HouseMaster Presents Austin Cup Award to Brad and Kathy Horstman of Sioux Falls
South Dakota franchise owners recognized for their commitment to HouseMaster, receive award named in honor of founder Ken Austin, a home inspection pioneer
SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Nov. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HouseMaster owners in Sioux Falls, S.D., were recently recognized for their commitment to carrying the legacy of franchise founder and home inspection pioneer Ken Austin at HouseMaster's annual conference in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 17 - 20.
"This award is a very personal one for all of us in the HouseMaster family. Ken was influential not only in our franchise but throughout the entire home inspection industry," said Brad Horstman. "When Ken passed away in 2016, we lost a visionary. But we are so very fortunate that through his hard work and dedication, he left a foundation that continues to expand through the team led by his daughter and our president and CEO Kathleen Kuhn. We are fortunate to be a part of a franchise system that walks with us every step of the way and even more grateful to receive this year's Austin Cup."
HouseMaster President and CEO Kathleen Kuhn and the corporate team hosted the conference and event, honoring the success of franchise owners over the past year and celebrating their lasting impact on the home inspection industry. Many of HouseMaster owners that serve over 300 locations across the United States and Canada gathered in Georgia for the annual gathering.
"To know that my father's legacy continues in each and every one of our franchise owners means the world to my family," Kuhn said. "We present our Austin Cup to a franchise owner who understands the essence of who we are and what we're looking to accomplish — we are highly knowledgeable home inspectors who value our customers and aim to create businesses with significance. Brad and Kathy are highly deserving of this award and it was such an emotional experience to be able to share it with them."
On Ken Austin's legacy:
In 1971, Ken Austin discovered a great entrepreneurial opportunity as he was scanning the pages of The Wall Street Journal. He saw an ad for a company attempting to launch a home inspection franchise system nationwide. While no one at the time even knew what a home inspection was, he saw the potential in the concept. He bought in as a minority stockholder and immediately began learning and growing the business. Several years later, investors bought into the company and purchased his shares. Austin then launched AMC Property Evaluations, Inc. in Central New Jersey and grew the business to a large multi-inspector firm serving the tri-state area.
In 1976, he saw the need for the fledgling home inspection industry to create unifying standards and a clear scope of services. He contacted the few other home inspection companies in existence and suggested they meet to form an industry association. From this initiative, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) was born. In March of 1979, with the formula to succeed in the home inspection business in place, he began franchising under the HouseMaster trademark. HouseMaster was the first company to franchise in the home inspection industry.
HouseMaster quickly grew to be one of the most respected named in the industry and the nation's largest home inspection company. Under Austin's leadership, HouseMaster helped make home inspections an integral step in the home purchasing process.
In the same visionary spirit that led Austin to franchise HouseMaster, the company continues to move the home inspection industry forward. Attendees of this year's conference enjoyed sessions focused on new initiatives to help customers, including the unveiling of an industry-changing tool aided by highly accurate third-party data to estimate the cost of repairs on issues found during inspections. HouseMaster will announce details about that new feature before the end of 2018.
To connect with Brad and Kathy Horstman directly, call (605) 361-6000 or email [email protected].
About HouseMaster:
Founded in 1979 and Headquartered in Somerville, N.J., HouseMaster is the oldest and one of the largest home inspection companies in North America. With more than 315 franchised areas throughout the U.S. and Canada, HouseMaster is the most respected name in home inspections. For almost 40 years, HouseMaster has built upon a foundation of solid leadership and innovation with a continued focus on delivering the highest quality service experience to their customers and providing HouseMaster franchisees the tools and support necessary to do so. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of HM Services, LLC.
For more information please visit www.housemaster.com or call 732-469-6565.
Media Contact:
Bob Spoerl
[email protected]
(773) 453-2444
SOURCE HouseMaster
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