From April 13–15, franchise owners of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, DRYmedic and STOP Restoration, Mister Sparky, and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and their teams joined Authority Brands team members and vendor partners in Reno, NV, for the Trades Brands Conference.
Three high-impact days were grounded in a clear theme: Driving Performance. Through general sessions, brand-specific deep dives, and peer-led discussions, the focus stayed consistent: elevating execution, strengthening leadership, and turning ideas into action.
“What I am most excited about for the conference this year is for the franchise owners in the markets to get to meet each other, to learn about each other’s businesses, and to drive referrals,” said Steve Clemente, President & Chief Operating Officer of the Trades Brands.
The conference kicked off with a Welcome Reception, bringing everyone together to meet new owners, reconnect with fellow franchisees, and set the tone for three days of growth and innovation.
“I am most excited, as a new franchisee, about connecting with other franchisees we can learn from,” said Kyle Fennell, DRYmedic of Marietta, GA, during the welcome reception. “As well as Benjamin Franklin Plumbing partners that can send us referrals.”
For Steve Minicucci from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Andover, CT, the conference programming was the part of the event he was most looking forward to. “I like the way they set it up with the Tracks program for people where they are in their business,” he said. “I hope it will produce some great knowledge to take home and implement in my business.”
Day two opened with a focused General Session centered on priorities for the year ahead. The message was straightforward and actionable — drive the right behaviors, deliver a differentiated customer experience, and let quality speak for itself.
Attendees also heard from keynote speaker and Monster Truck driver Bryce Kenny, who challenged them to rethink growth through his GEAR framework—Growth, Engagement, Acceleration, and Risk. His takeaways: fuel yourself for growth, believe it until you become it, and remember that success is shaped by the decisions made along the way —sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.
“One thing I really enjoyed from this morning’s General Session was Bryce Kenny, Monster Truck Driver. He said a lot of things that really hit home,” said Brian Burton from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Scottsdale, AZ. “In particular, it was ‘Don’t Waste Your Pain,’ talking about being in the rut of the business and going from the uneducated optimist to the educated pessimist on your way back up to the educated optimist. And he said, ‘Don’t Waste Your Pain.” So, don’t give up when you’re hurting. Get your lesson from it. And then move into that educated optimism.”
In the afternoon, owners moved into customized track breakout sessions built directly from franchisee feedback. Each track created targeted conversations, practical insights, and peer connections around shared priorities.
“It’s always good to bounce ideas off of other operators and owners,” said Mark Hudson from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, DRYmedic, Mister Sparky, and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning of Cincinnati, OH. “We had great sessions talking about developing culture in your teams all the way to financing and marketing. It’s always a joy coming to conference.”
The day wrapped with the Vendor Showcase and Happy Hour—a practical way to continue conversations and connect with partners offering solutions for the field.
“We made great connections with some of the vendors,” said Mario Martinez of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky, and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning from Tampa, FL. “There are a lot of opportunities for us to fix some of the challenges that we’ve been having. We’re super excited to continue those conversations.”
Our final day began with Regional Market Discussion Groups, where owners across brands were given time with fellow franchise partners in their respective regions to share ideas, referral opportunities, and real-world challenges.
From there, the conference shifted into brand-specific sessions designed to help teams align on best practices and strategies they can bring back home.
On the final evening, attendees gathered for the Gala Awards Dinner to celebrate outstanding performance and recognize standout leaders across the network. Congratulations to the 2025 Franchisee of the Year award recipients:
- Benjamin Franklin Plumbing: Jeff Hunter from Sherman, TX
- DRYmedic: Jesus Baron from Alpharetta, GA
- Mister Sparky: Kristen and Lee Lewis from Rock, WV
- One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning: Brad Peet from Ramsey, MN
The conference closed with the AfterGLOW Party—an energizing sendoff to conclude three days of shared learning and momentum.
Events like the Trades Brands Conference play a critical role in franchising – bringing owners, partners, and teams together to exchange best practices, tackle common challenges, and learn from one another.
“One thing that resonated with me was that I have a support system,” said Gerald Talbot from Mister Sparky of Chattanooga, TN. “Growing this business is not like being the lone ranger. I’ve got a group of intelligent people that are helping me become successful as I am able to help others technicians and other business owners become successful.”
Diverse perspectives help align the system, spark new ideas, and equip each brand with strategies to meet evolving consumer demands. Thank you to our franchise owners, vendor partners, and internal teams that made this event a success!
Follow the links below to learn more about Benjamin Franklin Plumbing:
Follow the links below to learn more about DRYmedic Restoration:
Follow the links below to learn more about Mister Sparky:
Follow the links below to learn more about One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning:
