TL;DR
The Glass Guru celebrated franchise growth and honored top performers at its 2026 National Franchise Owners Convention, Rise Above, held in Frisco, Texas. The convention recognized outstanding franchise performance, including Lisa Chambers' location surpassing $1 million in annual revenue for three consecutive years.
National convention overview
October 14, 2026 // Franchising.com // Plano, Texas — The Glass Guru celebrated franchise growth, leadership and business excellence during its 2026 National Franchise Owners Convention, Rise Above, held October 5–7 at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas.
The two-and-a-half-day event brought together a top-ranked number of franchise owners from across the United States, including multi-unit owners, first-year franchisees and emerging business leaders, alongside corporate leadership, guest speakers and industry partners.
The convention provided opportunities for professional development, peer-to-peer learning, strategic collaboration and recognition of outstanding franchise performance, reflecting the network's continued focus on business growth and operational excellence.
“Rise Above is more than a convention theme. It reflects what our franchise owners are accomplishing every day. From first-year owners building strong businesses to established operators expanding their teams and markets, we're seeing what happens when entrepreneurial drive meets a proven system and a supportive network. I'm incredibly proud of what our owners continue to achieve,” said Dan Frey, Founder and President of The Glass Guru.
Franchise excellence awards
A highlight of the convention was the annual Franchise Excellence Awards Banquet, recognizing noteworthy achievements across the national network in leadership, marketing, operations, financial performance, business growth and brand excellence.
Among the honorees was Lisa Chambers of The Glass Guru of Mason, Ohio, who received the Phase 2 Business Improvement and Growth (BIG) Award. Chambers' location has surpassed $1 million in annual revenue for three consecutive years.
Erik Hilger of Charleston, South Carolina, received the Phase 3 BIG Award for advancing his business to an 11-employee operation, establishing designated management.
The Model Store Award was presented to Dave Hull of Roseville, California, home to The Glass Guru's original location. Working with the location's general manager and an interior designer, Hull transformed the facility with a professionally redesigned interior, updated branding and refreshed vehicle graphics. The revitalized location exemplifies the company's standards for brand presentation, operational excellence and customer experience.
The convention also recognized the next generation of franchise leadership. John and Elizabeth Crowe of East Louisville, Kentucky, received the 2026 Rising Star Award for outstanding first-year execution.
Michael Kugler, a multi-unit franchise owner operating in Austin North, Austin South and San Antonio, Texas, received The Glass Guru Leadership Award for his ongoing mentorship of fellow franchise owners, commitment to collaboration and contributions to the broader franchise network.
2025 Rising Star Award — Brian Garoutte, Apex, NC
Marketing Award — Rachael and Craig Bell, College Station, TX
Operations Award — TJ and Su Randhaw, Bellingham, WA
Finances Award — Steve Snead, Elk Grove, CA
Brand Champion/Ambassador Award — Kenny and Connie Meredith, Warner Robins, GA
Phase 1 BIG Award — Michael and Laurie Bean, Fort Collins, Colorado
Convention program and sponsors
The convention opened Monday evening with a welcome cocktail reception, followed by two days of presentations, collaborative discussions, educational sessions and opportunities for franchise owners to exchange proven business strategies.
Featured keynote speaker Jeff Salzenstein, former professional tennis player and performance coach, challenged attendees to embrace change, strengthen their leadership mindset and rise above the moments that matter most.
Professional emcee Mike DeJong brought energy and engagement to the program, helping connect the convention's messages of leadership, growth and achievement.
Owner-led breakout sessions explored local marketing, customer development, operational strategies and approaches to building stronger businesses, reinforcing the value of shared experience throughout the network.
More than 13 vendors and industry partners supported the convention, connecting franchise owners with products, technologies and business resources designed to enhance efficiency, customer service and local market growth.
Participating sponsors and partners included Sales Ask, Alside Windows, FieldPulse, Out of the Box Technology, Dallas Flat Glass, Future Glass, FHC, ScreenFab, CareerPlug, ProfitKeeper, Precision Frameworks, MyGlassTruck, Lewer Benefits, Birdeye, Yelp and ScreenCo.
The convention concluded Wednesday evening with an awards banquet, dinner and live band, bringing franchise owners, corporate leadership and industry partners together to celebrate the network's achievements and shared commitment to success.
From first-year franchise milestones to multi-unit leadership, million-dollar operations and investments in model locations, Rise Above 2026 highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit, collaborative culture and opportunities for continued growth within The Glass Guru franchise system.
In this story
This story was originally published in Franchising.com on October 14, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.
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