The contractors at the conference represented approximately half of the total of 61 owners in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. Aire Serv is a franchise company owned by the Dwyer Group, Waco, TX. The Dwyer Group has more than 950 franchise businesses, representing carpet cleaning, plumbing, appliance repair, and maid service businesses, among others.

Attendees learned about new products and services, including recruiting and hiring workers, sales training, and marketing-advertising. Aire Serv president Roger Goertz presided over the conference and introduced some of the company’s award-winning contractors at a special ceremony.

Goertz said that the company has “a lot of good internal validators” and one of the awards “recognizes people who have worked hard on referrals.”

Contractor David Coucke of Aire Serv in Austin, TX, was recognized as the Recruiter of the Year. Goertz said this about Coucke: “He challenges us from time to time and wants us to improve our system.”

Other contractors and their employees were recognized with honors such as “Service Tech of the Year,” “Personal Achievement,” and “Franchisee of the Year.”

The award for top sales leader went to Aire Serv/Pitzer AC of Lake Havasu, AZ.

Other speakers at the conference included Larry Thornton, Aire Serv’s regional director of the western division and Doyle James, regional director of the eastern division. Thornton and James talked about private-label equipment and making franchises work through shared experiences.

David Farr, director of the U.K. Aire Serv franchise in Hampton, England, represented the company’s first venture into the European market. Farr added that contrary to the picture often painted of England, the weather can get into the 80s and remain there during the summer months.

Aire Serv has its sights set on aggressive growth in the coming months. The number of franchisees is expected to increase from the present 61 to around 80.