Thanking Our Troops and Creating Stellar Business Owners in the Process

October 31, 2016

Examining success stories of veteran franchisees, including Steve Rotay of the Paul Davis brand, Window Genie’s Mike Angle and Cliff Cornell of CertaPro.

By Rhonda Sanderson

Steve Rotay is what one might call a military star of Paul Davis. The restoration giant has been operating with a stellar reputation for around 50 years. Franchisees like Steve Rotay are the “why.” He is one of 375 independent franchisees in the Paul Davis system operating around the country. He signed his franchise agreement in 2000 for Lancaster and Lebanon, Pa., and has since added several more territories stretching through New Jersey and Philadelphia, employing 70 people.

Rotay served in the U.S. Marine Corps and said the organization taught him discipline and strength, pure and simple. But it was his next step in life, working in sales for a Swiss company that really helped him learn how to set up his hugely successful Paul Davis franchise.

“In a global company,” said Rotay, “there is little room for excuses and the pace is fast. This company operated in 26 countries and was managed from Switzerland. Results and statistics were gathered and shared with everyone. We were constantly accountable for our actions and performance, and had to project to a tee our planned objectives and performance for the following quarter and year. Transferring that work experience to my Paul Davis life was invaluable. I had the skill of developing a plan with short-term measuring points. I was able to set weekly goals and not be distracted by ‘noise’ that would prevent me from achieving my objective. That along with the discipline and mental toughness learned in the Marine Corps, brought my Paul Davis franchise to where it is today.”

Rotay had his mind set on “doing the right thing” and giving back to his community. In fact, Rotay ended his career with the Swiss company due to the fact that they wanted him to take his family and move to California to become the president of its U.S. office. Even with that huge opportunity offered, Rotay and his family had permanent roots in New Jersey/Philadelphia with extended family and many friends. His exit from the global job brought him to purchase a Paul Davis franchise, which continues to give back to the community.

“I took advantage of Paul Davis’ many perks for veterans including a $5,000 veterans’ discount, the technical training and certifications delivered through its International Training Center and the company’s financing program, which allows vets to preserve capital for operations,” said Rotay.

“Our No. 1 focus is on delivering outstanding customer service and constantly giving back to the community we serve,” he added.

“The things that I’m most proud of are the culture and values that my employees and the company have. The Marines and Paul Davis both have the highest standards. The training, the regimentation and discipline was what I needed to continue and succeed in business.”

Window Genie: Mike Angle

Mike Angle served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1980-1985. After working for United Airlines for 17 years, the veteran decided that it was time for a change and opened a Window Genie franchise that serves several areas including south Indianapolis.

Window Genie is a Cincinnati-based company founded by Rik Nonelle in 1994. It is famous for its “big three” services — window cleaning, window tinting and pressure washing.

Angle leveraged leadership skills earned from his military service to his franchise.

Angle’s son, Joseph, an E-5 Marine with eight years of service under his belt, joined his proud father and mother at Window Genie last June.

Through IFA’s VetFran program, many veterans are already qualified for discounts and other breaks from franchisors who are grateful for those who serve. But several companies offer additional support and items for veterans.

For Window Genie, some of that support includes special items for vets, such as the equivalent of a $7,500 discount when 15,000 households are added when purchasing a franchise. Window Genie also offers a custom vehicle wrap that has a camouflage motif and stars and stripes over the hood.

Franchisees are encouraged to join the company’s Windows 4 Wishes program. There are a variety of choices for giving back to the community through this program, one of which encourages and enables local community service by each franchisee. Some choose to offer free window cleaning to a local returning vet and his family. Others regularly clean the windows of a Fisher House Foundation in their areas (find out more about this organization which aids wounded veterans’ families at fisherhouse.org.)

Dick Stieren, a Window Genie franchisee servicing Omaha, took it a step further. The former Burger King multi-unit owner started his Window Genie business in 2014 knowing full well he was going to find just the right veteran to help him run it.

After interviewing hundreds of vets he chose Wade Jensen, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Lucky Wade will actually inherit the business from Stieren as he closes in on retirement, taking full advantage of the franchise community’s generosity toward veterans.

CertaPro: Cliff Cornell

Philadelphia-based CertaPro Painters is another franchisor who is a very active member of VetFran. Aside from providing vets with a 10 percent discount on the franchise fee, the company also offers financing for half of the franchise fee. CertaPro Painters’ biggest contribution, however, is its system-wide participation in Homes For Our Troops, a non-profit organization that builds specially adapted homes for service members who have been severely injured in combat operations since Sept. 11, 2001.

All homes are built at no cost to the veterans, through the donations of companies and individuals. The homes provide maximum freedom of movement for the Veterans and the ability to live more independently.

Cliff Cornell became a small-business owner when he opened his CertaPro Painters in College Station, Texas. The 50-year-old Cornell is a 29-year Army veteran who is currently serving in the Army Reserve after completing combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to his monthly Reserve commitment, Cornell — a lieutenant colonel — is also enrolled in the U.S. Army War College, where he is expected to earn his Master of Strategic Studies degree in July 2017.

“I am attending right now as part of my professional military education. I believe in constantly improving myself, and once the oil and gas industry began to collapse, it was time to choose another career path,” shared Cornell. “I did my due diligence and this company had the exact culture I was looking for. I juggle the continuing education and the work just fine and enjoy both.”

According to 2016 statistics released by IFA, 129 franchises have been opened by veterans since March 2016 using the VetFran program and other discounts provided by the
franchise community.

This brings the total to 1,499 veterans who operate franchises via the VetFran program, with 400 IFA member companies taking part in the program. Matching veterans to businesses of their own is possibly the best “thank you” we can give them.

Rhonda Sanderson is the founder of Sanderson & Associates. The Chicago-based firm provides a variety of franchise consulting services.