The Huntington Company, an international franchisor for industry-leading retail and restoration drycleaners, has added Steve Lajiness and Josh Titler to the team as franchise development executives.
“These two highly experienced professionals have a substantial amount of franchise sales expertise that will enable them to contribute to the future growth of our brands, namely Martinizing and CRDN, the Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network,” said Wayne Wudyka, Chief Executive Officer of The Huntington Company.
Lajiness’ 30-year career includes management, training, operations and sales. Previously, he served as Vice President of Franchising at Service Brands International, handling Molly Maid, Mr. Handyman and ProTect Painters, following the same position at Electronic Restoration Services (ERS), where he helped launch ERS from conception. Lajiness also was Director of Franchise Development for BELFOR Franchise Group, launching the DUCTZ and HOODZ franchises, after three years as a business consultant with Molly Maid.
Titler joins The Huntington Company after a decade in business and franchise development for national brands that include ProTect Painters, Seniors Helping Seniors, DUCTZ and HOODZ. His experience includes recruiting, training and franchise support encompassing sales, IT and operations.
“This team will be involved with franchise development for all of our brands going forward, creating opportunities for new owners and current Partners who are considering expansion, splitting off territory or selling their business,” Wudyka said. “Working with an expansive broker network, the team will target entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on our opportunities as well as those current business owners who see the value in converting to one of our brands. We now are in a solid position to strategically and systematically expand our global reach that already exceeds 750 locations.”
In November 2014, The Huntington Company acquired Martinizing and Dry Cleaning Station to build upon its expansion of retail drycleaning brands including Pressed4Time, a door-to-door pick-up and delivery service, added in May 2014, and the 1-800-DryClean franchise system in 2012, which was the organization’s first retail-oriented drycleaning franchise. The 1-800-DryClean system provides convenient and affordable pick-up and delivery service for neighborhood residents and office workers in 22 states. In between the two acquisitions, the company launched bizziebox, a revolutionary drycleaning franchise concept that integrates mobile technology with a locker-based pick-up and delivery service to provide drycleaning and laundry services for tenants of office buildings and residential properties.
Wudyka launched CRDN, the Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network, in 2001, which is the largest franchise network of insurance textile restoration providers in the U.S. Serving the U.S., Canada and the U.K., CRDN restores garments and textiles damaged by fire, smoke, water and other contaminants. With more than 150 franchises and annual sales in excess of $100 million, CRDN is comprised of some of the largest and most prominent drycleaners in North America.
The Huntington Company and its affiliates are privately held companies located in Berkley, Michigan. The companies that make up the family of brands are Huntington Cleaners & Shirt Laundry, Huntington Woods, Michigan; Huntington Window Fashions, Troy, Michigan; and Wesch Cleaners, Birmingham, Michigan; as well as the 1-800-DryClean, bizziebox, Pressed 4 Time, Martinizing, Dry Cleaning Station and Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network franchises. To learn more, visit website.
