small business opportunity magazine

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)

MCHENRY, Ill. — When it comes to running a small businesses, technology troubles aren’t just bound to occur – their guaranteed. Whether it’s due to a lack of an IT department or the result of just getting a small business off the ground, technology catastrophes can be frequent and frustrating. In an effort to help small business owners reduce common tech mistakes, Cartridge World, a global franchise network and recognized leader in printers, printer services and cartridges, is offering their top insights for tech success.

Whether it be optimizing your printer settings or installing protective firewall, Cartridge World’s network of more than 300 stores are known as the local experts here to help. By taking the time to understand each customer’s specific needs, Cartridge World seeks to help consumers save both time and money.

• Upgrade Your Wi-Fi – Nothing is as frustrating as a Wi-Fi crash when sending an important email, giving a presentation, uploading important documents, etc. Upgrading your Wi-Fi is one of the simplest ways to take office technology to the next level and ensure less hiccups. Furthermore, place routers as close to computers as possible for optimal strength and speed.
• Invest in a Multi-Function Printer – Whatever the function of a small business, odds are printing, scanning and copying documents are taking place, and there is no need to have three different machines to handle each of these tasks. Invest in a multi-function printer to have all this functionality in one device while increasing efficiency and saving space.
• Explore Money-Saving Options: Small businesses can further explore budget-saving printer options such as Cartridge World’s ‘Why Buy A Printer?” program to ensure quality equipment while not breaking the bank. This program allows for companies to receive a business class printer(s) and multifunction devices with all printer maintenance and on-site service included at no additional cost in exchange for the purchasing of toner cartridges at Cartridge World.
• Increase Security Firewall – Most small businesses have anti-virus software, but the protection shouldn’t stop there. With one in three Americans hacked in the past year, it’s now more important than ever to protect your business. To keep sensitive work documents and communications safe, add different smart internet firewalls to your space to help ensure safety.
• Evaluate Laptops/Desktops– The average lifespan for desktops and laptops are painfully short (three to eight years for a desktop, two to five years for a laptop). If a desktop/laptop hasn’t been upgraded, is slow, lacking space to store files and is a hassle to install the latest software, it’s most likely time to invest in a new system.
• Invest in a Backup Drive – To ensure the safety and protection of important documents, operating systems and programs, invest in a backup drive to give your small business piece of mind. Be sure to keep this equipment up to date as this vital tool does have a finite lifespan.

“At Cartridge World, we understand that running a small business is no easy task, which is why we want to help owners and entrepreneurs any way we can,” said Mark Pinner, CEO of Cartridge World North America. “With technology now a vital part of running a business, Cartridge’s Worlds experienced and impartial staff is committed to helping owners and employees prevent complex tech issues from occurring, but are ready to be of assistance when they do.”

In 2003, Cartridge World opened its first store in the United States and now has over 300 stores in North America and over 600 worldwide in 30 countries. With its sights set on adding nearly 3,000 stores to its system by 2019, Cartridge World is looking to expand its presence and clearly define itself as the global leader in ink and toner cartridge sales, printers, printing supplies, and printer maintenance for home and office customers.

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Local entrepreneur and BrightStar Care of Roseville, California owner, Ignacio Cespedes, was recently recognized at the BrightStar Care national conference as the distinguished recipient of the company’s most prestigious award—2018 Franchisee of the Year.

Surrounded by fellow BrightStar Care owners at the franchise’s national conference in Chantilly, Virginia earlier this month, Ignacio Cespedes was recognized for embodying the very best the company has to offer. Cespedes continuously demonstrates impressive achievements in sales and is a shining example of how to run a successful location. He has also served as a BrightStar Care advocate through the company’s committee participation and validation calls.

“Ignacio continues to be a tremendous brand ambassador and represents BrightStar Care in an exceptional manner,” said Shelly Sun, CEO and Founder of BrightStar Care. “His dedication to excellence, willingness to participate and volunteer for company committees and mentorship to other franchisees helps us drive our brand forward. We are so lucky to have him as part of the BrightStar Care family.”

BrightStar Care of Roseville is part of a national franchise network of more than 330 locations which provide medical and non-medical care to private clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. Care and staffing services include companionship and personal care to assist seniors in their homes with activities of daily living, sick child care and transitioning patients safely home from the hospital. Each BrightStar Care location employs a Registered Nurse Director of Nursing who tailors unique, personalized plans of care for each client and oversees a professional care team of well-qualified, experienced caregivers.

The company began franchising in 2005, and has since grown to a $400 million system with more than 330 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

U.S. Army Veteran Grant Springer Enjoys Heartwarming Moment During Surprise Presentation; Military Makeover: Operation Career Airing Springer’s Story at 7:30 a.m. EST Nov. 7 on Lifetime Network

TAMARAC, Fla. — PuroClean, a leading restoration and remediation franchise, today announced the winner of its first-ever PuroVet free franchise giveaway.  Washington, D.C. resident Grant Springer, a 26-year veteran of the United States Army, was surprised with his free franchise during an emotional presentation earlier this month.  The moment was captured as part of Military Makeover: Operation Career and will air at 7:30 a.m. November 7^th on the Lifetime Network.

“While studying entrepreneurship at Georgetown University, I was introduced to the world of franchising and companies like PuroClean, who are helping military veterans find their perfect second career,” said Springer.  “PuroClean stood out to me and I was really impressed by their PuroVet program.  Owning my own business has been a personal goal for many years and I’m incredibly thankful to PuroClean for helping turn my dreams into reality!”

The first-ever PuroVet free franchise giveaway launched earlier this year and was open to all veterans including active duty, reserve, honorably discharged or retired personnel. Each applicant was required to submit a resume and business plan demonstrating how they would successfully run their franchise. PuroClean executives evaluated submissions based on preparedness, business acumen and more. The most impressive candidates were offered a phone interview with PuroClean President and Chief Operations Officer Steve White, a veteran U.S. Army Captain and member of the International Franchise Association’s VetFran committee.

Springer was flown to PuroClean’s corporate headquarters in Tamarac, Florida for what he thought was a final interview.  Instead, he was surprised with a reception honoring him as the winner. In attendance at the event were Browad County Commissioner Michael Udine and PuroClean’s entire home office team, including Steve White, president and chief operating officer; Mark Davis, co-chairman and chief executive officer; and Tim Courtney, vice president of franchise development, who created the PuroVet program. A film crew captured the experience for Military Makeover: Operation Career, which will air Springer’s story later this month.

In 2019, Springer will return to Florida for an intensive three weeks at PuroClean’s newly renovated state-of-the-art training facility.  He will then relocate to Kansas City to open his business, which he will operate with his family.

“Veterans are strong leaders who push tirelessly toward success and today, many veteran franchise owners are among the top performers within our network,” said White. “I am honored to be part of this unique initiative, supporting my fellow veterans and helping contribute to their success after service.”

As a result of its PuroVet program, which offers qualifying veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces a $12,500 discount off their initial franchise fee and negotiated savings with key equipment vendors, PuroClean is consistently recognized as a top veteran franchise.  This year, the company was named to Military Times’ Best Franchises list.  In addition, the company has received accolades for its growth through innovation – including offering the largest territories in the industry – most recently earning the No. 258 spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious Franchise 500^® list.