The International Franchise Association (IFA) recently awarded its 2021 Hall of Fame Award to Dina Dwyer-Owens, CFE, former chairwoman and CEO of Neighborly. The Hall of Fame Award is the oldest and most prestigious award conferred by IFA, given to a franchisor or franchisee who has contributed significantly to the advancement of franchising and to the benefit of the franchising community.

“Throughout her career and in all the ways she gives back, Dina Dwyer-Owens exemplifies a servant leader whose impact on franchising will be felt for generations,” said Matthew Haller, president and CEO of the IFA. “She is a trailblazer in the business world and has used her success to provide opportunities to others – what franchising is all about.”

The Hall of Fame Award, given at IFA’s 62nd Annual Convention in San Diego, recognizes an individual’s contributions to franchising through successful franchising programs, innovative activities within franchising and service to the IFA. These individuals represent the very best in franchising. Dwyer-Owens’ award marks the first father and daughter to be in the IFA Hall of Fame and the first individual woman to be inducted.

“My three pillars in life have been my faith, my family and franchising,” said Dwyer-Owens. “As I enter this prestigious community of Hall of Fame recipients, I do not do so alone or on my own merit, but by the grace of God with the many outstanding mentors, colleagues and friends who helped show me the way. To be recognized for helping this industry in return is the gift of a lifetime.”

Dwyer-Owens was selected for her business acumen, for her involvement in IFA, and the ways she continues to improve the franchising industry and community. She embodies living and leading with values, growing a team across top-notch service brands that propelled The Dwyer Group and franchising at-large to a national and international level. The company she led, the Dwyer Group, now Neighborly, has become the largest organization of service brands around the world.

Dwyer-Owens has been actively involved in the IFA and the IFA Foundation, serving as chairwoman of the IFA Board, as well as chair of the VetFran Committee. She has been a strong advocate for protecting the franchising industry and was the 2001 recipient of the Bonny LeVine Award and the 2011 Crystal Compass Award.

Dwyer-Owens grew up in franchising under her father Don Dwyer’s guidance and has been part of the franchising community for more than 40 years, 15 of those years as the leader of Neighborly. The author of two books “Live R.I.C.H.” and “Values, Inc.,” she champions the message to the business community and the world at-large to live and lead with a strong code of values as one's guide. She resides in Texas and is a daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother to a growing family as her biggest fan club.  

About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 775,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.2 million direct jobs, $787.7 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost three percent of the gross domestic product. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.