The end of the year is often a time to look back and see what happened, and yet, we should always be forward focused on what we can do better in the future. Being free and clear to invent, re-create and change the game is an essential part of franchising. Before starting this article, I did go back and look at what we thought would come to us this year. By Dawn Abbamondi
Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s (FDM) annual December Game Changer edition recognizes those making waves in the franchise space. The magazine receives hundreds of submissions nominating the top talent in franchising who are vying for this prestigious recognition. President and CEO of FranServe, Inc. Alesia Visconti shared the remarkable impact of a game changer. By Nancy E. Williams
Heath Falzarano’s journey to finding Naturals2Go is similar to many of the company’s other vending business owners. Falzarano had been a special education teacher when he began looking for a change and more agency over his career. By Kelsi Trinidad
Stephen Bowen and Michael Falotico have been HomeVestors® of America, Inc. franchisees for more than 14 years, serving the greater Boston area as business owners and through charitable works. By Patty Horansky
Hammer & Nails is in the business of making people feel good by providing luxury grooming services to a diverse clientele. The brand provides a space where luxury meets self-care, offering popular services, including haircuts, shaves and hand-and-foot treatments. By Erika Ortega
Kyle Chiasson’s commitment to building authentic relationships motivated him to own a client-first business. After succeeding in advisory roles at banking and wealth management organizations, Chiasson decided to pursue his dream of business ownership in 2017. By Erika Ortega
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners, the nation’s largest home-based travel agency franchise network announced their lineup of training programs for 2025 at their annual Convention, CP World, in Fort Lauderdale.
Among the training schedule are some new programs for advisors to leverage to enhance their sales and marketing skills. A new River Cruise Academy will focus on the art of selling river cruises. This event will be held on the Tauck ms Savor as a pre-event to the ASTA River Cruise Expo. Another new training program is called R & R – Refresh and Reboot. It is for franchisees who want to focus on marketing, business operations and systems to jump start their path to success. Overall, Cruise Planners offers over 25 in-person training opportunities throughout the year for advisors to engage, learn and strategize about their business.
“We are excited to offer an incredible array of in-person events for our valued advisors in 2025,” said Michelle Fee, Founder and CEO of Cruise Planners. “This year, we’re introducing new training initiatives that reinforce our commitment to ongoing education and professional growth. These events will give our agents the chance to connect, collaborate, and stay at the forefront of this ever-evolving industry.”
2025 In-Person Events Hosted by Cruise Planners (25+ Opportunities):
Cruise Planners has introduced exciting new online training programs and initiatives to complement their already industry-leading offerings, elevating their advisors to the next level.
Some of these new initiatives include:
Cruise Planners announced 20 new and exciting technology and marketing initiatives during their annual convention. For a full list of those announcements, click here.
Company Background: 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.
Cruise Planners received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2024. 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/.
WACO, Texas — The Grounds Guys®, a Neighborly company, is thrilled to announce the start of the 20th Annual WeCARE Week™, a week-long initiative dedicated to volunteerism and community support, beginning today, November 4, 2024. WeCARE Week encourages franchise owners, team members, and community partners across North America to join forces in impactful activities that support local communities, focusing on projects such as public space beautification, community engagement, and seasonal giving.
Launched in 2005 as a tribute to Monika Woerlen, one of the siblings of the founders of the Sunshine Brands (The Grounds Guys’ founding company) and her seven children who tragically perished in a house fire, WeCARE Week embodies The Grounds Guys values and internal Code of C.A.R.E. – Customers first, Attitude, Respect, and Enjoy life in the process (C.A.R.E.). This annual event has grown into a powerful tradition, uniting people to create meaningful change in neighborhoods everywhere.
“This year marks an incredible milestone in our company’s journey to give back,” said Lori Johnson, Brand President of The Grounds Guys. “WeCARE Week is more than just a corporate initiative; it’s a heartfelt commitment to the communities that support us. Every act of service, big or small, brings our values to life, reminding us of the difference we can make when we work together. We hope that through this initiative, others are inspired to give back and spread positivity in their own neighborhoods.”
The Grounds Guys has outlined several community service ideas that individuals and groups can participate in during WeCARE Week. These include:
The Grounds Guys encourages community members to participate and carry the spirit of WeCARE Week forward throughout the year by adopting similar acts of kindness and service in their own lives. For more information about WeCARE Week, or to learn about available services, please visit The Grounds Guys website.
About The Grounds Guys®:
The Grounds Guys®, a Neighborly® company, is a full-service grounds care company offering commercial and residential landscape management services. The Grounds Guys® currently operates more than 250 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Acquired in 2010, The Grounds Guys® is part of Neighborly®, the world’s largest home services company with more than 30 brands and 5,500 franchises in six countries that have collectively served 14 million+ customers by repairing, maintaining, and enhancing their homes and businesses. Through Neighborly.com and the Neighborly mobile app, we connect consumers with local service providers who meet rigorous franchisor standards across 19 service categories. For more information about The Grounds Guys®, visit GroundsGuys.com or GroundsGuys.ca. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly®, click here.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Assisted Living Locators, a nationwide leader in senior placement and referral services, is launching a new bi-monthly livestream series titled “All About Alzheimer’s: Ask Us Anything,” beginning Nov. 6. Hosted by Angelica Olea, senior vice president of strategic growth and development, the series will offer practical resources, expert advice, and compassionate guidance for families, caregivers and individuals affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The livestream aims to build awareness around memory care services. The series is free and open to the public, providing direct access to senior care experts who will help viewers navigate the complexities of dementia care and make informed decisions about senior living options.
“At Assisted Living Locators, we are dedicated to offering personalized, expert guidance to families in need of senior care solutions,” said Olea. “This livestream series provides an accessible platform for caregivers and families to receive valuable insights and support as they navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s care.”
Each 30-minute session will follow a Q&A format, with a brief presentation or discussion at the beginning to provide context. Viewers will have the opportunity to ask questions live during the session or submit them in advance. Upcoming topics include:
The livestream will be hosted on multiple platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. While attendees are encouraged to register in advance, the event will also be open for anyone to join live via social media platforms. Recordings will be made available on demand through YouTube and the Assisted Living Locators website.
Featured franchise owners will bring their expertise as certified local experts in dementia and memory care, offering practical advice and personalized insights.
Assisted Living Locators offers a nationwide network of senior care advisors who provide free personalized guidance in finding the best options for in-home care, assisted living, and memory care, supporting families through every step of the senior care journey.
For more information or to register for the next session of “All About Alzheimer’s: Ask Us Anything,” visit https://assistedlivinglocators.com/articles/all-about-alzheimers-livestream-a-guide-to-senior-care-options.
Assisted Living Locators, a member of Evive Brands with 150 franchises across 39 states and Washington, D.C., offers no-cost senior placement and referral services for in-home care, independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
Leading Line Striping and Pavement Maintenance Franchise’s Partnership with Private Investment Firm to Drive Enhanced Offerings, Increased Service Capacity, and Accelerated Growth
HOUSTON — EverLine Coatings and Services, a top provider of line painting, pavement maintenance, and other essential facility services, has secured a strategic investment from Red Iron Group, a Menlo Park, California-based private investment firm. The partnership reflects EverLine’s successful journey towards becoming the premier self-performing commercial and industrial facility services brand across North America.
The growth equity investment will be used to enhance EverLine’s existing systems further while increasing capacity, ensuring that the company can meet the growing demand for its services across North America. With the capital backing and strategic expertise of Red Iron Group, EverLine will accelerate its expansion into new markets and continue providing the high-quality service it is known for while laying the foundation to revolutionize the facility services industry. EverLine’s CEO and founder, John Evans, will continue to lead the company with his ownership of the business.
Positioned to Enhance Offerings and Accelerate Growth
“With the support of Red Iron Group, we are poised to elevate our service offerings and expand our reach as we continue to grow across North America,” said Evans. “We are committed to staying true to our values and continuing to provide the exceptional service that our customers have come to expect, all while gaining the enhanced resources necessary to take our brand to the next level.”
Highlights of the new partnership include the following:
Toward the Future
“As a founder-led company well-positioned for significant future growth and market leadership in a highly fragmented industry, EverLine is an ideal partner for Red Iron Group to support,” said Jason Klein, Co-CEO at Red Iron Group. “We are thrilled to work closely with John Evans and his management team as they continue to extend their reach, transform operations, integrate leading technology, enhance offerings, and drive further value for customers and franchisees. We look forward to all we can achieve together in positioning EverLine as the leading choice for commercial and industrial facility services across North America.”
About EverLine Coatings
EverLine Coatings and Services is the first franchise company to bring sophistication to the underdeveloped, highly fragmented line striping and pavement maintenance industry as a full-service provider, positioning itself as the premier choice for parking lot maintenance. Since its founding in 2012, the company has seen significant growth with 350+ territories open and operating across Canada and the U.S. EverLine provides a much-needed solution for property owners and managers across North America looking for a professional, credible, communicative, and quality-focused line striping and pavement maintenance service provider. For more information, please visit https://everlinecoatings.com/.
About Red Iron Group
Red Iron Group is a private investment firm that partners with business owners and managers who are passionate about building market-leading businesses. The firm helps businesses achieve increased scale and business value through investments in organic growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions. Red Iron Group leverages its extensive Silicon Valley roots to help its portfolio companies invest in and implement technology enablement and adoption strategies that deliver enhanced value into the customer relationship, drive operating efficiencies, and produce greater organic growth. Red Iron Group has established a uniquely long-term capital base with a strategy of focusing on profitably growing lower-middle-market companies across a wide range of sectors. Learn more at www.redirongroup.com