Michigan business owner to be recognized by world’s oldest and largest franchising association; Will be honored at the IFA Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C for excellence in business, giving back, and providing opportunities to those around them

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The International Franchise Association (IFA), on September 2, named Joe Thomas, co-Franchise Owner of six PuroClean locations across Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, and Florida and leader of the PuroClean National Response Team (NRT), as a 2026 Franchisee of the Year. Thomas will be honored at the IFA26 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., Sept. 14-16, for being an outstanding franchise owner with excellence in entrepreneurship, community outreach, workforce development, and service to others. Nominated by their brand, the IFA Franchisee of the Year awards are given to top franchisees from IFA member brands across industries and communities around the country.

“Franchisees of the Year demonstrate what franchising is all about – individuals who have committed their lives and careers to the betterment of those around them, building something bigger than themselves,” said Matt Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association. “Through their leadership, they create jobs and build careers, give back to their communities, and support other franchisees, all while exemplifying the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of franchising. We are proud to recognize Joe Thomas with IFA’s highest honor for individual franchisees and celebrate his commitment to making a difference both within his business and beyond.”

The Franchisee of the Year awards recognize leading franchise owners for their community involvement, fostering a strong workforce, assisting their fellow franchisees when called upon, and embodying the entrepreneurial spirit. Thomas represents these principles through the PuroClean NRT, which he played an instrumental role in launching. The NRT brings together qualified PuroClean Franchise Owners from across the country to respond to large-scale disasters and catastrophic events, giving individual Franchise Owners access to the collective resources and expertise of the network when responding to large, high-margin losses.

Known for his compassionate approach to disaster recovery, Thomas has helped countless homeowners and businesses navigate challenging circumstances while building a purpose-driven team committed to service excellence. Through his dedication to leadership, community involvement and collaboration across the PuroClean network, Thomas has made a lasting impact on both the communities he serves and the franchise system as a whole.

“Receiving the IFA Franchisee of the Year Award is a deeply humbling validation of our entire team at PuroClean National Response Team and our core ability to solve complex problems.  This award recognizes the team’s hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving our community during their most vulnerable moments,” Thomas said. “To me, this recognition is not just an individual accolade, but a testament to the culture of excellence, resilience, and compassion we have built within our PuroClean franchise. It signifies that putting people first, both our customers and our team members, creates a lasting, positive impact that extends far beyond daily operations.”

There are approximately 832,000 franchise establishments across the U.S., providing nearly 8.8 million direct jobs and generating more than $907 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.

The recipients will be honored at a luncheon on Sept. 15, 2026, and throughout the IFA26 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. next month.

About PuroClean

PuroClean is a leading, world-class service brand for water damage mitigation, fire and smoke damage restoration, mold remediation, and biohazard clean-up services, working with both residential customers and commercial clients across the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 2001, PuroClean is a diverse, fast-growing network of over 500 North American franchise locations, each independently owned and operated. With a commitment to respond within two hours, the professionals at PuroClean are thoroughly screened, insured, and trained in following the latest cutting-edge cleaning and restoration standards and practices. 

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 832,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $907.3 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.

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SOURCE PuroClean