After a Family Experience with Aging Parents, This Austin Area Duo Is Building a TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise Around Senior Safety

When Ryan Edwards and his wife Neambi Dawson decided to build something of their own alongside two decades of leading operations and strategy for some of the world's largest brands, it wasn't a business plan that pushed them. It was a person. A family member navigating the slow, frustrating process of making their home safe enough to stay in it. Ryan watched firsthand how the right modifications, a grab bar, a ramp, a reorganized space, could mean the difference between moving through your own home with confidence and not being able to at all. He also saw how hard it was to find someone trustworthy enough to do it well. When he and Neambi found TruBlue Home Service Ally, they didn't see a franchise opportunity. They saw a vehicle for something they already knew needed to exist.

By trading the corporate ladder for franchise ownership, Edwards and Dawson are translating their expertise into TruBlue of Great Hills, a service-oriented business that prioritizes safety, accessibility and the growing need for senior home modifications.

Now, Edwards and Dawson are focused on growing TruBlue of Great Hills in Central Texas, where they are building lasting relationships and helping neighbors across Williamson and Travis countries age in place safely and with confidence.

Edwards sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss his and Dawson’s journey with TruBlue and how they are applying their corporate leadership backgrounds to build a safety-first home maintenance business across Round Rock, Cedar Park and surrounding Austin communities. Here’s what he had to say:

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

Ryan Edwards: Neambi and I have known each other since high school in Minnesota. Life took us in different directions, but we eventually reconnected and have lived all across the country in places like Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and San Jose before we settled here in the Austin area about three years ago. We've spent two decades in the corporate world, but we reached a point where we wanted the work to mean something closer to home. This business is personal for us. We've seen firsthand within our own family how vital things like grab bars and removing tripping hazards are for helping someone move through their own home safely. We're here to put down roots and make a tangible difference for families navigating those same challenges.

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

Edwards: My background is in financial services and FP&A and over the last eight years I've worked in marketing and sales for a major technology company. Neambi comes from a background in audit and consulting. I've had the itch for entrepreneurship for a long time. Early on, I spent a lot of time looking at acquiring established businesses from owners planning their exit or succession, but I couldn't find one at a reasonable multiple in an industry I could be passionate about, which led me to explore franchising. Having operated across most of the major business units inside large organizations, I knew I could bring that thinking to a franchise, where the guardrails let me move faster in serving the customer.

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?

Edwards: To be honest, I was reluctant at first. I didn't love the idea of long-term contracts, and I questioned whether it was "true" entrepreneurship. My perspective shifted once I saw it as a partnership. Now that I'm in it, I realize the real value is in the leverage. I can call a neighboring franchisee a few months ahead of me, or a seasoned operator in the brand, and ask how they solved a specific problem, which shortcuts my own learning curve. There's something satisfying about being part of a team where everyone wants each other to succeed, because we're in different markets, we're not competing. It's a very powerful path if you find the right system for you.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Edwards: It really came down to the leadership. Meeting the corporate team was the turning point. Their passion for helping seniors live safely in their own homes is infectious. They truly believe in the work, and that alignment of values was crucial for us. What also set TruBlue apart is that we're not just a handyman service, we're specialists. Neambi is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), and I've completed the Senior Home Safety Specialist (SHSS) training. We pursued those credentials early, before we'd taken on much work, because we wanted to build real depth in how we help families and earn that trust from day one. It's what lets us walk into a home and see what others miss, the difference between a house someone lives in and a home built to keep them safe for years to come.

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

Edwards: Our vision is to become a leading multi-territory operator and a primary resource for the community. We want to be the first call for the people families rely on at a vulnerable moment, the discharge planners, occupational therapists and care managers helping a senior transition home, so that when that day comes, their environment is already ready and safe for them. From there, we'll keep expanding as we master the mechanics of the business and invest in the right people to grow with us, adding territories where senior home services are needed most.

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

Edwards: I'd want people to know this is genuinely a family endeavor for us. Neambi and I are building this together, and it grew out of what we lived through with our own family, watching someone we love try to stay safe in their home. That experience shapes how we show up in every house we walk into. We treat each family the way we'd want someone to treat ours.

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

Edwards: First, know that it's a daunting landscape. There are something like 3,000 franchise brands out there, and navigating that alone is overwhelming. We worked with a consultant, and I'd strongly recommend finding one you trust, someone who's going to steer you toward brands that genuinely fit you, not just the flavor of the month. That relationship was hugely valuable for us. Second, don't feel like you have to be the expert in every area, but learn enough to ask the right questions. Neambi's and my experiences across different industries helped us dig into the details that actually move the bottom line. Most importantly, find a brand with leadership you trust and a mission you believe in. And align the business with your own gifts and what you care about. In my experience, that matters far more than chasing whatever's at the top of some "best of" list. The right fit for you will always beat the popular pick.

About TruBlue Home Service Ally:

TruBlue Home Service Ally® provides a unique and affordable approach to helping busy adults and seniors live a worry-free life by offering trustworthy handyman, home maintenance and senior modification services. Helping you maintain your home both inside and out, TruBlue’s services include handyman projects and to-do list chores, preventative home maintenance programs, kitchen and bath remodels, seasonal work, and senior modification services, all handled by professional, bonded and insured Tru-Pro® Technicians. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete senior home safety certification programs through the NAHB and Age Safe America. As certified specialists, TruBlue franchisees are able to perform aging-in-place home safety assessments and can make recommended safety modifications as needed.