INDUSTRY NEWS Colorado Ugly wins the HeatingHelp.com prize


LONGMONT, COLO.— Larry Holman of Larry’s Air Conditioning and Heating in Longmont was the winner of the $1,000 prize in HeatingHelp.com’s Ugly System Competition. “This contest has shown me some ugly stuff,” said Dan Holohan, owner of the HeatingHelp.com site, “but Larry’s service call topped them all. There was something about the plugged, upside-down relief valve, the missing


gas burners, the dog’s breakfast of wires, and the Vice Grip that was holding the circulator to the rotted boiler flange that just touched my soul. It had me at hello.” Like Holohan, Larry started in the


business in 1970 and stated that this was the butt-ugliest repair he had ever seen. “The three families that were living in the home tried to fix it themselves,” Larry said. “It has since been replaced.”


Entrepreneurmagazine's 2011 Franchise 500 published


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ENTREPRENEURmagazine has released its prestigious “Franchise 500” listing for 2011. The magazine compiles its list based on companies’ financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the franchise system. Other considerations include the number of years in business and length of time franchising, startup costs, low employee turnover and whether the company provided financing. On the list were two plumbing franchising companies, in particular, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Mr. Rooter. Clockwork Inc.’s Benjamin


Franklin — The Punctual Plumber® — moved up 13 positions to be ranked as the 130th franchise in EntrepreneurMagazine’s 32nd annual


“Franchise 500®”. The Benjamin Franklin franchise has jumped 293 positions in the last five years. “In these difficult economic times,


the professional service and excellent value our Benjamin Franklin


franchises deliver are fitting the bill for American homeowners,” said Chris Leach, VP Operations, Clockwork Home Services. “Our increase in Entrepreneur’s rankings is a testament to the hard-work and dedication of our franchise owners to deliver exceptional customer service.” Entrepreneur magazine ranked Mr.


Rooter Corporation No. 122 in its listing. The plumbing company moved up


25 slots from last year. The magazine bases its rankings on financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the system. “Moving up in this respected


ranking is a reflection of our dedication to providing outstanding customer experiences,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation. “Our Mr. Rooter Plumbing franchises across North America work hard to deliver customer-centered and professional plumbing and drain cleaning services each and every day.”


TZP Capital Partners I, L.P. completes acquisition of The Dwyer Group, Inc.


WACO, TEXAS — TZP Capital Partners I, L.P., a private equity fund based in New York, has completed its acquisition of The Dwyer Group, Inc., one of the world’s largest franchising companies of trades service brands. The transaction was valued at $150 million. The Dwyer Group, based in Waco, serves as a holding company for seven


residential and commercial franchise service brands. The franchise network includes over 1,500 franchisees operating in the United States and seven other countries. In addition to its franchise concepts, Dwyer also owns and operates 37 full-service glass stores in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Dwyer’s franchisees along with its company-operated stores account for nearly $800 million in annual system-wide revenues. “This begins an exciting new chapter for The Dwyer Group as we prepare


to celebrate our 30th anniversary in the New Year and the opportunities that await us,” said Dina Dwyer-Owens, chairperson and CEO of The Dwyer Group. “Our partnership with TZP is the perfect collaboration to take our business to the next level, to further support our rapidly expanding franchise family, and to investigate additional franchise concepts to add to our growing company.”


PEX plastic. “We had a few of those, “Holohan noted. “Iron components weigh more than PEX plastic, and it’s tough to argue with gravity.”


OBITUARY Jane Allen, wife of Charles S. Allen, Chairman of Sloan Valve Company


FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.— Jane Allen (nee Connaughton), the beloved wife of Charles S. Allen, Chairman of Sloan Valve Company, passed away suddenly on December 19, 2010. Married for 45 years, she is survived by her husband and sons Charles S. Allen Jr. (Amy), James C. Allen, Graham C. Allen (Brooke), six grandchildren and her two brothers, Thomas Connaughton (Leslie) and Steven G. Connaughton (Michaelene). Jane was born on June 4, 1946 in


Cincinnati, moved to Wayne, Pa. and then South Bend, Ind. After their marriage, Jane and Chuck moved to Oak Park, Ill., where she was active with the Chicago Chapter of the Junior League. Jane then served as the Chairperson for the annual Gold Coast Fashion Award Show, one of the premier events of the Children’s Service Board of Children’s Memorial Hospital. She also served as the President of the Children’s Service Board itself, an auxiliary of Children’s Memorial Hospital, working to further the Hospital’s mission of service to children and families throughout Chicagoland. Jane actively supported Chuck over the years as he built Sloan Valve Company into one of the most successful, privately-owned businesses in Chicago.


Another of the many things the


Ugly System Competition brought to light is that it’s probably not a good idea to pipe an entire boiler room in


phc january 2011 www.phcnews.com


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