Stratus Nashville Honored Ifa Franchisee Year Award

Stratus Building Solutions Regional Master Franchise of
Nashville, TN owners David Smith and Ed Lease were honored Tuesday, September
29th by the International Franchise Association and the Stratus Building
Solutions Corporate Team with its annual Franchisee of the Year Award. The
franchise owner-operators were recognized during the IFA’s Franchise Action
Network Annual Meeting for their outstanding performance and the
contributions they have made to enhance the growth and development of franchising
and the Stratus Building Solutions system.

“It has been an honor to work with David and Ed for the past
years. Through their exemplary loyalty to the franchise model and delivering
outstanding service to their customers and maintaining commitment in support
of their franchisees, both Dave and Ed continue to accomplish a high rate of
growth in their territory and we are excited to honor them with this award,”
said Afshin Cangarlu, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions Corporate.

In March of 2009, Lease and Smith opened their Stratus Master
Franchise in Nashville, TN. In the midst of a recession, both left friends
and family in Georgia for a new beginning in the Music City. The region
provided tremendous opportunity. With nearly 1.6 million people, there is an
extensive number of businesses to support this population including schools,
medical offices, professional buildings, retail, restaurants, warehouses and
more; all businesses that utilize commercial janitorial services. The
Nashville area has already provided the opportunity for substantial growth
which is reflected in Smith and Lease’s year over year profit
statements.

“Selecting a good market and following the model is very important
in the success of a Stratus Master Franchise,” states Smith.

Since the beginning, the two have been loyal to the Stratus model
and it has brought them enormous success, ranking in the top three producing
Stratus Master franchises since 2011. “We also proved that this is a solid
business model in a recession,” states Lease, recalling their successes in
the first years.

“Working with the Nashville team has been a pleasure and their
commitment to following the program has been a breath of fresh air,” says
Marvin Ashton, Vice President of Master Development at Stratus Building
Solutions Corporate office located in North Hollywood, CA.

“The strength of the U.S. economy significantly relies on the hard
work of franchisees,” said IFA Executive Vice President of Government
Relations & Public Policy Robert Cresanti. “IFA is proud to recognize
the outstanding efforts of David and Ed with the Franchisee of the Year Award
and thank them for their work in the promotion of franchising as well as for
their daily contributions that not only showcase how local business owners
propel the economy, but also foster community ties throughout the U.S.”