When Bryan Martinez joined the Air Force in 2009, he pictured a lifelong military career. But after two tours in Afghanistan and a serious vehicle accident that left him medically discharged, he was looking for a new direction. The structure and sense of purpose that once guided his life were suddenly gone, and the transition to civilian life brought its own challenges. 

It was during that time that Martinez’s father-in-law offered him an opportunity to work in the electrical trade with Mister Sparky, the scalable, essential electrical service franchise under Authority Brands. What began as a way to regain stability became a new calling. He quickly rose through the ranks — from apprentice to technician to vice president — applying the same discipline, accountability and teamwork he learned in the Air Force. Under his leadership, his San Antonio-based Mister Sparky franchise grew from a small local operation into a thriving business.

Now, Martinez is preparing to open a new Mister Sparky territory in Corpus Christi, Texas with owner and business partner, George Saldana, in 2026. 1851 Franchise spoke with him about his franchising journey and his plans for the future.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Bryan Martinez: I graduated from high school in 2006. I joined the Air Force in 2009, where I completed my basic training and technical training at Lackland Air Force Base, located here in San Antonio. After that, my first duty station was Spangdahlem, Germany. That was really cool to experience and see. I did my first tour to Afghanistan at Bagram Air Force Base in 2010. Once I returned from that tour, I was relocated to Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. And then I did my second tour to Afghanistan, back to Bagram in about 2013, where I was involved in a vehicle accident.

I had some injuries that made me non-deployable and got medically discharged. Obviously, at that point in my life, I thought that the military was going to be my forever career and the place I was going to retire from. I didn't really know what I was going to do when I got out. 

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Martinez: I had suffered a handful of injuries while I was in the military that required surgery. So, I was in physical therapy for so much of my time in the military that I went to school to be a physical therapist for a little bit. I quickly realized that that's not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

My father-in-law, George Saldana, owned a Mister Sparky. When I got out of the military, I had PTSD and a lot of things that I was dealing with at that time, so he allowed me to come work for his commercial company to have the flexibility to take my time off for appointments and things like that. I quickly started to fall in love with the trade of being an electrician. 

I worked myself over to the Sparky side as an apprentice, then worked my way up to a lead installer, then I worked myself up to a technician. I was selected to be the first manager in the Mister Sparky office at that time because of my logistics background from the military. When Sherry and I stepped in to lead the Mister Sparky business, we set ambitious goals for growth — and we’ve since expanded revenue by over 1,000%, with no signs of slowing down.

I've done a lot of different jobs. I entered management as a service manager, then transitioned into sales, and subsequently into operations management. I am now the vice president. 

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?

Martinez: I was extremely blessed to have fallen into our franchise. Everybody from the top down really cares about you. I was introduced at Pantheon in California a couple of weeks ago to the next person in charge, and he told me that he was also in the Air Force and a veteran. He was extremely friendly and polite and took the time to talk to all of us who were there. That’s just a testament to what this franchise has been like for me — everybody is willing to help everyone succeed.

I think that’s phenomenal. My opinion of franchising before was more confined to a McDonald’s or Subway-type franchise. I never really thought about the type of influence, respect and care that people receive in a trade franchise. I think that’s overlooked a lot of times. For obvious reasons, a lot of people were steered away from the trades, but I think it’s making a strong comeback. I see more and more people joining the trades, and more business-minded individuals buying into them as well.

I think that’s great for all of us — great for the industry, great for the future and great for our franchise. I’m extremely proud to be part of this franchise system.

1851: How does being a veteran help prepare you for franchise ownership?

Martinez: I think one of the biggest differences I made when I came in was applying the lessons I learned in the military — organization, accountability and culture. It took us 10 years to reach major revenue milestones before I got here, and those three things made the biggest difference once I did.

I tell my team all the time that you can’t have a good culture without good accountability. If everyone is treated the same, no matter how much they make or what they do, it creates a fair culture where people can focus on what they do best. Everyone has a role to play on the team, and that mindset comes directly from the military. I’ve always looked at the military as one of the largest and most efficient organizations in the world, and I think we operate in a very similar way — and that’s helped us succeed.

1851: What excites you most about this company?

Martinez: The brand — the Mister Sparky name, the logo, everything about it. In my opinion, we have the best jingle out of all the brands, and I think it’s great. I was just talking about this in my last meeting with Dan Mock, the vice president of operations of Mister Sparky. I told him how fascinating it is to know our story — where we came from and how we got the Mister Sparky name. I love sharing that story with customers who ask about it.

For me, it all comes down to the brand’s reputation. I compare it to a sports team. I make sure everyone who wears the Mister Sparky logo on their shirts, hats or uniforms is proud to wear it and understands what it stands for.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Martinez: I’m very ambitious, and our goal is to expand while maintaining the level of customer service that defines Mister Sparky. We’re not afraid to stand by our pricing — we’re not the cheapest, and that’s intentional. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for, and top-tier service comes at a cost. If everyone could deliver what we do, everyone would be Mister Sparky — but they’re not, and that’s for a reason.

Customers deserve that five-star experience, the kind of elevated service they don’t usually expect from a trade business, especially in the electrical field. My favorite reviews are the ones where customers say it was the best service they’ve ever had — not just compared to other electricians, but compared to any experience, whether it’s at a restaurant or a hotel. That’s the ultimate compliment for me.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Martinez: I really love what we’re doing with RecruitMilitary and our efforts to bring more veterans into the organization. They’ve already served their country and made a real impact, and I think bringing them into this brand will only make us stronger in the long run. My goal is for Mister Sparky to be the first and only brand people think of when they think electrical — and veterans are a big part of helping us get there.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Martinez: If you’re interested in joining one of the trades, you really shouldn’t look any further than our franchise system. The franchisor is amazing — the amount of support, interaction and help they provide to make us successful is top-tier.

But what I think truly sets us apart, and what I often tell new owners, is the network of other franchisees. Being able to pick up the phone and talk to someone who’s running the kind of business you aspire to have — and have them actually help you get there — is invaluable. You can’t put a price on learning from an owner who’s been in business for 30 years and built a $60 million operation.

The fact that they’re willing to share that knowledge freely because we’re all part of the same brand is incredible. In my opinion, that’s the biggest value of being part of this franchise system.

About Mister Sparky Electric 

Mister Sparky is one of the nation's largest consumer electrical franchises, offering premium residential services in more than 150 cities. Experts at safeguarding homes against potential hazards, the company's licensed electricians are highly trained and provide customers with installation, repair and replacement services in a fast and reliable manner. America's On-Time Electrician® is part of Authority Brands, the parent company to leading home service brands across the plumbing, HVAC, electrical services, residential cleaning, at-home care, swimming pool repair and maintenance, tree care, restoration, pet waste removal, and pest control services sectors.