Woofie's

After more than four decades of combined service in the U.S. Air Force,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-flecker-usaf-veteran/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-these-air-force-veterans-built-a-family-business-with-woofies-2732486" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jennifer</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arty-flecker/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-these-air-force-veterans-built-a-family-business-with-woofies-2732486" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Arty Flecker</a> were ready for a mission that would allow them to apply their leadership experience in a completely new way. That mission ultimately led them to business ownership with&nbsp;<a href="https://ownawoofies.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-these-air-force-veterans-built-a-family-business-with-woofies-2732486" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Woofie’s</a>, the mobile dog grooming franchise, where they are now building a fast-growing pet care business in Concord-Manchester, New Hampshire.“We were both Air Force and retired out of that after over two decades. We were both jet engine mechanics,” Jennifer said. “We thought we could rely on our leadership and managerial backgrounds to do something for ourselves, and that led us to franchising.”Like many veterans exploring entrepreneurship for the first time, the Fleckers were introduced to franchising through veteran-specific resources.&nbsp;“I first saw the opportunity through the VA,” Arty said. “They send out a newsletter and they match veterans with franchises. They do some screening and then they give you a few options that fit your needs.”Out of those options,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies/info">Woofie’s</a> quickly became the clear choice.“Woofie’s really stood out because the initial communication with the team was great,” Arty said. “They seemed like they were there to support us and help us. The brand was emerging too, so we knew we’d be the only one in the state. There was more risk, but we thought we could benefit from a fresh market. Of course, we also love dogs, so it seemed like a great fit.”<h2>The Power of Military Experience in Business</h2>While the Fleckers didn’t have a history in professional pet care, they soon realized that their military experience was invaluable. “The experience we had with building teams and managing operations really lent itself to how we run our business,” Jennifer said.For Arty, leadership was one of the biggest carryovers.“The military taught us how to be a good leader and how to treat your team members and what makes an employee want to work for you,” he said. “You want them to be glad that they work with you and are willing to come and help you with the business. You really learn that in the military, and that helped a lot.”That structure,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies/woofies-franchise-opportunity-2731735#featured">combined with the flexibility of business ownership</a>, has been key to their transition. “We are used to the structure of the military, and Woofie’s gave us that structure but also the freedom to be as successful as you want to be,” Arty said. “The hard work that you learn in the military definitely applies to entrepreneurship.”<h2>Early Growth and Community Response</h2>Since launching their business in 2025, the Fleckers have seen strong early momentum.“We’ve been pretty successful — our month-over-month growth has been 28%, which is pretty high for a new business,” Jennifer said. “The response from the community has been so positive — no one really knew this type of service existed. When people find out about us, they love it.”Another key factor in their success has been the ongoing support from the Woofie’s and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-these-air-force-veterans-built-a-family-business-with-woofies-2732486" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Authority Brands</a> teams, as well as the broader franchise network. “You are really like a family here,” Arty said. “We recently went to the conference, and it felt like a reunion of friends.”That culture of collaboration and accessibility has made a meaningful impact on their day-to-day operations. “They are there to support us, from the smallest question to the most complex,” he said. “They are also open to listening to us if we have a suggestion.”For Jennifer, that level of support has been especially valuable as a first-time business owner. “I was not a business major in school, so entering into the ‘being your own boss’ mindset can be tough,” she said. “Having the resources of the franchise is very important — even for simple things like learning what a P&amp;L is.”<h2>Building for the Future</h2>Looking ahead, the Fleckers are focused on growth. “Our goal is to expand New Hampshire as much as we can, and then possibly open another location in a different state,” Arty said. “We also have adult children that live in Virginia, so our goal is to open a location there. That is a few years down the road.”But beyond expansion, they are also thinking long-term about legacy. “We want to hand this down one day,” Jennifer said. “Woofie’s is very much built to be a family business and something that you can pass down. Veterans who are jumping into this — the faster you do it, the bigger it will be to pass it down to your family in the future!”Arty’s advice is even more direct. “I also think you should start earlier than you think,” he said. “The family aspect is amazing. Jen and I get to see each other every day, which is great. You can really get more satisfaction from running your own business and being successful together.”For the Fleckers, that all-in mentality is nothing new. It’s the same mindset that defined their military careers — and now, it’s driving their success as franchise owners.For more information on franchising with Woofie’s, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies">https://1851franchise.com/woofies</a>.

Air Force Vets' Military Skills Fuel Woofie's NH Franchise Growth

1851 Franchise

Air Force veterans Jennifer and Arty Flecker used their military leadership to drive rapid growth for their Woofie’s mobile dog grooming franchise in New Hampshire.

This brand page has been paid for by WOOFIE'S. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

How These Air Force Veterans Built a Family Business with Woofie’s

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When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-he-him-gludt-01476741">Rob</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelley-gludt-9813862b7">Kelley Gludt</a> decided it was time for “one more chapter,” they realized it didn’t mean they had to start from scratch. Instead, they could return to something that had always been part of their story: entrepreneurship.Before joining&nbsp;<a href="https://ownawoofies.com/">Woofie’s</a>, Rob and Kelley built diverse and complementary careers across multiple industries. Kelley worked as an editor before spending 20 years as a rabbi. Rob’s career spanned a wide range of hands-on and operational roles, including fire prevention, meat cutting, tour guiding, delivery driving, and product specialization. Together, they also had prior experience as small-business owners and franchisees early in their marriage.“Rob and I owned a franchise when we first married back in the early 1990s. We had already been small business owners,” Kelley said. “Then our careers went in very different directions. One day we looked at each other and said: ‘It’s time for something new.’”That decision led them to launch their&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies/info">Woofie’s</a> franchise in North Baltimore in the summer of 2024, and less than a year later, they earned the brand’s Rookie of the Year award.<h2>A Family-Driven Return to Business Ownership</h2>For the Gludts, the decision to return to business ownership was about intention. “When we decided we wanted to get back into business together, we had some experience in franchising,” Kelley said. “Since this is going to be the last hurrah for us, we knew we didn’t have two to five years to figure it out ourselves. We wanted the turnkey business, the support, and someone who would get us up and running as fast as possible.”Their search was deliberate. “We did a lot of research. What we were looking for was something that wasn’t brick and mortar and was somewhat recession-proof,” Kelley said. “It had to be something we enjoyed doing and something we could do as a family.”That search ultimately led them to Woofie’s —&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies/woofies-franchise-opportunity-2731735">a modern pet care brand whose values aligned closely with their own</a>.“From the first time we reached out to Woofie’s, they had a relationship-focused vibe, which is what we wanted coming from the nonprofit world,” Kelley said. “They were relationship-focused toward clients and franchisees.”That connection was also personal. “We are urban farmers, we have a flock of chickens, a border collie, and we’ve always had dogs,” she said. The Gludts were already living the lifestyle that Woofie’s serves, making the transition into pet care both natural and meaningful.<h2>Rapid Growth and Community Momentum</h2>Since launching, the North Baltimore territory has seen impressive traction. “So far, the business has been great,” Kelley said. “We have a lot of pet sitting on the books. We are busy, and it’s a lot, but it’s been great.”But for the Gludts, success is less measured by numbers and more by the ability to build something together. “Our son is incredibly involved in the business, and we are hoping he takes over the business one day,” Kelley said. “He is very involved, walks a lot of dogs, and does a lot of the back-end paperwork.”Another major factor in their success has been&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies/woofies-amy-addington-pet-care-franchise-growth-2731646">the support from the Woofie’s team and network</a>.“The support has been great from the Woofie’s team. They have been incredibly helpful,” Kelley said. “Big or small things, they are always there. We had the company's founder visit to ensure we had the support we needed.”That level of accessibility has made a difference. “We’ve never felt like we were on our own… Our fellow owners have also been so supportive,” she said. “It’s a culture that they are very intentional in creating.”<h2>Recognition That Came as a Surprise</h2>Despite their rapid growth, the Rookie of the Year award wasn’t something the Gludts were chasing.“I was at the convention in Nashville, and I was shocked,” Kelley said. “It was very unexpected. You put your head down and get through it all, so it was really nice to have the hard work appreciated.”While their early success is significant, the Gludts are already thinking about what comes next. “Big picture, the goal for the business is to potentially fill out the territory and move into the city of Baltimore and crack the urban model,” Kelley said. “We have a lot of ideas on how to make an urban Woofie’s work.”Reflecting on their journey, Kelley said the biggest lessons go beyond the numbers.“If I could talk to myself from two years ago, I would say trust your gut, and it would be OK,” she said. “Of course, I probably wouldn’t have believed myself! Finding a good match is really important as well. You have to look past the number to both the product and the team.”In the end, success in franchising is about more than the investment. “You are going to be spending a lot of time with the product and with the team,” Kelley said. “Don’t just look at the bottom line number. You need all of it to work.”For more information on buying a Woofie’s franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies">https://1851franchise.com/woofies</a>.

After wide-ranging careers, Rob and Kelley Gludt launched their Woofie's pet care franchise in North Baltimore in 2024, earning Rookie of the Year recognition in their first year.

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After more than four decades of combined service in the U.S. Air Force,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-flecker-usaf-veteran/">Jennifer</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arty-flecker/">Arty Flecker</a> were ready for a mission that would allow them to apply their leadership experience in a completely new way. That mission ultimately led them to business ownership with&nbsp;<a href="https://ownawoofies.com/">Woofie’s</a>, the mobile dog grooming franchise, where they are now building a fast-growing pet care business in Concord-Manchester, New Hampshire.“We were both Air Force and retired out of that after over two decades. We were both jet engine mechanics,” Jennifer said. “We thought we could rely on our leadership and managerial backgrounds to do something for ourselves, and that led us to franchising.”Like many veterans exploring entrepreneurship for the first time, the Fleckers were introduced to franchising through veteran-specific resources.&nbsp;“I first saw the opportunity through the VA,” Arty said. “They send out a newsletter and they match veterans with franchises. They do some screening and then they give you a few options that fit your needs.”Out of those options,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies/info">Woofie’s</a> quickly became the clear choice.“Woofie’s really stood out because the initial communication with the team was great,” Arty said. “They seemed like they were there to support us and help us. The brand was emerging too, so we knew we’d be the only one in the state. There was more risk, but we thought we could benefit from a fresh market. Of course, we also love dogs, so it seemed like a great fit.”<h2>The Power of Military Experience in Business</h2>While the Fleckers didn’t have a history in professional pet care, they soon realized that their military experience was invaluable. “The experience we had with building teams and managing operations really lent itself to how we run our business,” Jennifer said.For Arty, leadership was one of the biggest carryovers.“The military taught us how to be a good leader and how to treat your team members and what makes an employee want to work for you,” he said. “You want them to be glad that they work with you and are willing to come and help you with the business. You really learn that in the military, and that helped a lot.”That structure,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies/woofies-franchise-opportunity-2731735#featured">combined with the flexibility of business ownership</a>, has been key to their transition. “We are used to the structure of the military, and Woofie’s gave us that structure but also the freedom to be as successful as you want to be,” Arty said. “The hard work that you learn in the military definitely applies to entrepreneurship.”<h2>Early Growth and Community Response</h2>Since launching their business in 2025, the Fleckers have seen strong early momentum.“We’ve been pretty successful — our month-over-month growth has been 28%, which is pretty high for a new business,” Jennifer said. “The response from the community has been so positive — no one really knew this type of service existed. When people find out about us, they love it.”Another key factor in their success has been the ongoing support from the Woofie’s and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/">Authority Brands</a> teams, as well as the broader franchise network. “You are really like a family here,” Arty said. “We recently went to the conference, and it felt like a reunion of friends.”That culture of collaboration and accessibility has made a meaningful impact on their day-to-day operations. “They are there to support us, from the smallest question to the most complex,” he said. “They are also open to listening to us if we have a suggestion.”For Jennifer, that level of support has been especially valuable as a first-time business owner. “I was not a business major in school, so entering into the ‘being your own boss’ mindset can be tough,” she said. “Having the resources of the franchise is very important — even for simple things like learning what a P&amp;L is.”<h2>Building for the Future</h2>Looking ahead, the Fleckers are focused on growth. “Our goal is to expand New Hampshire as much as we can, and then possibly open another location in a different state,” Arty said. “We also have adult children that live in Virginia, so our goal is to open a location there. That is a few years down the road.”But beyond expansion, they are also thinking long-term about legacy. “We want to hand this down one day,” Jennifer said. “Woofie’s is very much built to be a family business and something that you can pass down. Veterans who are jumping into this — the faster you do it, the bigger it will be to pass it down to your family in the future!”Arty’s advice is even more direct. “I also think you should start earlier than you think,” he said. “The family aspect is amazing. Jen and I get to see each other every day, which is great. You can really get more satisfaction from running your own business and being successful together.”For the Fleckers, that all-in mentality is nothing new. It’s the same mindset that defined their military careers — and now, it’s driving their success as franchise owners.For more information on franchising with Woofie’s, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/woofies">https://1851franchise.com/woofies</a>.

How These Air Force Veterans Built a Family Business with Woofie’s

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