Skip to content

Ponoka business owners win franchisee of the year award

A local janitorial services business was recently awarded the parent company’s 2018 franchisee of the year award.
16895915_web1_Jan-Pro-1

A local janitorial services business was recently awarded the parent company’s 2018 franchisee of the year award.

Maricel and Stephan Espano of Ponoka were honoured at Jan-Pro International’s (JPI’s) 2019 conference in Amelia Island, Florida in March. The award is given to the most outstanding business owners within the Jan-Pro system.

The Espanos were selected from over 8,000 franchisees in 16 countries and are only the second franchisee in Canada to receive the award.

The couple were given an all expense paid trip to the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Florida for the conference as well as a cash reward.

The closest Jan-Pro office is two hours away in Calgary but that didn’t stop the Espanos, who were selected for the award based on outstanding service levels, adherence to the Jan-pro franchise model, relationships with customers and obstacles overcome in their personal lives.

Maricel’s acceptance speech to the almost 300 delegates in attendance outlined the care and dedication they strive for every day in serving their customers.

She also discussed some of the hardships that they’ve endured and how becoming a JAN-PRO Franchisee has significantly changed their lives. Maricel also shared how being a Jan-Pro franchisee has given her the self confidence to approach her customers and offer solutions to issues that they see during their nightly cleaning.

It was a deeply emotional speech that many of the Espano’s relatives in Canada and the Philippines streamed live. It was definitely one of the highlights of the conference. Introducing the Espanos to accept their award was Bruce Weaver, the owner of the Jan-Pro offices in Calgary and Edmonton. In his introduction, Bruce spoke about the amazing success the Espanos have achieved since they joined Jan-Pro.

“Maricel and Stephen display a caring attitude that is truly appreciated by their customers. Whether it’s bringing in a home cooked lunch or conducting additional complimentary services, Maricel and Stephen try to make a positive mark on their customers business every day. Knowing their personal story makes their achievements all the more enjoyable to witness. We’re definitely proud to have them represent JAN-PRO in Central Alberta.”

Jan-Pro is a commercial cleaning franchise company founded in 1991 and has offices in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Mexico and Brazil. Jan-Pro Canada was established in 1995 and now has 20 locations across Canada making it the largest commercial cleaning franchise in Canada.



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I’m Emily Jaycox, the editor of Ponoka News and the Bashaw Star. I’ve lived in Ponoka since 2015 and have over seven years of experience working as a journalist in central Alberta communities.
Read more