PuroClean's Joe Thomas named an IFA Franchisee of the Year

This week, the International Franchise Association, the oldest and largest global organization focused on franchising, announced Joe Thomas of PuroClean as a 2026 Franchisee of the Year. He will be honored along with other winners at the IFA’s upcoming Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC.

Thomas is a co-owner of six PuroClean locations distributed across four different states: Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, and Florida. He is also the leader of the brand’s National Response Team, an inner circle of franchise owners specifically focused on providing mitigation and restoration services to customers as soon as possible after damaging events.

“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 recognizes the team’s hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving our community during their most vulnerable moments,” Thomas said. “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.”

The IFA’s Franchisee of the Year Award recognizes franchise owners who make a real difference in their communities, build strong teams, and embody entrepreneurial spirit. It also celebrates owner-operators who go out of their way to support fellow franchisees and make their franchise system better overall. Thomas has embodied those principles by helping launch the brand’s NRT to improve the entire system’s ability to support clients when their needs are highest.

Thomas and other IFA Franchisees of the Year will be presented with their awards during a luncheon on September 15 and will receive further recognition throughout the upcoming summit in DC.