Neighborly’s Mary Kennedy Thompson Receives Crystal Compass Honor

Neighborly’s Mary Kennedy Thompson Receives IFA’s

Women’s Franchise Committee Crystal Compass Honor

WACO, Texas (February 20, 2017) – Mary Kennedy Thompson, CFE, chief operating officer (COO) of Franchise Brands, Neighborly, formerly Dwyer Group, was honored with the Crystal Compass Award for leadership by the International Franchise Association’s Women’s Franchise Committee during the association’s 57^th annual convention in Las Vegas.

“This is an incredible honor both for what the award represents and the remarkable men and women I join who have been honored before me,” Thompson said. “I credit being surrounded by a hard-working team and a company with great systems in place in my ability to lead successfully.”

The IFA’s Women’s Franchise Committee bestows its Crystal Compass upon an individual within the franchising community who epitomizes the ideals of leadership. Recipients of the award have earned reputations for leadership by making significant contributions within their respective franchise organizations, the franchising community in general, and in their local communities.

January 29, 2017 – Mary Kennedy Thomspon, COO of Neighborly; Nancy Bigley, Bottle & Bottega CEO

Thompson has been a leader in cultivating franchise relationships within the franchise industry. Her responsibilities call on her to bring 10 brands together for improved processes, sharing of best practices, integrating three brands new to the company and coaching four new brand presidents on how to fill their role and best lead their brands. Under Thompson’s disciplined leadership in leading a team of teams, Neighborly has grown by more than 50 percent including strong same store sales growth.

Prior to joining Neighborly, Thompson held roles as the president of Cookies by Design® and Mr. Rooter®. Before joining the franchising industry, Thompson served for eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a logistics officer and achieved the rank of captain.

In 2013, the IFA awarded Thompson the Bonny Levine Award, IFA’s highest award for women who mentor other women and have made an impact on franchising. Thompson held the leadership position of past chair of the IFA VetFran committee a few years ago. During her term, she helped lead and launch Operation Enduring Opportunity where the IFA/VetFran partnered with the First Lady, Michelle Obama and her Hiring Our Heroes program. Franchising pledged to hire 75,000 veterans into franchising by 2014. The initiative achieved more than double the goal by 2015.

About Neighborly®:

Neighborly, based in Waco, Texas, is a holding company of 14 franchise businesses, each selling and supporting a different franchise under the following service marks: Aire Serv®, Glass Doctor®, The Grounds Guys®, Five Star Painting®, Molly Maid®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Handyman®, Mr. Rooter® (Drain Doctor® in the UK), ProTect Painters®, Rainbow International®, Locatec®, and Window Genie®. Collectively, these independent franchise concepts offer customers worldwide a broad base of residential and commercial services. In addition, Neighborly operates glass shops in New England under the Portland Glass® and Cumberland County Glass® brand names. Neighborly is a portfolio company of The Riverside Company®, a global private equity firm. The firm’s international portfolio includes more than 75 companies. More information on Neighborly, or its franchise concepts, is available at www.dwyergroup.com.

Neighborly is also on Twitter at @DwyerGroup.

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For more information, contact:

Melissa Rubin, BizCom Associates

(214) 306-7421/ [email protected]