Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 24th September 2026 Issue no. 1227
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Joe Thomas of PuroClean named IFA Franchisee of the Year
The International Franchise Association has named Joe Thomas, co-franchise owner of six PuroClean locations across Michigan, Ohio, Georgia and Florida in the US and leader of the PuroClean National Response Team, as a 2026 Franchisee of the Year.
Thomas will be honoured at the IFA26 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., (being held September 14th -16th) at a luncheon on 15th, for being an outstanding franchise owner with excellence in entrepreneurship, community outreach, workforce development and service to others.
Nominated by their brand, the IFA Franchisee of the Year Awards are given to top franchisees from IFA member brands across industries and communities around the country.
"Franchisees of the Year demonstrate what franchising is all about - individuals who have committed their lives and careers to the betterment of those around them, building something bigger than themselves," explains Matt Haller, IFA president and CEO. "Through their leadership, they create jobs and build careers, give back to their communities, and support other franchisees - all while exemplifying the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of franchising.
“We are proud to recognise Joe with IFA's highest honour for individual franchisees and celebrate his commitment to making a difference both within his business and beyond."
The Franchisee of the Year awards recognise leading franchise owners for their community involvement, fostering a strong workforce, assisting their fellow franchisees when called upon, and embodying the entrepreneurial spirit. Thomas represents these principles through the PuroClean NRT, which he played an instrumental role in launching. The NRT brings together qualified PuroClean Franchise Owners from across the country to respond to large-scale disasters and catastrophic events, giving individual Franchise Owners access to the collective resources and expertise of the network when responding to large, high-margin losses.
Known for his compassionate approach to disaster recovery, Thomas has helped countless homeowners and businesses navigate challenging circumstances while building a purpose-driven team committed to service excellence. Through his dedication to leadership, community involvement and collaboration across the PuroClean network, Thomas has made a lasting impact on both the communities he serves and the franchise system as a whole.
He says:
"Receiving the IFA Franchisee of the Year Award is a deeply humbling validation of our entire team at PuroClean National Response Team and our core ability to solve complex problems. This Award recognises the team's hard work, dedication and unwavering commitment to serving our community during its most vulnerable moments.
"To me, this recognition is not just an individual accolade, but a testament to the culture of excellence, resilience and compassion we have built within our PuroClean franchise. It signifies that putting people first - both our customers and our team members - creates a lasting, positive impact that extends far beyond daily operations."
PuroClean is a world-class service brand for water damage mitigation, fire and smoke damage restoration, mould remediation and biohazard clean-up services, working with both residential customers and commercial clients across the US and Canada. Founded in 2001, PuroClean is a diverse, fast-growing network of over 500 North American franchise locations, each independently owned and operated. With a commitment to respond within two hours, the professionals at PuroClean are thoroughly screened, insured and trained in following the latest cutting-edge cleaning and restoration standards and practices.
https://www.puroclean.com | https://www.franchise.org
17th September 2026