+ FRAN-TASTIC brands that went above and beyond. Here’s to #ChangingLives and congrats to this year’s Game Changers!”

You can find the special Game Changer section here: https://franchisedictionarymagazine.com/2023-game-changers/.

About Grasons

Grasons is a part of the respected Evive Brands family and a nationally recognized leader in estate sale and business liquidation services. With a strong focus on compassionate and professional care, Grasons has been assisting families for more than a decade, offering expertise in estate sales, downsizing, and helping families transition into new living situations. For more information about Grasons, visit www.grasons.com.

4 12, 2023

Executive Home Care Named Among Top 100 Game Changers in Franchising for 2023

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-04T18:02:42-05:00December 4th, 2023|Tags: Evive Brands, Executive Home Care, in-home care, Strategic Expansion|

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Executive Home Care, a leading provider in home care services, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Game Changers in 2023 by Franchise Dictionary Magazine. The annual list recognizes proven franchises that focus on impacting veterans, filling a niche in the market, millennials’ choice, making an impact, serving the community, and creating opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s Dec. issue cites Executive Home Care has significantly transformed the home care sector with its innovative model. By providing premium, individualized in-home care services and ensuring unparalleled support, the company has set new industry benchmarks. The brand’s dedication to merging compassionate care with trained professionals has not only elevated industry standards but also enhanced the quality of life for clients and their families.

“We are deeply honored by this recognition. Our commitment to combining top-tier care with professional expertise has been a cornerstone of our philosophy. This approach has allowed us to address diverse client needs while emphasizing the success and growth of our franchises,” states Kevin Porter, Brand President of Executive Home Care.

Alesia Visconti, CEO of Franchise Dictionary Magazine / FranServe, adds, “2023 was a year of explosive growth and success for the franchise model. A brand that earns the Top 100 Game Changers designation has gone the extra mile to improve people’s lives and sets itself apart! We are thrilled to recognize and showcase these 100+ FRAN-TASTIC brands that went above and beyond. Here’s to #ChangingLives and congrats to this year’s Game Changers!”

You can find the special Game Changer section here: https://franchisedictionarymagazine.com/2023-game-changers/.

About Executive Home Care

Executive Home Care, part of the respected Evive Brands family, continues to be a pillar of support and service to families and communities nationwide. For more information, visit www.executivehomecare.com.

4 12, 2023

The Designery expands into Pennsylvania with a new location in Quakertown

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-04T17:55:42-05:00December 4th, 2023|

New concept brings design expertise, product selection and virtual reality technology to kitchen, bathroom and closet design with project management and expert installation

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. — The Designery, an immersive, full-service kitchen, bath and closet design center featuring high-quality cabinets, countertops and flooring, will host a grand opening celebration Dec. 7 from noon to 3 p.m. at 280 N. West End Blvd. B, Quakertown, PA.

Owner Rebecca Merola and store manager Ted Fisher have already been introducing their new Designery location at local home shows in the area prior to this grand opening event, including the Bucks & Montgomery County Fall Home Show and the Lehigh Valley Fall Home Show.

Thursday’s grand opening festivities kick off with a ribbon cutting by the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce. There will be a local caricaturist on hand and the event is catered by Nourish, a local woman-owned restaurant. The Designery will also present some of its stunning designs on an Oculus setup. Prizes will also be available, including a Designery Swag Bag, a package for a family of four to the Philadelphia Zoo LumiNature, and a chance to get $1,000 off a dream kitchen.

The husband-and-wife team of Fisher and Merola say their Designery location offers personalized design guidance and installation services for remodeling, renovation or new construction.

“We both have enjoyed watching HGTV and taking on small projects in our own home and in our rental property, so when we heard about The Designery, it checked all our boxes of interest,” Merola said. “The more we researched, the more we discovered there were unmet needs in this area. We hope to take away the stress of finding your own contractor and managing your installation while providing an exceptional finished product.”

Merola built her career with an electronics design and manufacturing company, holding various roles in management, sales and operations during her 15-year tenure with the company. After a successful career, she and Fisher, a former math teacher and stay-at-home dad, decided it was time to become their own bosses.

The couple met while attending Lehigh University. They have been married since 2007 and have two sons, Oliver and Benjamin.

“We want to build something that is ours and something that our children can benefit from,” Merola said. “We want them to learn about running a business with the potential of taking over this company someday.”

Fisher said the area, located between the metropolitan areas of Allentown and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New York City, has a lot of homes that were built more than 20 years ago. Families are looking to refresh and update their kitchens and bathrooms.

“Sometimes you buy a house and don’t understand why the previous owners built something a certain way,” he said. “We want to help those people renovate their homes so that it better suits their needs or to help them update older designs.”

The in-house design expertise and extensive selection of products, including more than 100 cabinet styles, provide advantages to both homeowners and contractors. The Designery’s showroom is the ideal setting for personal design consultation, material and finish selection, and a virtual reality design view.

“We want to be a stable influence in the community,” Merola said. “It’s our goal to provide good jobs and build on the positive image of the area.”

For more information about The Designery Quakertown, please visit https://thedesignery.com/locations/quakertown/

About The Designery

The Designery was founded in 2007 as A1 Kitchen and Bath, a product wholesale outlet serving the Chattanooga, Tennessee market. In 2019, it rebranded as The Designery and established a franchise model to expand its unique concept: to simplify the kitchen, bath and closet design process by offering premium products, design expertise, project management and trusted professional installation. Its selection of high-quality cabinets, flooring, countertops and accessories makes it a destination for any remodeling, renovation or new construction project. It is a one-stop shop for homeowners and a trusted partner or contractors, with knowledgeable staff to walk clients through every step, from design to project management and installation. The Designery’s immersive showroom and personalized guidance bring luxurious designs to life without the luxury price tag. To learn more about The Designery, please visit https://thedesignery.com/.

About HomeFront Brands:

HomeFront Brands empowers entrepreneurs to create thriving franchised residential and commercial property service brands. Driven by an experienced team of franchise executives and rooted in family values, HomeFront Brands helps emerging or established concepts accelerate their growth by delivering enterprise-level solutions to local business owners who aspire to build a dynasty and create generational wealth. By leveraging integrated technology, data-driven intelligence and advanced learning management systems, HomeFront Brands is building a foundation for its brands — Window Hero, The Designery, Temporary Wall Systems, BiltRite Home Inspections, Top Rail Fence and Mozzie Dome – to transform lives through franchise ownership.

For more information about HomeFront Brands’ current solutions, new business development, and franchising opportunities, please visit https://homefrontbrands.com.

1 12, 2023

ALWAYS BEST CARE SENIOR SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE IN ORLANDO

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-01T18:42:18-05:00December 1st, 2023|Tags: Always Best Care, Exclusive Programs, Senior Assistance, senior care|

Local Entrepreneur Brings Award-Winning Non-Medical Senior Care to Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced it has opened its fifth location in Florida. Always Best Care of Orlando is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Matías Tarrio Pages and Rocío Condigiani, who recently moved to the area from Santiago de Chile. The new business is licensed to help families throughout Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties by providing non-medical in-home care and independent and assisted living referral services.

“Rocío and I were ready to make a change, moving with our young son to the United States and going into business for ourselves,” said Matías Tarrio Pages, co-owner of Always Best Care of Orlando. “Making an impact on people is what motivates us. Always Best Care is an established brand providing a much-needed service to the community and to a growing senior population.”

Always Best Care of Orlando provides homemaker and companion services such as meal preparation, grocery shopping, transportation and light housekeeping. Matías and Rocío are building a caregiving team of 20 professionals who are committed to helping local residents maintain a safe, independent and dignified lifestyle.

Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matías spent the past 12 years working as an Information Systems Engineer in several industries, including for the largest airline in South America and the largest healthcare network in Chile. Rocío also has a technology background within the electronic commerce, airlines, finance and retail industries. Both graduated from Universidad Tecnológica Nacional of Buenos Aires.

“Orlando has been a favorite vacation spot of ours for years, instantly feeling like home,” added Rocío Condigiani, co-owner of Always Best Care of Orlando. “Florida is obviously well-known for having a large senior citizen population. Add to that our love for this city and its surrounding areas, and we feel very fortunate for the opportunity to go into business for ourselves and bring Always Best Care’s services to the community.”

Always Best Care is one of the nation’s leading providers of non-medical in-home care and assisted living referral services, with skilled home health care in limited markets. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 225 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada. By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client’s particular physical or social needs.

Always Best Care of Orlando is located in Baldwin Park at 4767 New Broad Street, Ste. 315. For a free evaluation or additional information on services available, call 689-250-6734 or visit www.alwaysbestcareorlandoSE.com

About Always Best Care
Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care has been assisting seniors with a wide range of conditions and personal needs for over 27 years and currently provides thousands of hours of care every year. Franchise opportunities are available to individuals interested in leveraging the company’s clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas.

Always Best Care also offers exclusive programs such as Always in Touch, Balance Tracking System, remote patient monitoring and a 24/7 AI Virtual Care Agent. For more information regarding Always Best Care’s solutions, visit www.alwaysbestcare.com.

1 12, 2023

School Funding Franchise Apex Leadership Company Achieves Remarkable Growth Under New Leadership

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-01T18:36:32-05:00December 1st, 2023|Tags: Apex Leadership Company, Child Enrichment Franchise, School Fundraising|

Demand for Business Results in Franchise Surge, New Market Expansion and Record-Breaking Fundraising

HOUSTON — Apex Leadership Company, a dynamic child enrichment franchise pouring millions of dollars into elementary and middle schools each year, is poised to continue its dominance as the nation’s leader in school fundraising due to its refreshed growth strategy. The company has doubled the size of its leadership team, attracted a world-class board of investors and ramped up both fundraising efforts and franchise growth in the past two years after being acquired by CEO Jamie Krasnov, who spent the last decade in private equity before buying the tech-focused fundraising franchise.

Since purchasing the brand in 2021, Krasnov has been working tirelessly to expand Apex Leadership, the current leader in the K-8 event fundraising space, with the goal of raising more money for schools across the nation with engaging fundraising events that motivate kids, teach leadership lessons and inspire fitness. Compared to traditional school fundraisers, Apex’s programs produce two times the fundraising results.

Key recent company milestones include:

New Executive Hires: Apex named Blair Burdette as Vice President of Marketing. Burdette has led marketing efforts across multiple industries, including franchised childcare, and holds an impressive record for driving sales and increasing brand loyalty. The company also appointed Tony Nicholson as Vice President of Franchise Development. With nearly two decades in franchise development, Nicholson previously worked for Self Esteem Brands, LLC where he facilitated the openings of hundreds of franchises, a success he plans to replicate with Apex.
Unprecedented Fundraising Growth: The brand has experienced 200 percent revenue growth since 2021. In 2023 alone, Apex hosted more than 1,700 events, an impressive surge from the 1,400 events held the prior year.
Expanded Presence in New Markets: Apex Leadership is expanding its presence in new markets across the country. Recent openings in Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Barrington, IL; Montgomery County, MD; and two locations each in St. Louis, MO, and Phoenix, AZ show the demand for the programs nationwide.

“It’s been remarkable to reflect on the journey we as a brand have undergone over these past two years to get to the point where we are today, which is propelling Apex Leadership forward at an astonishing rate,” said Krasnov. “These achievements are a testament to the hard work of our franchisees, athletes and executive team who are all passionate to bring back funds into schools. We’re ready to head into the new year and expand our service into more communities and help empower a greater number of students nationwide.”

Apex Leadership Company is the current leader in K-8 event fundraising space, hosting more than 1,500 events annually and raising more than $60 million for schools a year. The brand combines fitness, fundraising and leadership into a powerful, turnkey event for schools to raise a significant amount of funds and instill students with meaningful character development lessons. With over a decade as a leader in the fundraising industry, Apex currently serves 122 and growing territories across 33 states.

To learn more about franchising with Apex, please visit https://franchise.apexleadershipco.com/.

About Apex Leadership Company
Apex Leadership Company is a fundraising franchise in more than 33 states across the country, with a suite of product offerings that service elementary and middle schools as well as club and sports teams. Apex combines the elements of fun and exercise into one-of-a-kind youth fundraising programs. Since its inception, the Apex brand has served close to 6,000 schools — including 5 million students — and raised $165 million dollars (net) for schools nationwide with its events that began with the Apex Fun Run and have evolved to include Apex Virtual, Glow Run, Remix, Apex Games, Color Games and Anython. For more information, please visit www.apexleadershipco.com.

1 12, 2023

Top Rail Fence moves into Florida with a new Tampa location

Paul Zboichyk2023-12-01T18:27:15-05:00December 1st, 2023|Tags: Fence Services, HomeFront Brands, Property Service, Top Rail Fence|

Local owners Matthew and Alicia Heck will kickstart their fencing business by presenting the Tampa Bay Humane Society with a donation from the new venture

TAMPA, Fla. — Top Rail Fence, the on-time professionals in fence design, quality, installation and service, will host the grand opening of its Tampa location with a celebration at the Tampa Bay Humane Society at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. Location owners Matthew and Alicia Heck will present the animal welfare group with a donation.

“We decided to partner with the Tampa Bay Humane Society because of the obvious connection between pets and fences,” Matthew Heck said. “We’re proud to build a business in our local community and want to be known for our exceptional customer service and reliability. We want to make our community better by building strong, durable, and aesthetically pleasing fences and by partnering with valuable non-profits like the local humane society.”

Top Rail Fence Tampa has also joined the Tampa Bay Business Chamber, and many of that group’s members will be on hand at the event to help the Hecks celebrate their grand opening, complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The Hecks were both born and raised in Indiana but moved to the Tampa area more than 10 years ago. Matthew Heck worked as a sales and marketing executive for a local television station and an advertising agency before moving into business ownership. Alicia Heck is an interior designer specializing in custom closets and accent walls.

The couple met at Ball State University in Indiana. Matthew Heck has a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications with a minor in marketing, while Alicia Heck has a bachelor’s degree in interior design with a minor in residential property management. The couple has three children.

Alicia Heck said she believes her background in design and property management will help the couple build their business.

“My ability to take inspiration and turn it into a working design will help homeowners find the fencing of their dreams,” she said. “But we also want to offer customers these fences at a fair and reasonable price. We want to be known as a fencing company that cares about our clients by being innovative and dependable.”

Top Rail Fence Tampa serves residents in Carrollwood, Davis Islands, Lake Magdalene, Land O Lakes, Lutz, Midtown, Odessa, Seminole Heights, Tampa, Temple Terrace, Town ‘N’ Country, University, Wesley Chapel, Westchase and Zephyrhills, Florida.

Top Rail Fence is a part of HomeFront Brands, a family of emerging, franchised residential and commercial property service brands that includes Top Rail Fence, Temporary Wall Systems, BiltRite Home Inspections, The Designery, Window Hero Exterior Cleaning Services and Mozzie Dome. Top Rail Fence provides residential, commercial and agricultural fencing in a variety of styles and materials.

To learn more about Top Rail Fence Tampa, please visit https://toprailfence.com/locations/tampa/.

About Top Rail Fence

Top Rail Fence got its start in 2014 in Greenville, South Carolina as Brookview Fencing, a veteran-owned and family-operated business. In 2022, the company joined the HomeFront Brands family of companies to serve more communities as Top Rail Fence. Since that time, Top Rail Fence has added locations throughout the United States and is continuing to expand. It strives to be at the top rail in customer responsiveness, quality design and materials, on-time delivery and installation, and in customer satisfaction. The company provides fencing solutions for residential, commercial and agricultural locations and offers wood, aluminum, vinyl, and chain link to provide the right fence to fit the customer’s needs. For more information about Top Rail Fence, please visit https://toprailfence.com/.

About HomeFront Brands:

HomeFront Brands empowers entrepreneurs to create thriving franchised residential and commercial property service brands. Driven by an experienced team of franchise executives and rooted in family values, HomeFront Brands helps emerging or established concepts accelerate their growth by delivering enterprise-level solutions to local business owners who aspire to build a dynasty and create generational wealth. By leveraging integrated technology, data-driven intelligence and advanced learning management systems, HomeFront Brands is building a foundation for its brands — Window Hero, The Designery, Temporary Wall Systems, BiltRite Home Inspections, Top Rail Fence and Mozzie Dome – to transform lives through franchise ownership.

For more information about HomeFront Brands’ current solutions, new business development, and franchising opportunities, please visit HomeFrontBrands.com.

Monthly Archives: December 2023