SafeSplash + SwimLabs Franchisee Leila O’Brien Recognized as a 2023 Franchise Rock Star by Franchise Business Review

FORT MILL, SC– Streamline Brands, the industry’s largest franchisor and operator of swim schools, celebrates franchisee Leila O’Brien, owner of SafeSplash + SwimLabs Swim School in Fort Mill, after being named a 2023 Franchise Rock Star by Franchise Business Review.

Each year, Franchise Business Review honors franchise owners who set exceptional examples for achieving success within the franchise model. The Franchise Rock Stars were nominated by their franchise brand’s leadership in one of eight categories including: Giving Back, Women, Millennials, Veterans, Family-Owned, “Freshmen,” Top-Performers, and Multi-Unit Owners. O’Brien was selected from over 36,000 franchisees, representing more than 360 brands, and earned recognition in the Women-Owned category.

As a mother of two lovely daughters, O’Brien sought out a career shift that would allow her more flexibility to spend time with her family. This ultimately led her to the Streamline Brands portfolio and the opening of her swim school in 2019. With a 20-plus year background in banking, working the 9-5 grind, she developed critical financial acumen and a tremendous work ethic needed to be a successful entrepreneur.

Understanding the importance of learning how to swim safely and confidently, she was thrilled to bring the top-notch learn-to-swim curriculum of SafeSplash and the outstanding elite stroke analysis program of SwimLabs to the Fort Mill and Greater Charlotte area. Her mission was to create a swim school prioritizing community, and she has succeeded.

“It is such an honor to receive this prestigious industry recognition,” said O’Brien. “It validates what my team has been able to accomplish and where we’re heading. Streamline Brands has opened doors for me that I never thought were possible thanks to their amazing culture, support, a purpose-driven business model. Swim safety has become a passion, and one I have had the pleasure of sharing with my community. My hope for the future is to continue to expand and serve more communities, providing them with life skills for any age.”

Key to O’Brien’s ongoing success is her ability to create a culture of community among her team that is rooted in family values. She invests in her team and provides growth experiences that allow them to maximize their potential. By doing so, she’s created a purpose-driven environment where they care deeply about the children, and the lifesaving impact they’re making every day.

“Leila has provided tremendous value to Streamline Brands,” said Chris Harkness, President of Streamline Brands. “Her community driven attitude is just one attribute that has earned her this recognition and the title of our Franchisee of the Year in 2022. We are eager to see what is to come of her success, and watch as she continues to provide her community with a lifetime of water safety.”

O’Brien goes above and beyond to give back to the community. She’s partnered with organizations such as Swim Across America - that raises money for and hosts charity swims that fund cancer research and patient programs; Hope Floats – that partners with high-quality swim schools to provide scholarships for swimming lessons for children living in poverty, with special needs, etc.; in addition, she hosts various fun events at the school such as ‘Family Nights Out.’

“There are so many stories of inspiring franchise owners who are living their dreams of successful business ownership, that it was incredibly difficult to select this year’s Franchise Rock Stars,” said Michelle Rowan, president & COO of Franchise Business Review. “In the end, we chose individuals who truly exemplify a strong work ethic and a real commitment to their business and their communities. We are thrilled to recognize these Rock Stars as exceptional examples of achieving success within the franchise model.” 

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full list of 2023 Franchise Rock Stars.

For more information on Streamline Brands, its portfolio of swim schools, and franchise opportunities, please visit www.streamlinebrands.com or email [email protected]. 

About Streamline Brands®

Streamline Brands is the industry's largest franchisor and operator of swim schools. Streamline Brands and its franchisees operate schools in 34 states today under multiple brands: SafeSplash Swim School, Saf-T-Swim, Swimtastic Swim School, SwimLabs Swim School, Miller Swim School, AquaKids Swim School, AquaSafe Swim School and Ripples Swim School. The company was formed in 2005 and has been growing ever since through organic growth and acquisitions. Today, there are more than 250 schools open or scheduled to be open across the country. Streamline, a portfolio company of Youth Enrichment Brands, is majority owned by Roark Capital, a private equity firm headquartered in Atlanta. For more information about Streamline Brands or to learn about franchising opportunities with the company, please visit www.streamlinebrands.com.

About Franchise Business Review

Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and franchise employees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,200 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year online at http://www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com. To read our publications, visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/digital-guides/.