Emma Dickison isn’t just the CEO and president of Home Helpers® Home Care; she’s a passionate leader with a deep personal connection to the work. When she was in the fifth grade, her family navigated the complexities of caring for her grandmother after a stroke. They successfully kept her in her home for more than 18 years, an experience that forged Dickison’s belief in the power of quality in-home care. By Shelby Green
When I look back at the last several years in franchising, I have to be proud that there are more women than ever making a huge impact on the industry. From suppliers I meet to the founders who are bringing their brands to market, there has been a huge shift. The conventions and meeting rooms are more balanced, getting closer and closer to 50/50 creating balance and inspiring others (less vocal than me) to speak up and share their story. By Dawn Abbamondi
While pursuing a degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Houston, Larry Wilkins III, vice president of Just Play and director of Just Play Houston, joined the organization’s coaching team before stepping into a leadership role. Offering diverse basketball programs – including classes, camps, clinics and tournaments – the Just Play team provides communities and individuals with quality spaces and resources to achieve their wellness and athletic goals. By Erika Ortega
Dan Gizzi spent 26 years working in sales roles in the corporate tech world, but in October 2024, he found himself sidelined by a layoff. Unsure of what he’d do next, Gizzi accepted a meeting with what he thought was a job recruiter, but it turned out to be a franchise consultant. The meeting went well, and Gizzi was faced with a decision: pursue franchising or find his next gig in corporate America. By Kelsi Trinidad
With terms like “AI,” “smart coolers” and “micro markets” flying around the vending industry, it’s easy to get lost in the latest shiny technology. Naturals2Go believes in building a solid foundation that lets them crawl, walk and then run their way to a thriving business. By Shelby Green
Beth Butler’s career path has been anything but conventional. From serving in the U.S. Air Force to becoming a powerhouse in the franchising world, her professional life has been defined by bold moves, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep commitment to helping others find their own success. By Jessica Petrucelli
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt is known first and foremost for its best-in-class frozen yogurt, with a rotating lineup of new flavors every month. But the company’s mission extends far beyond sweet treats. Since opening its first store in 2007, the brand has grown into the largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise in the world, with locations across the U.S. and in multiple countries. Through it all, one value has remained constant: giving back. By Tamara Rahoumi
On September 28, guests can enjoy half-off bowls and a poké-themed sticker with
celebrations taking place at locations across the country
ORLANDO, Fla. — At Island Fin Poké Co., poké is so much more than a dish. It is a tradition that nourishes and brings people together. To mark International Poké Day, the Hawaiian-inspired franchise is celebrating the beloved cuisine and giving back to their Ohana with a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal and a limited-edition, poké-themed sticker for guests to enjoy.
On International Poké Day on Sunday, September 28, visitors can stop by their nearest Island Fin location or order online or through the Island Fin Poké Co. app to purchase any bowl and receive another one at half price. Whether building their own bowl from scratch with Island Fin’s premium assortment of proteins, toppings and marinating sauces, or ordering a Signature Bowl like the mouthwatering Korean BBQ Chicken Bowl, guests can look forward to a dining experience complete with bold flavors and fresh ingredients.
“International Poké Day is the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate this influential dish while also giving back to our Ohana and community,” said Mark Setterington, CEO of Island Fin Poké Co. “Every bowl we make represents our dedication to bold flavors, sustainably sourced ingredients and happy, healthy Ohana.”
In addition to the promotion, the first 50 people to visit a location on International Poké Day will be treated to a limited-edition, poké-themed sticker courtesy of Island Fin. The limited-edition sticker is not only a fun keepsake, but also a step toward a grand prize. By collecting all eight stickers during Island Fin’s exclusive sticker drops, fans get the chance to win a free Island Fin surfboard along with a host of other exclusive prizes.
Prioritizing the well-being of their Ohana, Island Fin ensures that guests are treated to a healthy, delicious bowl of poké with every visit. From sustainably sourced proteins such as their Coho Salmon and farm-to-fork fresh veggies to toppings like avocado, seaweed and pickled veggies, Island Fin is spearheading the fast casual poké craze with fresh, sustainable ingredients that honor the iconic dish’s Hawaiian roots.
From Ahi Tuna to Tofu, Island Fin’s vibrant lineup of proteins brings an array of customizable creations to the poké world this International Poké Day. The special offers are available in-store on Sunday, September 28, at participating locations while supplies last. For more information about Island Fin Poké Co., visit IslandFinPoke.com.
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About Island Fin Poké Co.
Island Fin Poké Co. is a Florida-based fast-casual concept known for its Hawaiian-style build-your-own poké bowls. From farm-to-fork, the brand uses the freshest ingredients to bring traditional flavors from the islands to local communities nationwide. Founded in 2017, Island Fin Poké Co. has 18 locations open, with numerous others in various stages of development. Island Fin Poké Co. was ranked #29 on the 2023 Top New & Emerging Franchises list by Entrepreneur Magazine, recognized as a Top 100 Game Changer for 2022 by Franchise Dictionary Magazine and listed in Fast Casual’s 2022 Movers & Shakers List. For more information, or if interested in joining the brand’s Ohana, please visit www.IslandFinPoke.com.
BANNOCKBURN, ILL — BrightStar Care, a leading franchiser of home care services providing premium home health care and medical staffing with a higher standard of clinical excellence and compassion, announced today its winners for the company’s Best & Brightest Nurse of the Year and Caregiver of the Year Awards. These awards honor exceptional nurses and caregivers on a regional and national level who exemplify a commitment to client care and embody BrightStar’s core values, including compassion, integrity, excellence, trustworthiness, accountability and reliability.
Every year, BrightStar Care invites clients, family members and fellow employees who have been positively impacted by the company’s dedicated nurses and caregivers across the country to share their stories and nominate these professionals for this prestigious award. These awards recognize the commitment and compassion of BrightStar Care’s professional caregivers, while also showcasing the company’s dedication to honoring and supporting its care team.
Hundreds of nominations are submitted for the awards annually and this year, BrightStar Care is recognizing eight individuals that represent excellence in the West, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast regions. Each winner will receive a $5,000 prize in recognition of the true impact they have made on individuals and their families by going above and beyond to ensure they are providing a higher standard of home care through compassion and clinical excellence. Out of this remarkable group of regional winners, Gabiola Jean from Norwalk, CT and Christina Roddy from Aurora, CO, were also selected as BrightStar Care’s national caregiver and nurse of the year, respectively.
“At BrightStar Care, our caregivers are at the heart of everything we do. Each year, these awards give us the opportunity to honor the nurses and caregivers within our network who truly go above and beyond,” said Andy Ray, CEO of BrightStar Care. “Recognizing their dedication reinforces appreciation for their work and reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to supporting and celebrating the people who make a tangible difference every single day.”
Best & Brightest Award Winners
Gabiola Jean, also known as Gabby, was awarded caregiver of the year for her genuine compassion and overall calming presence. Gabby’s nominator detailed how, over the course of nearly two years, she has become not just a caregiver, but a trusted friend and confidant for her patient in Norwalk, Connecticut. She has significantly improved said patient’s quality of life by encouraging them to do what brings them joy, from outdoor activities and woodworking to cornhole, live music, and bocce ball, all from the comfort of their wheelchair.
In Aurora, CO, Christina Roddy was selected as nurse of the year for helping her patients rediscover parts of themselves they thought were lost. Her nominator included powerful and deeply moving words in their submission: “Christina is more than a nurse – she is the reason I’m still here.” This patient went on to detail how Christina never treated them as a task, but as someone truly worth fighting for. She became their advocate, pushed for better treatment, and spoke up when things didn’t seem right, exemplifying what it means to provide excellent medical care with empathy and kindness.
Regional winners awarded for their outstanding attention to their patients include: Julia Allen (Asheville, NC), Nasteho Omar (Burnsville / South St. Paul, MN), Natasha Thibodeau (Carlsbad, CA), Madelyn Leader (York, PA), Landon Carson (Charlottesville, VA) and Ainsley Burlingam (Centerville / South Dayton, OH). To find out more about the 2025 Best and Brightest Winners, please visit www.brightstarcare.com.
About BrightStar Care
Founded in 2002, BrightStar Care is a leading franchisor of home care services with more than 400 franchised locations nationwide that provide skilled and unskilled home care to clients and custom medical staffing solutions to corporate entities. BrightStar Care franchise agencies employ more than 15,000 caregivers and 5,700 registered nurses who oversee the care and safety of each individual client. All BrightStar Care agencies are accredited by The Joint Commission, and the brand has been recognized as an Enterprise Champion for Quality for over a decade. In addition to supporting families at home, BrightStar Care partners with healthcare organizations to meet evolving staffing needs with experienced, credentialed professionals. Learn more at www.brightstarcare.com.
The trusted yard greeting service is being celebrated for its creativity and sense of invention, adding to an already-extensive list of recent franchising awards
AUSTIN, Texas — Card My Yard, the premier yard greeting company, has been named one of the 50 Most Innovative Franchises of 2025 by Franchise Business Review (FBR). This recognition highlights Card My Yard’s continued commitment to creativity, both in terms of franchise owner support and customer experience.
This achievement marks Card My Yard’s twelfth Franchise Business Review award since 2023 and its fourth recognition this year alone. Earlier in 2025, Card My Yard earned positions on FBR’s lists of Top Low-Cost Franchises and Top Franchises for Women, as well as its overall Top Franchises Satisfaction rankings.
“Our franchise has always provided a satisfying experience for owners who thrive on creativity and imagination,” said Josh Arnold, Brand President of Card My Yard. “Our business offers families and communities endless options for celebrating big achievements and major milestones, and that provides local owners with ceaseless opportunities to dream big and to try new things.”
Franchise Business Review is the leading independent market research firm specializing in franchisee satisfaction. Unlike other franchise rankings, their lists are based entirely on feedback from franchise owners about their brand’s innovation, leadership and overall satisfaction. To determine the Most Innovative Franchises, FBR analyzed 18 months of survey data from more than 35,000 franchisees representing 365 distinct brands.
“In today’s competitive market, franchise innovation isn’t optional, it’s what sets the smartest, most sustainable opportunities apart,” said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. “We’re proud to celebrate the brands that consistently deliver new products, services, and systems that fuel franchisee growth and strengthen their long-term success.”
Since its inception in 2014, Card My Yard has grown into a nationwide presence, transforming front yards into celebrations with custom yard greetings. Its franchise model offers entrepreneurs a low-cost, home-based business that allows for flexibility as well as community impact.
To learn more about Card My Yard, visit cardmyyard.com.
To see the full list of this year’s Most Innovative Franchises, visit franchisebusinessreview.com.
About Card My Yard
Founded in 2014, Card My Yard is the premier yard greeting franchise, helping communities celebrate special moments with big, bold and unforgettable displays. With more than 500 independently owned and operated locations nationwide, Card My Yard has become the most trusted yard sign rental service, offering customized greetings for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, holidays and other major milestones. The brand provides franchise owners with a low-cost, home-based business opportunity while spreading joy and connection in neighborhoods across the country. Card My Yard has been recognized by Franchise Business Review as one of the Most Innovative Franchises, Best Franchises for Women and Best Low-Cost Franchises. To learn more, visit cardmyyard.com. To learn about franchising opportunities, visit cardmyyard.fivestarfranchising.com
About Five Star Franchising
Five Star Franchising is an innovative, growing platform of home service brands with more than 1,600 total locations throughout North America. Franchise owners across Five Star’s brands, including Five Star Bath Solutions, Gotcha Covered, Bio-One, Mosquito Shield, 1-800-Packouts and Card My Yard enjoy a robust support network and access to industry-leading tools such as ProNexis, the 24/7 sales support solution tailored for home service businesses, and Five Star Marketing Services, Five Star Franchising’s elite marketing engine. Five Star Franchising’s commitment to core values — Driven, Real, Innovative, Vital and Enthusiastic (DRIVE) — ensures its brands are category leaders and empowers franchise owners to maximize profitable growth and secure their financial destiny. Five Star Franchising is consistently recognized as one of the most successful companies in the industry. The company has appeared on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America five times total, most recently in 2025. Five Star Franchising also ranks among the fastest-growing businesses in its home state, with positions on the MountainWest Capital Network Utah 100, the Utah Valley BusinessQ UV50 and the Utah Business Fast 50 lists. For more information, visit fivestarfranchising.com.
About Franchise Business Review
Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and franchise employees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,300 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year online at http://www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com. To read our publications, visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/publications.