GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL FRANCHISEE ALEX TYLER NAMED 2026 IFA FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR

Tyler Ownership Group, operating 6 locations in Illinois, Oregon and Washington, receives national recognition

TROY, Mich., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldfish Swim School franchisee Alex Tyler of Tyler Ownership Group has been named a 2026 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association.

Tyler, who owns and operates six Goldfish Swim School locations across Illinois, Oregon and Washington, was honored during the IFA26 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., Sept. 14-16, for his excellence in entrepreneurship, community outreach, workforce development and service to others.

A Goldfish Swim School franchisee since 2013, Tyler is a former collegiate swimmer at Northwestern who turned his passion for the sport into a mission to teach children how to swim, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit and leadership the IFA award recognizes.

"Winning this award is an incredible honor, but the real reward has always been watching this work change lives, whether it's a Portland toddler swimming their first stroke or a teenager in Belize graduating high school because of the scholarship fund we built together," said Tyler. "None of this happens without the more than 200 team members across my six schools who show up every day and pour themselves into giving families a Golden Experience. This recognition belongs to them as much as it does to me."

In 2025, Tyler opened three new schools, including Goldfish's milestone 200th location, growing his portfolio to six and earning the brand's inaugural internal Franchisee of the Year Award after his new Portland schools won Best Swim Lessons in the 2026 PDX Parent Reader Favorites.

He now leads a team of 200-plus employees serving thousands of students annually and gives back through 13 years of Belize mission trips, a Gales Point scholarship foundation providing secondary school education for children in the remote Belize fishing village, and an annual "Candy Gram" fundraiser raising $15,000 to $20,000 a year for these efforts.

"Alex represents everything we hope for in a Goldfish Swim School franchisee," said Chris McCuiston, co-founder and CEO of Goldfish Swim School Franchising, LLC. "He has grown his business rapidly without losing sight of the quality and culture that defines our brand. From opening our 200th location to earning top honors in a competitive Portland market in his first year, Alex proves scale and excellence can go hand in hand. We couldn't be prouder to see him receive this well-deserved honor."

"Franchisees of the Year demonstrate what franchising is all about — individuals who have committed their lives and careers to the betterment of those around them, building something bigger than themselves," said Matt Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association. "Through their leadership, they create jobs and build careers, give back to their communities and support other franchisees, all while exemplifying the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of franchising. We are proud to recognize Alex with IFA's highest honor for individual franchisees and celebrate his commitment to making a difference both within his business and beyond."

Tyler was recognized at the Franchisee of the Year luncheon on Sept. 15. Visit goldfishswimschool.com/franchise-opportunities or call 248-801-1850 for detailed Goldfish Swim School franchise opportunities.

About Goldfish Swim School
Founded in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Troy, Michigan-based Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children aged 4 months to 12 years. Classes are led by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly environment using a research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay^Ⓡ. Our curriculum delivers guided, safety-focused lessons that help children make accelerated, measured progress in both swimming skills and confidence. Since opening its first franchised location in 2009, the brand has grown to over 200 Goldfish Swim School locations in over 40 states and Canada, with an additional 150-plus in development. Goldfish is ranked No. 78 overall in Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 and has been recognized as the No. 1 swimming lessons franchise for 10 consecutive years, was ranked No. 30 in Franchise Times' 2025 Fast & Serious List and is rated as a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review for 2026.

About The International Franchise Association:
Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 832,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $907.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.

Media Contact:
Rachel Tabacnic
[email protected]
817-329-3257

SOURCE Goldfish Swim School