---
title: "DreamMaker Founder Continues Family Commitment to Veteran Entrepreneurship"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/e13395b0-fcf9-4b56-9d5f-14839a9ef106
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20230503_dreammaker_founder_continues_family_commitment_to_veteran_entrepreneurship.html
category: "Remodel & surfaces"
industry: "Home Services"
segment: "Remodel & surfaces"
published: 2023-05-03T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T20:09:25.460Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# DreamMaker Founder Continues Family Commitment to Veteran Entrepreneurship

**TL;DR:** DreamMaker founder Doug Dwyer has joined the committee of the IFA's nonprofit VetFran program, which helps veterans become franchise owners. Nearly 15% of franchisees in the U.S. are veterans.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-05-03. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20230503_dreammaker_founder_continues_family_commitment_to_veteran_entrepreneurship.html).*

## Key facts

- Doug Dwyer joins VetFran committee
- 15% of US franchisees are veterans
- VetFran helps veterans become franchise owners

## Story

## VetFran program overview

VetFran is a program that educates veterans about how their military experiences and skills set them up to be great franchise owners when they return to civilian life. Nearly 15% of franchisees in the U.S. are veterans.

This is particularly meaningful to Doug because his father, Don Dwyer Sr., was the founder of VetFran in 1991.

Don Dwyer served during the Korean War. In the years after his release from the military, he started his own franchising company. Then he had an idea - franchisors could give discounts to veterans who want to buy franchises - and he started VetFran.

After Don’s death, VetFran became inactive for some years. Then Don’s daughter, Dina Dwyer-Owens, stepped in. Dina was on the IFA Board of Directors, and she recommended that IFA restart VetFran. The IFA agreed, and the program has grown ever since.

## Family legacy continues

“I am honored to be a part of VetFran and my father’s legacy,” Doug Dwyer says. “What started with the simple desire of one man to help fellow veterans sparked a program that has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families, and is still growing to this day.”

One VetFran program beneficiary is Air Force Veteran Nate Coombs, who owns DreamMaker of Ogden, Utah.

Coombs recently won the National Association of Remodeling Industry’s regional 2023 Contractor of the Year award for outstanding remodeling work. In 2014, he was recognized as DreamMaker’s Top Franchise.

A lot of Coombs’ remodeling work is for veterans, the elderly, and the disabled, such as making modifications that make their homes easier and safer to live in, including wheelchair ramps and stair lifts as well as cabinets and appliances designed to be more accessible for those with special needs.

DreamMaker’s connection to the VetFran program is aligned with the company’s Code of Values™, which commits to treating others with respect and integrity.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Home Services (sector)
- franchise ownership (topic)
- IFA (company)
- VetFran (company)
- DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen (company)
- veteran entrepreneurship (topic)
- Doug Dwyer (person)
- nonprofit program (topic)

---
Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20230503_dreammaker_founder_continues_family_commitment_to_veteran_entrepreneurship.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/e13395b0-fcf9-4b56-9d5f-14839a9ef106).