own your own business

Former Lifestyle Consultant for Massage Heights Retreat in Omaha, Nebraska Joins USA Bobsled National Team

SAN ANTONIO — Massage Heights, a leader of professional, affordable and convenient therapeutic massage and facial services, announced today that it is sponsoring Nicole Brungardt, a USA bobsledder and former employee of one of its franchisees. Brungardt, who worked as a lifestyle consultant for Massage Heights West Maple in her home state of Nebraska, was recently selected to join the USA Bobsled National Team and will kick off the World Cup season in Latvia from Dec. 3-9, 2018.

“We are so proud of all Nicole’s achievements thus far and stand in awe of her relentless, unwavering commitment to pursuing her dreams. It truly feels that things have come full circle as we build this partnership together and support her the way she once supported Massage Heights,” said Shane Evans, co-founder and president of Massage Heights. “We’re so inspired by her and feel honored to stand behind her, cheering her on through this next journey with sights set on Beijing.”

Brungardt joined the Women’s Bobsled Team on the North American Circuit in Oct. 2017, and in her rookie season, won three gold medals making her an up-and-coming star in the sport. Prior to bobsledding, Brungardt played volleyball and ran track in both high school and college and was inducted into the Norfolk Catholic High School Hall of Fame, as well as the Wayne State Athletics Hall of Fame.

“Massage therapy has always played a vital role in my success as a collegiate and professional athlete. I rely on it for not only the physical benefits, but for mental relaxation, as well,” said Nicole Brungardt. “As a former employee of Massage Heights, I have a strong personal connection and great respect for the brand, and I’m excited about this new partnership together.”

New Orleans-Based Coffeehouse Chain to Award Franchise License to Deserving Veteran

NEW ORLEANS — PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, a New Orleans-based coffeehouse that demonstrates better beans, superior roasting techniques, and pure passion for the art of coffee-making matter, has announced its second annual Veteran Franchise License Giveaway which will award one deserving veteran a PJ’s Coffee franchise license.

The popular coffeeshop is looking for military veterans to join the ever-growing $100 billion a year global coffee industry. PJ’s Coffee seeks hardworking, passionate applicants who align with its core values of delivering best-in-class coffee with the highest regards to service and hospitality.

If interested, veterans should visit https://www.pjsfranchise.com/vets/ to enter their contact information and receive a franchise brochure. Once received, they will need to submit a one-minute video explaining how military service has prepared them to be a PJ’s Coffee owner. The application is now open and will run through December 31. The winner will be announced in January 2019.

“PJ’s Coffee is grateful for every veteran’s service to this country and is honored to provide a sustainable career for those returning home from duty,” said David Mesa, Chief Development Officer of PJ’s Coffee.  “After awarding our first franchise license to Marine Corps veteran, Jeff Hateley, last year it became clear this was an initiative PJ’s Coffee had to continue. Jeff has blossomed as a formidable entrepreneur and we hope this annual giveaway will empower other veterans to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit.”

Hateley was chosen for his diverse military and professional background and infectious can-do attitude, Hateley served in the Marine Corps from 2001 to 2006 and specialized in Tactical Data Networks. During his service, he was deployed in Iraq and Japan and took on the role of a Primary Marksmanship Instructor. After serving, Hateley went on to receive his Bachelor’s from California State University Fullerton. After winning the license giveaway he opened his PJ’s Coffee location in Rock Hill, South Carolina earlier this year.

“I am forever grateful for the opportunity PJ’s Coffee has afforded me,” said Hateley. “I dreamt of owning my own business and with their backing my dream has become a reality. Via my franchise, I have been able to advance my career, engage the community and provide a superior coffee-house experience.”

PJ’s Coffee serves a wide variety of iced, frozen, hot, cold brew, and nitro-infused coffees using only the top one percent of Arabica beans, as well as organic tea and fresh breakfast pastries. The brand’s famous iced coffees are brewed daily using a special cold-drip process that protects the flavor and strength of the beans, while producing a coffee that is two thirds less acidic – a process pioneered by PJ’s Coffee founder, Phyllis Jordan.

A prospective franchisee can expect a total investment range between $178,900 – $373,000 for non-traditional franchise units, and $190,900 – $566,000 for traditional units. The operating model and menu is adaptable to any environment with different options including kiosks and free-standing locations with a drive-thru, ranging from a few hundred square feet up to 2200 square feet. PJ’s Coffee offers a proven franchise structure with strategic corporate support.

The PJ’s Coffee brand is passionate about giving back to the veteran community in any way it can. The company is an International Franchise Association VetFran member, proudly offering qualified veterans a 20 percent discount on the initial franchise fee.

Leading staffing franchise expands national footprint into Northeastern Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — AtWork Group, a rapidly growing national staffing franchise, announced today the opening of its new office in Jacksonville, Florida, extending the company’s national reach into Northeastern Florida. The franchise location is owned and operated by United States Army veteran Mike Wynn and will offer staffing solutions to the greater Jacksonville metro area.

“With our expansion into Jacksonville we’re looking forward to continuing to develop our presence across the state of Florida,” said Jason Leverant, president and COO of AtWork Group. “By coupling a strong, local franchise owner with the experience, tools, and resources of AtWork’s national franchise network, clients and associates alike will be able to realize why AtWork has been named a Best of Staffing award winner for 5+ years!”

“I feel like this is a perfect opportunity for the First Coast market,” said Mike Wynn. “I intend on bringing my hard work, dedication, and passion to this business to serve the Jacksonville community!”

The new office is located at 8640 Phillips Highway, Suite 5, Jacksonville, Florida and will provide staffing services to clients in the light industrial and clerical industries, facilitating temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire placements. The business may be reached at 904-379-6159 or by visiting AtWork.com/Jacksonville.

Former White House Physician On Hand to Dedicate Clinic, Recognize Veterans

NEW YORK and BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — American Family Care (AFC), the nation’s leading provider of urgent care, occupational medicine and accessible primary care will today open its 200^th urgent care clinic. Located at 5546 Broadway in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of The Bronx, New York, the state of the art facility is independently owned and operated by Dan and Vicki Purugganan. It is the fourth clinic to open in The Bronx during the past 4 years, and the first of more than 20 additional locations scheduled to open in the tristate area during the next 36 months.

On hand for the clinic’s official grand opening ceremony will be AFC’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Bruce Irwin, who pioneered the urgent care concept nearly 40 years ago. “Whether operating corporately owned clinics, supporting a local entrepreneur through our franchising model, or by partnering with local hospital systems, pursing our mission to provide the best health care possible is our primary focus”, according to Irwin. “And, while our continued growth is gratifying, it simply represents the fact that AFC’s patient-centric model is at the forefront of a revolution in health care”.

Also on hand will be AFC’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Benjamin Barlow, who recently joined AFC directly from the White House Medical Unit, where he personally served the health care needs of three current or former U.S. Presidents – George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Dr. Barlow’s multi-year tenure as Senior White House Physician was the culmination of more than a decade of service to our country in the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of Major.

The opening of AFC’s 200^th clinic coincides with the observance of Veterans Day. In honor of the occasion, AFC’s newest clinic will provide no cost flu shots to veterans throughout the day. According to data from the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, a recent survey shows only 49 percent of veterans receive a flu vaccination each year. Compounding the problem, of the 19.4 million veterans in the U.S., approximately 750,000 have no insurance coverage.

“Not only are we excited to open our newest clinic, we are excited to help our nation’s veterans by providing no cost flu shots”, says Barlow. “Approximately three-quarters of the U.S. Veteran population do not use VA services. What’s more, veterans tend to be older and have more chronic health problems than the general adult population, which may place them at greater risk of complications from influenza”, continued Barlow.

The opening of its 200^th clinic is an important milestone for AFC. Named a “best buy in franchising” by Franchise Times , AFC has nearly doubled its number of franchise units during the past 48 months. In addition to franchise and corporate locations, the company also operates joint ventures and other partnerships with local hospital systems to provide a high-quality continuum of care for its patients.

LOGAN, Utah — Airing on Saturday, November 10 at 9 a.m. EST/PST, N-Hance Wood Refinishing will be featured on the premier season of TLC’s “Make This Place Your Home” with hosts Jackie Zeman (Nurse Bobby Spencer from the daytime soap opera hit, General Hospital) and Jaime Laurita (Rock & Roll Chef and kitchen designer to the stars).

“Make This Place Your Home” is a half hour home makeover program that highlights unique situations faced by homeowners, both old and new, and helps to find creative ways to make the place in which they live truly feel like their home. Each episode demonstrates to the audience innovative and creative ways that will motivate and excite home builders, home owners, as well as first time home buyers on how to make their place a home.

The N-Hance team is brought in to assist homeowners Anna and Chris Reed who recently purchased a house Jacksonville, Fla. where Chris plays in the NFL for the Jaguars. Adjusting to their new space, Anna was seeking to update the kitchen to better match the couple’s modern rustic style and give it an overall refresh. She turned to N-Hance for its exceptional customer service to get the job done. See here for a sneak peek of the episode: https://vimeo.com/299307664

“We have a unique, industry-leading service and our franchisees use our products and processes to deliver a phenomenal customer experience every day,” said Abby Baker, Director of Marketing for N-Hance. “It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase our services on the TLC network and help the Reed family settle into their new home. It’s our hope this inspires and educates other homeowners that remodel projects don’t have to carry a hefty price tag, and overwhelming time and energy – that these projects can be tackled with ease and simplicity all at a high-quality.”

N-Hance Wood Refinishing is an innovative, affordable cabinet and floor renewal service that renews your wood cabinets and floors without the inconvenience associated with traditional refinishing and provides a much higher quality and durability than painting methods. N-Hance can help with any wood refinishing need: cabinets, hardwood floors, exterior and interior doors, built-ins, stairs and railings, moldings and trim, furniture.

N-Hance uses proprietary solutions and refinishing techniques to restore the natural beauty or change the color completely of hardwood floors, cabinets, doors and trims – at a more affordable cost than traditional remodels and a much better quality and durability than just painting the surfaces. With more than 500 franchises nationwide, the company is projected to close 2018 with the addition of 85 new units as it continues to expand its footprint nationwide.

BELCHERTOWN, Mass. — Oasis Senior Advisors, a national franchisor offering free, community-based referral placement assistance for seniors, is pleased to announce the grand opening of Oasis Senior Advisors of Western Massachusetts. The new franchise is owned and operated by Eric Aasheim, a resident of Belchertown.

Eric Aasheim has more than 20 years of experience in customer-centered business development and service delivery and is honored to be helping families in Western Massachusetts research, tour and select the perfect-fit senior living community for their needs.

Oasis Senior Advisors is a franchise that connects seniors with the housing communities that best fit their needs at no cost to the seniors or their families. They act as liaisons, navigating families through a housing transition that is often times difficult and confusing. Senior Living Advisors weigh options, taking each factor of the family’s and individual’s needs into account, including level of care, independence and budget.

LIVONIA, Mich. — Pet Supplies Plus, the largest and most trusted pet retail franchise in the United States, is pleased to announce its partnership with Natural Balance. Together, they’re launching a fundraiser designed to draw attention to the positive impact pets have on active and former military servicemen and women. To honor those who have served our country, this Veteran’s Day (November 11), your purchase of Natural Balance products at any of the pet retailer’s 435 nationwide stores now through November 26 will help support a $50,000 donation to Patriot PAWS Service Dogs.

Patriot PAWS Service Dogs is a non-profit organization whose mission to train and provide service dogs at no cost to disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence. The initiative will benefit and recognize the powerful bond that can be built once service animals are united with a military veteran suffering from wounds that can be both seen and unseen.

“We are ecstatic and honored to partner with Natural Balance once again in our efforts to support a well-deserving organization like Patriot PAWS Service Dogs,” said Chris Rowland, CEO of Pet Supplies Plus. “Thousands of brave veterans return home each year and need assistance in readjusting to everyday life. We fully support the mission of Patriot PAWS Service Dogs and their efforts to provide service dogs free-of-charge to help military veterans heal and feel supported in their time of need.”

Started in 2006 by professional dog trainer Lori Stevens, Patriot PAWS Service Dogs works to train and place service dogs with disabled veterans. The organization’s Rockwall, TX campus houses and trains up to 35 dogs at a time with an additional 35-40 dogs trained at other locations. This year they have placed 33 service dogs with veterans in need —aiding in their transition from military to civilian life.

“Pet Supplies Plus has proven to be a loyal and indispensable partner in our efforts,” said Sharon Satterwhite, Director of Development for Patriot PAWS Service Dogs. “After a successful campaign last year, we feel fortunate to have the support from everyone at Pet Supplies Plus. More importantly, we’re extremely thankful that Pet Supplies Plus is helping provide the resources necessary to get our dogs trained perfectly before they are paired with their forever person. We are in awe of all that they do for deserving veterans and their generosity will help Patriot PAWS continue to help disabled veterans one leash at a time.”

Now with more than 435 locations in 33 states across the country, Pet Supplies Plus offers a wide array of natural pet foods, a variety of Made in the USA pet consumables, such as wet and dry food, treats, rawhide and chews. Set in welcoming neighborhood environments, Pet Supplies Plus team members get to know their neighbors and pets by name at every store. Many locations also feature a full offering of grooming services tailored to meet every pet’s needs, including washes, haircuts, body brushing, flea treatment and nail, skin, ear and oral care. For more information, visit www.petsuppliesplus.com.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — FirstLight Home Care, an award-winning provider of non-medical home care, announced today it will open a new location in the Kansas City area in Overland Park, Kansas, in February 2019. The office will be owned and operated by brothers Michael and Andrew Brainerd.

FirstLight Home Care of Overland Park will be serving the Overland Park area, including Lenexa, Prairie Village, Leawood and Shawnee. Qualified caregivers — Supportive Care Workers — interested in FirstLight career opportunities are encouraged to email either Michael Brainerd at mbrainerd@firstlighthomecare.com or Andrew Brainerd at abrainerd@firstlighthomecare.com.

FirstLight serves seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, veterans, those recovering from surgery and other adults in need of assistance. Their caregivers help with many needs – from personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning and running errands to mobility assistance and dementia care.

“This Kansas City-area office will help meet the increasing demand for home care in the area as baby boomers choose to age at home,” said Jeff Bevis, FirstLight Home Care co-founder and CEO. “We are eager to extend FirstLight’s culture of care to meet this growing need and help improve the well-being of members of the community.”

Since opening its first franchise location in 2010, FirstLight Home Care has experienced steady growth and is now operating more than 250 locations in 34 states throughout the U.S.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — American Family Care (AFC), the nation’s leading provider of urgent care, accessible primary care, and occupational medicine, announced today it will offer military veterans free flu shots on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11. The announcement is an extension of AFC’s ongoing effort to promote flu prevention in the United States and comes on the heels of the company’s annual National Flu Prevention Week campaign.

FLUSHING, Mich. — In honor of those who serve in the U.S. Military, Coffee Beanery would like to invite our country’s veterans and active duty military this Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11^th and Monday, November 12^th to enjoy a free cup of coffee.

Participating Coffee Beanery locations across the country will offer a free tall cup of fresh brewed coffee all day on November 11^th & 12^th (one per customer). Veterans and active duty military will need to provide their military identification for the offer. Call ahead to make sure that your local Coffee Beanery is participating.

Participating Coffee Beanery locations include:

Michigan – Flint (Miller Road-12^th Only), Saginaw (Fashion Square Mall)

New Jersey – Eatontown (Monmouth Mall), Jersey City (Hudson Mall)

Kentucky– Paducah (Lourdes Hospital)

Texas– Killeen (Killeen Mall, Clear Creek and Splawn Ranch locations), Corpus Christi (La Palmera Mall)

Pennsylvania – Wyomissing (Berkshire Mall)

Indiana– Dyer (The Galleria)

Wyoming– (Gillette)