SALT LAKE CITY — Griswold, a leader in non-medical home care franchising, recently wrapped up its 2026 National Franchise Conference, “Rising Together: From Roots to Summit,” held April 28-30 at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Franchisees, Home Office staff and strategic partners gathered from across the country for three days of education, collaboration, and celebration.
“Our theme this year really reflected who we are as an organization,” said Michael Slupecki, CEO of Griswold. “We always lean on our history, our shared values, and the foundation that Jean Griswold built, while asking ourselves how we’re going to use those strengths to reach new summits as a company. It was an incredible opportunity to bring the entire network together around that vision.”
The conference featured a carefully curated lineup of educational sessions, networking opportunities, and strategic discussions. “We received feedback from franchisees that the content was the best we’ve ever had,” Slupecki said. “Our goal is to provide our franchisees with the tools they need to succeed in their communities. We connect them at the conference to vendors who can have meaningful conversations with them and provide practical insights they can take back to their businesses.”
The conference's sponsorship program reflected that intentional approach, bringing together industry-leading partners to connect directly with Griswold franchisees from across the country. With more than 100 owner groups representing over 200 territories in 30 states, the event served as the largest in-person gathering of the Griswold system in 2026 and provided valuable opportunities for education, collaboration, and relationship building.
Senior Regional Director Shannon Gettier, who has spent 14 years with the Griswold system in both corporate and now franchise leadership roles, the quality of vendor participation stood out immediately.
“I’ve attended a lot of Griswold conferences over the years, and this year, specifically, the vendors were great, and they were super intentional,” Gettier said. “They were there to provide opportunities and support for our businesses. A lot of work goes into making sure the event delivers value.”
Beyond the educational content, attendees highlighted the opportunity to connect with fellow franchisees from across the country as one of the conference's greatest benefits. “That’s one of the best parts,” Gettier said. “Just having all of us in a room together is incredibly valuable. There’s nothing like spending three days together, sharing meals, talking through challenges and learning from one another. We’re able to share best practices and learn from other franchisees in ways that simply can’t happen virtually.”
For newer franchise owners, the conference offered a chance to step back from the day-to-day responsibilities of running a business and gain perspective from experienced operators.
“The conference was the first one I attended as a franchise owner,” said Jason DuBose, a new Griswold franchisee in South Carolina. “You could tell a tremendous amount of preparation and thought went into the event. It was large enough to bring together people from all over the country, but it still had an intimate feel where you could connect directly with franchise leaders, vendors, and fellow owners.”
DuBose said the educational sessions and networking opportunities helped him better envision the future of his business. “As a new owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily challenges,” he said. “The conference gave me the opportunity to connect with people who have already been where I am and see what their businesses look like one year, five years, or even 10 years down the road. You really can’t measure the value of those conversations.”
One of the most anticipated moments of the conference was the annual Griswold Awards Reception. Award recipients included:
Another memorable moment came when the company recognized a longtime leader from Griswold’s company-owned operation in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.
“One of the most touching moments of the conference was recognizing a director who has been with our organization for more than 25 years and was originally hired by Jean Griswold herself,” Slupecki said. “She has trained countless franchisees, supported owners throughout the country, and had a meaningful impact on so many people in that room. When she was recognized, everyone stood and gave her a well-deserved ovation. It was a powerful reminder of the legacy and culture that makes Griswold special.”
The conference also demonstrated the strength of the Griswold community through its ongoing support of the Jean Griswold Foundation. During the annual gala, attendees raised a record-setting $128,000 to support Caregiver scholarships and workforce development initiatives.
“We set a new fundraising record this year, which speaks volumes about the generosity and passion of our franchisees and partners,” Slupecki said. “Supporting Caregivers has always been central to who we are as a brand, and the success of the Jean Griswold Foundation continues to create opportunities for Caregivers across the country.”
As the conference concluded, Slupecki encouraged franchisees to carry the momentum of the event back to their local markets.
“The energy throughout the week was incredible,” he said. “Our franchisees continue to raise the bar, support one another and embrace new opportunities to serve their communities. We left Salt Lake City inspired, connected and ready to continue rising together.”
To find out more information on costs to buy a Griswold franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info.
ABOUT GRISWOLD:
With more than 200 locations across 31 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing and referring professional, compassionate Caregivers around the clock. Griswold’s “Live Assured” promise gives both clients and their loved ones peace of mind, so they can live without the weight of worry. Griswold helps adults maintain quality of life despite advanced age, onset of illness or post-surgery recovery through services including companion care, home services, personal care and respite care. Founded by the late Jean Griswold in 1982, the company has maintained its founder’s profound sense of empathy for older and disabled adults and those living with chronic conditions. Griswold has been recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500® and named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.GriswoldCare.com or call 215.402.0200.
Griswold
SPONSORED
Griswold’s annual conference brought franchisees, Home Office leaders and industry partners to Salt Lake City to celebrate the system’s growth under the theme “Rising Together: From Roots to Summit.”
SALT LAKE CITY — Griswold, a leader in non-medical home care franchising, recently wrapped up its 2026 National Franchise Conference, “Rising Together: From Roots to Summit,” held April 28-30 at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Franchisees, Home Office staff and strategic partners gathered from across the country for three days of education, collaboration, and celebration.
“Our theme this year really reflected who we are as an organization,” said Michael Slupecki, CEO of Griswold. “We always lean on our history, our shared values, and the foundation that Jean Griswold built, while asking ourselves how we’re going to use those strengths to reach new summits as a company. It was an incredible opportunity to bring the entire network together around that vision.”
The conference featured a carefully curated lineup of educational sessions, networking opportunities, and strategic discussions. “We received feedback from franchisees that the content was the best we’ve ever had,” Slupecki said. “Our goal is to provide our franchisees with the tools they need to succeed in their communities. We connect them at the conference to vendors who can have meaningful conversations with them and provide practical insights they can take back to their businesses.”
The conference's sponsorship program reflected that intentional approach, bringing together industry-leading partners to connect directly with Griswold franchisees from across the country. With more than 100 owner groups representing over 200 territories in 30 states, the event served as the largest in-person gathering of the Griswold system in 2026 and provided valuable opportunities for education, collaboration, and relationship building.
Senior Regional Director Shannon Gettier, who has spent 14 years with the Griswold system in both corporate and now franchise leadership roles, the quality of vendor participation stood out immediately.
“I’ve attended a lot of Griswold conferences over the years, and this year, specifically, the vendors were great, and they were super intentional,” Gettier said. “They were there to provide opportunities and support for our businesses. A lot of work goes into making sure the event delivers value.”
Beyond the educational content, attendees highlighted the opportunity to connect with fellow franchisees from across the country as one of the conference's greatest benefits. “That’s one of the best parts,” Gettier said. “Just having all of us in a room together is incredibly valuable. There’s nothing like spending three days together, sharing meals, talking through challenges and learning from one another. We’re able to share best practices and learn from other franchisees in ways that simply can’t happen virtually.”
For newer franchise owners, the conference offered a chance to step back from the day-to-day responsibilities of running a business and gain perspective from experienced operators.
“The conference was the first one I attended as a franchise owner,” said Jason DuBose, a new Griswold franchisee in South Carolina. “You could tell a tremendous amount of preparation and thought went into the event. It was large enough to bring together people from all over the country, but it still had an intimate feel where you could connect directly with franchise leaders, vendors, and fellow owners.”
DuBose said the educational sessions and networking opportunities helped him better envision the future of his business. “As a new owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily challenges,” he said. “The conference gave me the opportunity to connect with people who have already been where I am and see what their businesses look like one year, five years, or even 10 years down the road. You really can’t measure the value of those conversations.”
One of the most anticipated moments of the conference was the annual Griswold Awards Reception. Award recipients included:
Another memorable moment came when the company recognized a longtime leader from Griswold’s company-owned operation in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.
“One of the most touching moments of the conference was recognizing a director who has been with our organization for more than 25 years and was originally hired by Jean Griswold herself,” Slupecki said. “She has trained countless franchisees, supported owners throughout the country, and had a meaningful impact on so many people in that room. When she was recognized, everyone stood and gave her a well-deserved ovation. It was a powerful reminder of the legacy and culture that makes Griswold special.”
The conference also demonstrated the strength of the Griswold community through its ongoing support of the Jean Griswold Foundation. During the annual gala, attendees raised a record-setting $128,000 to support Caregiver scholarships and workforce development initiatives.
“We set a new fundraising record this year, which speaks volumes about the generosity and passion of our franchisees and partners,” Slupecki said. “Supporting Caregivers has always been central to who we are as a brand, and the success of the Jean Griswold Foundation continues to create opportunities for Caregivers across the country.”
As the conference concluded, Slupecki encouraged franchisees to carry the momentum of the event back to their local markets.
“The energy throughout the week was incredible,” he said. “Our franchisees continue to raise the bar, support one another and embrace new opportunities to serve their communities. We left Salt Lake City inspired, connected and ready to continue rising together.”
To find out more information on costs to buy a Griswold franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info.
ABOUT GRISWOLD:
With more than 200 locations across 31 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing and referring professional, compassionate Caregivers around the clock. Griswold’s “Live Assured” promise gives both clients and their loved ones peace of mind, so they can live without the weight of worry. Griswold helps adults maintain quality of life despite advanced age, onset of illness or post-surgery recovery through services including companion care, home services, personal care and respite care. Founded by the late Jean Griswold in 1982, the company has maintained its founder’s profound sense of empathy for older and disabled adults and those living with chronic conditions. Griswold has been recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500® and named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.GriswoldCare.com or call 215.402.0200.
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