FullSpeed Automotive, home to flagship brands Grease Monkey, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service, and Kwik Kar, announces four franchisees who have been awarded the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) prestigious Franchisee of the Year Award. Grease Monkey Franchisees, Greg and Becky Parsons; and SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service Franchisees, Ken and Susan Giusti, were honored on March 1 at the 63rd IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV.
The Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by IFA’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchise owners from IFA member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.
“Greg, Becky, Ken, and Susan are great ambassadors of the Grease Monkey and SpeeDee brands, and we are proud that they are a part of our FullSpeed family,” said Ron Stilwell, president of FullSpeed Automotive. “Not only do they strive for their own success, but also share their knowledge with other franchisees across the systems. Their willingness to help others and deliver a superior customer experience makes them the gold standard of franchisees.”
Grease Monkey franchisees, Greg and Becky Parsons, opened their Grease Monkey location in Cypress, TX, in 2017. Over the past five years, they’ve done a great job of building the business and have shown double-digit increases each year. Their approach is to treat customers the way they want to be treated, and the guest experience at their center is second to none. The Parsons are always willing to step in and help new franchisees and make themselves available to answer any questions. They have opened their doors to help train new employees or franchisees who are sent their way as well as participating in testing services or products to help improve the brand. At the Grease Monkey 2019 Annual Convention, Greg was selected to be one of five franchisees on the owner expert panel. These franchisees were chosen because of their success and willingness to share best practices with the entire franchise audience.
“Becky and I are both appreciative of Grease Monkey for nominating us for this award,” said Greg Parsons. “It is a huge honor to be chosen for this prestigious award in the franchising industry. We have always strived to make every customer’s experience the best it can be, and it is great that our success has been recognized by our peers.”
Ken and Susan Giusti have been SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service franchisees for 30 years, opening their first location in 1993 in Fremont, CA, and then a second location in Vallejo, CA, in 2000. Ken has been an active member of SpeeDee’s National Franchisee Advisory Council (NFAC), most recently as president and chairperson, in order to provide assistance to franchisees and further his own insights. The Giustis also regularly volunteer to be beta/pilot testers for a multitude of SpeeDee initiatives, giving extensive time to ensure these programs are a good fit before launching to the rest of the system. As the franchise landscape evolves, they continue to establish themselves as industry leaders with real-time awareness of any changes taking place, looking for opportunities to make the entire SpeeDee system better.
“It is an honor to be included in this list of amazing franchisees and chosen by the IFA,” said Ken Giusti, “I am very thankful for this award, and I have a great team and partner that I would not be in this position without – many of them working for me for over two decades. I believe that investing in training and technology for my employees has been a key reason for our success.”
Alongside franchisee accolades, FullSpeed Automotive has also been recognized recently, for the fifth year in a row Grease Monkey (#6) and SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service (#14) have been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Franchise for Veterans. Both brands also ranked in Entrepreneur’s 2023 Franchise 500 with Grease Monkey at #182 and SpeeDee at #415, making it their seventh and fifth consecutive year being included, respectively.
With a goal of 1,000 units by the end of 2023, FullSpeed Automotive is looking to bring on qualified and engaged individuals seeking single, multi-unit, and conversion opportunities. When franchisees invest with FullSpeed Automotive brands, they’re investing in an organization with a strong culture, solid systems, and proven business models backed with a combined 70+ years of experience in providing quality car care in the industry. FullSpeed Automotive’s acquisition strategy has also played a key role in nationwide expansion and remains a strong business focal point for growth.
For more information on Grease Monkey or SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service, visit greasemonkeyfranchise.com, speedeeoilfranchise.com
