---
title: "AtWork Franchise Owner Named Franchisee of Excellence by Franchise Business Review"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/84b7adbb-57df-4bb3-9d88-3b51faec66d4
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20260225_atwork_franchise_owner_named_franchisee_of_excellence_by_franchise_business.html
category: "Staffing"
industry: "Business Services"
segment: "Staffing"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-02-25T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T22:32:28.609Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1542744095-291d1f67b221?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# AtWork Franchise Owner Named Franchisee of Excellence by Franchise Business Review

**TL;DR:** AtWork franchise owner David Walker has been named a 2026 Franchisee of Excellence Award recipient by Franchise Business Review for his exceptional leadership and commitment to his team and community. Walker's AtWork Columbia location has achieved significant business results despite industry decline.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-02-25. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20260225_atwork_franchise_owner_named_franchisee_of_excellence_by_franchise_business.html).*

## Story

COLUMBIA, SC. – AtWork® proudly announces that David Walker, owner of AtWork Columbia, South Carolina, has been named a 2026 Franchisee of Excellence Award recipient by Franchise Business Review. This honor recognizes top-performing franchise owners who demonstrate exceptional leadership, financial performance, and commitment to their teams and communities. David is one of only 50 recipients of this coveted award.

A former educator with more than 17 years in teaching and school leadership, Walker transitioned into franchise ownership to broaden his impact in the community. Since joining AtWork, he has built a people-first business rooted in trust, service, and meaningful employment.

Under David’s leadership, AtWork Columbia has achieved extraordinary business results. His performance stands out even more given that much of this growth occurred during a period when the staffing industry overall experienced decline. Leveraging his deep ties to local schools, Walker has helped place hundreds of individuals into school-related roles, earning long-standing trust within his local district.

“David represents the very best of AtWork,” said Jason Leverant, President and COO of AtWork. “His leadership, heart for people, and ability to drive growth while making a real difference is exactly what this award is meant to recognize. We’re so proud he’s part of the AtWork family.”

Known for his servant leadership style, Walker fosters a family-like culture where employees feel valued and supported. He remains deeply involved in mentoring youth through his church and local community, continuing his lifelong commitment to education and service.

The Franchisee of Excellence Award from Franchise Business Review celebrates franchise owners who consistently go above and beyond for their teams, customers, and communities. David Walker’s recognition reflects not only exceptional business performance, but also a legacy of service that continues to change lives in Columbia and beyond.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- franchise ownership (topic)
- Multi-Unit (sector)
- community service (topic)
- franchise award (topic)
- Franchise Business Review (publication)
- staffing industry (topic)
- AtWork (company)
- Jason Leverant (person)
- leadership award (topic)
- David Walker (person)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20260225_atwork_franchise_owner_named_franchisee_of_excellence_by_franchise_business.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/84b7adbb-57df-4bb3-9d88-3b51faec66d4).