The International Franchise Association (IFA) today named K.C. Ryerson, owner of Owl Be There of Frederick, MD. and Loudoun, VA., as a 2023 Franchisee of the Year. Ryerson was honored at the 64th IFA Annual Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator.
PHOENIX, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The International Franchise Association (IFA) today named K.C. Ryerson, owner of Owl Be There of Frederick, MD. and Loudoun, VA., as a 2023 Franchisee of the Year. Ryerson was honored at the 64th IFA Annual Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator.
"Franchisees of the Year exemplify what franchising is all about – providing opportunity, serving others, and fulfilling the American Dream," said Matthew Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association. "We are proud to recognize K.C. Ryerson with the highest honor IFA awards to individual franchisees, and I have no doubt her work is changing lives and making a lasting community impact."
The Franchisee of the Year Award recognizes leading franchise owners from IFA member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their involvement in their communities, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit, fostering a strong and healthy culture with their workforce, and assisting their fellow franchisees when called upon.
K.C. Ryerson is the owner of Owl Be There of Frederick, MD. and Loudoun County, VA., an emerging franchise concept featuring a network of home-based senior care referral specialists who provide Wise Care Guidance for families and their loved ones. She has been involved in senior care advocacy for 13 years, beginning back in 2010. Owning her own Owl Be There business is to honor her family legacy on behalf of her mother and father, as she was inspired by her own journey of searching for appropriate care for her parents. Her father suffered from dementia brought on by cancer and her mother had Alzheimer's and Lewey Body Dementia. K.C. has her certificate of Financial Planning through Georgetown University, a bachelor's degree in business marketing, an MBA with a concentration in Health Care Management, a Maryland Assisted Living Manager Certificate, is a Certified Alzheimer's Disease Dementia Trainer, and is currently a doctoral student.
"I was so proud and honored to have been nominated and chosen for such an honor as Franchisee of the Year," said Ryerson, owner of Owl Be There of Frederick, MD. and Loudoun, VA., "Winning has given me such a powerful feeling of inclusion and it reminds me that in franchising, you may be in business for yourself - but you're never in business by yourself. I was honored alongside other franchisees who truly want to empower others – that's why they chose franchising in the first place. Prior to owning my own business, I enjoyed my time in the direct sales industry, healthcare industry, and financial services industry. Today, I'm able to mesh these experiences in providing the gold standard for senior placement in the industry. Having been honored with this award, I now want to empower others and mentor other new franchisees who come into our system. I'd also like to express my heartfelt thanks to David and Laura Greenwood of Owl Be There. I wouldn't be here if they hadn't believed in me and supported me the way they have."
There are approximately 806,000 franchised businesses across the U.S., providing over 8.7 million direct jobs and generating over $858 billion in economic output. According to Oxford Economics, franchising on average provides higher wages and better benefits than non-franchised businesses, as well as greater entrepreneurial opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, and other underrepresented communities.
About the International Franchise Association:
Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 806,270 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.7 million direct jobs, $858.5 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.
About Owl Be There
Owl Be There is a franchise opportunity featuring a network of independent, home-based senior referral specialists who work with seniors and their families to determine the most suitable option for their care level and living arrangements. Owl Be There consultants offer white-glove, concierge-level service at no cost to seniors and their families and are compensated by the brand's network of senior living facilities and care providers. Owl Be There is currently recruiting new franchise owners in 40 U.S. states, with a standard protected territory size based on a population of 400,000 residents. The franchise opportunity requires no previous senior or healthcare experience and provides both comprehensive training and ongoing support for its network of referral specialists. For more information, please visit www.owlbetherefranchise.com.
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SOURCE The International Franchise Association (IFA)
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