NEFA Dinner Meeting: May 12, 2009

"A Lifetime in Franchising" Presented by Dick Rennick, Team Rennick Palm Springs, CA

Dick Rennick is the founder and past CEO of American Leak Detection, a Palm Springs, California-based high-tech service firm with more than 360 franchise units in 41 states and a dozen foreign countries. He pioneered the concept of "leak detection without destruction."

For more than 30 years, he has helped to revolutionize the leak detection industry by developing high-tech, non-invasive equipment to find hidden water, sewer, oil, petroleum and air leaks. From swimming pool and water feature cracks to concealed plumbing systems, the smallest leak or pipe defect is located by leak specialists using the most advanced, sensitive electronic tools - without bashing holes in floors, walls, ceilings or digging up yards, roadways and parking lots.

Recognized as one of the leading experts in the franchise community, Rennick is often tapped by other franchise systems such as the Dwyer Group, Great Harvest Bakeries, Roto-Rooter, Two Men and a Truck and others to evaluate their franchise business model and recommend improvements to their programs and processes.

Today he is not only assisting other companies but recently helped Estrada Strategies, a concept that trains, coaches and monitors business executives and owners, to franchise their business.

Rennick has been an active member of the world's oldest and largest trade association representing the franchise sector for more than two decades. He was appointed Chairman of the International Franchise Association Board of Directors for the 2005 term and Chairman of the IFA Educational Foundation in 2004. He founded the association's Franchise Emergency Action Team, a non-profit network that mobilizes the franchise community to help people affected by disasters, and currently serves on the board's executive committee.

Rennick has appeared on television and radio programs as a franchise expert and been quoted in such publications as BusinessWeek, Financial Times, Inc., Kiplinger's and the Washington Post.

Rennick was named the IFA's Entrepreneur of the Year for 1997/1998 and the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers Franchisor of the Year for 1998. The University of Texas at El Paso has honored him with three awards-1996 Outstanding Franchisor, 1997 International Franchise and 2000 Franchising Innovation.

For his pioneering and innovative technology, the Spirit of Entrepreneur Technology Award was presented to him in 2004 by a group composed of members from California State University, San Bernardino; Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship; and Riverside Press Enterprise. He has also received a Certified Franchise Executive designation from the IFA.

Rennick's personal and business philosophy can be summed up in a single word-TEAM, Together Everyone Achieves More.