1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-rydholm-54614615b?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ian-and-dick-rydholm-celebrate-30-years-of-transforming-lives-through-sylvan-2728346" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ian</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-rydholm-16a3a570/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ian-and-dick-rydholm-celebrate-30-years-of-transforming-lives-through-sylvan-2728346" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dick Rydholm’s</a> journey with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sylvanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ian-and-dick-rydholm-celebrate-30-years-of-transforming-lives-through-sylvan-2728346" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sylvan Learning*</a> began in 1990 when they were parents seeking extra support for their son. That experience transformed into a thriving business that has served thousands of families in El Paso over the past three decades. Combining Dick’s corporate management background and Ian’s expertise in special education, the Rydholms have built a family-run business rooted in community impact and educational excellence. 1851 Franchise spoke with the couple to learn more about their backgrounds, their journeys with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning">Sylvan Learning</a> and their plans for the future.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Dick Rydholm: I was a store manager for JCPenney for 22 years.Ian Rydholm: Most of my teaching experience has been with students with special needs. I taught in the classroom and also worked as an instructional specialist for one of the regional education centers in Texas, working with schools and setting up programs for students with special needs.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Ian: We were looking for a business that we could do together, combining our backgrounds.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Ian: We actually got involved with Sylvan as parents at first. My son was struggling, and it can be hard to work with your own child. I had a colleague who knew about Sylvan Learning. When we decided we wanted to get out of the corporate runaround, we started thinking about Sylvan because of how good of an experience we had. We investigated and thought it'd be a good fit. We talked to the franchisee in Tulsa where our son had gone and then started talking to the team.Dick: We went to a discovery session with Sylvan Learning and determined where they had availability. They didn’t have a franchise in El Paso, which was my hometown, which is how we ended up here.1851: How has the business been going over the past 30 years?Dick: We really started from scratch. But as we started to grow the business, we were able to negotiate the county of El Paso. We started out on the west side and eventually expanded to the east side. Back in about 2007, we acquired the Las Cruces franchise.Ian: We’ve partnered with the&nbsp;<a href="https://bgcelpaso.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ian-and-dick-rydholm-celebrate-30-years-of-transforming-lives-through-sylvan-2728346" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Boys &amp; Girls Club</a> for the past 14 years. We were part of the pilot of that service. We serve students that are in those clubs and provide them with Sylvan Learning services. We’ve also, in the last couple of years, partnered with Gaston Independent School District. We are working with three different centers in that area. It's really nice to be able to give back to the community and work with some of the kids that might not have an opportunity to come to Sylvan. Our staff love Sylvan and love teaching.Also, we are a family business. Not only do Dick and I work together, but my son — who originally was there as a child — is now our contract services director. Our daughter is a director of one of our centers as well.Dick: We are also now working with parents who came to us as children. We have been around a while, and everybody knows us here in El Paso. We started on the ground floor with the Boys &amp; Girls Club, and it's been growing ever since. We’ve seen it grow to six clubs that we are working with right now. We are working with about 40 kids per club, so we’ve worked with hundreds of kids over the years.1851: How has it felt to watch the franchise grow?Dick: Sylvan Learning has been our family for the last 30 years. It's fun to see how the brand is evolving even now.1851: What does the future look like?Ian: At some point, we will retire and we hope our kids will take over. We are looking forward to that.1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Ian: It's really amazing to see children we’ve served in the past return to us as parents with children. They tell us they wouldn’t have made it through school without us and they want to give their children the same opportunity. We’ve heard so many great success stories over the years. I worked a lot in the centers in the beginning and it was so exciting seeing their lightbulbs come on. It really makes it worthwhile. It's a great business and it's great to give back to families.Dick: In the community, we are always talking to families who sent their kids to Sylvan back in the day. I was just talking to someone whose son became a doctor after they came to Sylvan when he was a kid.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Dick: Once you get into this business, you are in it, and you have to do everything you can to be successful. Coming from a corporate background, you have that comfort, but as a franchisee, you are responsible for the business at the end of the day. It's very gratifying to build your own business and take control.For more information on franchising with Sylvan Learning, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning">https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning</a>.ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNINGWith more than 45 years of experience and more than 710 points of presence, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K-12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvan’s proven tutoring approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync™ technology on the iPad® for an engaging learning experience. Sylvan also leads the way with Sylvan EDGE — STEM and accelerated courses and Sylvan Prep — college and test prep courses. Sylvan supports families through every stage of the academic journey.&nbsp; For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sylvanlearning.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ian-and-dick-rydholm-celebrate-30-years-of-transforming-lives-through-sylvan-2728346" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.SylvanLearning.com</a>.

Franchisee spotlight featuring Ian and Dick Rydholm with gradient blue background and Sylvan logo

Celebrating 30 Years of Sylvan Learning in El Paso | Ian & Dick Rydholm's Story

1851 Franchise

From parents seeking help for their son to multi-unit franchise owners, the Rydholms have made Sylvan Learning a cornerstone of academic success in their community.

Ian and Dick Rydholm Celebrate 30 Years of Transforming Lives Through Sylvan Learning in El Paso, Texas

ian-and-dick-rydholm-celebrate-30-years-of-transforming-lives-through-sylvan

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Photo of HomeTeam Inspection Service franchisees Tyler and Doug Butler

How a Chance Encounter Led This Father-Son Duo to a Thriving Home Inspection Business

doug-tyler-butler-hometeam-franchise-success-story

Sola Salons

Photo of Campbell family, featuring Austin and Nick Campbell

Building a Legacy Through Sola Salons: The Campbell Family’s Journey in Franchising

family-business-legacy-sola-salons

Sparkle Squad Window Cleaning Services

Photo of Sparkle Squad team member cleaning window

Sparkle Squad: How This Founder-Led Window Cleaning Franchise Is Changing the Industry

sparkle-squad-franchise-opportunity

World Gym

The Mental Benefits of Strength Training: Boost Confidence, Reduce Stress and Improve Clarity

the-mental-benefits-of-strength-training-boost-confidence-reduce-stress-and-improve-clarity

Harri

Connected Workforce: What It Means for Large Multi-Unit Franchisees Facing Labor Challenges

connected-workforce-what-it-means-for-large-multi-unit-franchisees-facing-labor-challenges

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

&pizza - Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Begins Franchising - 1851 Franchise

&pizza Embraces Franchising To Fuel Bold New Growth Strategy

andpizza-franchising-ceo-mike-burns

CFOs See Recession as Likely in ’25; Why Now Is the Time To Water the Franchise Buyer Seeds

cfos-see-recession-as-likely-in-25-why-now-is-the-time-to-water-the-franchise-buyer-seeds

Ellie Mental Health Franchisee Backlash - Alleged Misrepresentations - 1851 Franchise

Ellie Mental Health Faces Franchisee Backlash Over Alleged Misrepresentations

ellie-mental-health-franchisee-backlash

Tariff Tensions Threaten U.S. Restaurants with Rising Costs and Supply Chain Disruptions

tariff-tensions-threaten-us-restaurants-with-rising-costs-and-supply-chain-disruptions

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Military Veteran and Craft Beer Enthusiast to Bring Voodoo Brewing Co. to Toledo, Ohio

military-veteran-and-craft-beer-enthusiast-to-bring-voodoo-brewing-co-to-toledo-ohio

Newlyweds Open Paris Baguette Franchise to Serve Up Fresh Baked Goods in Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania

Newlyweds Open Paris Baguette Franchise to Serve Up Fresh Baked Goods and Community Spirit in Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania

newlyweds-open-paris-baguette-franchise-to-serve-up-fresh-baked-goods-and-community-spirit-in-upper-dublin-pennsylvania

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

Ian and Dick Rydholm Celebrate 30 Years of Transforming Lives Through Sylvan Learning in El Paso, Texas

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS