Aire Serv - Meet the Aire Serv® Team

Meet the Aire Serv® Team

The Aire Serv® Team Intro

Aire Serv® is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group®, which employs over 500 people across the United States and Canada. It would be difficult to list them all here, so we will list only some of the people who are a part of Aire Serv's success.

Dina Dwyer-Owens
CEO and Chairwoman of The Dwyer Group®

Since January 1999, Dina Dwyer-Owens has served as president and CEO of The Dwyer Group, Inc. Dwyer-Owens is responsible for strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, development of corporate culture and team, and the overall experience that franchisees, shareholders and associates have with The Dwyer Group®. She was honored with the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Bonny LeVine Award in 2002 and was named Working Mother of the Year by Working Mother magazine in 2003.

Under her leadership, The Dwyer Group® has grown and received many honors including: being listed as one of Fortune Small Business magazine’s “Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in America” for 2002, merging with The Riverside Company in a public-to-private transaction in 2003, and having TDG brands listed among Entrepreneur magazine’s “Franchise 500” for five consecutive years.

Dina has a wonderful husband and two children and as a family they enjoy traveling and the outdoors.

Doyle James
President

Doyle James grew up in the family plumbing, heating and air conditioning business in Dayton, Ohio – literally from the ground up, digging ditches. In 1989 he purchased a Mr. Rooter® franchise where he won the “Rookie of the Year” award, and introduced him to The Dwyer Group®. In 1997, he came to work full time as a Franchise Systems Manager for The Dwyer Group, and then became VP of Operations for Aire Serv®. During this time he twice won the FSM of the year for The Dwyer Group. He moved to the corporate headquarters in 2003 to accept the position as Chief Operating Officer for Aire Serv and was promoted to President in February 2004.

James has been married to the same beautiful woman, Pat, for more than 24 years. He has two daughters, Elyse and Ariel, that are carbon copies of him and his wife Pat. His hobbies include travel, cycling and working on his racquetball game.

Chris Elmore
Vice President

Chris Elmore started in the HVAC industry as a teenager coming to work with his Dad. Being around the industry (and trying every type of job he could in HVAC) gave him the desire to become a technician. He was a service technician for five years before joining an Aire Serv® franchise in Virginia. He was promoted to service manager and managed a crew of more than 15 technicians, four dispatchers and maintenance techs. He was responsible for implementing the Aire Serv® systems in stages for the franchise. In 2000, Elmore began working for The Dwyer Group® as a Franchise Systems Manager for Aire Serv. In this role he supported the Aire Serv franchisees with their day-to-day development of their businesses. In 2004, Elmore took the position of Vice President of Operations with Aire Serv and moved with his family to Waco to work at The Dwyer Group world headquarters.

Elmore grew up in Virginia Beach, Va. He now lives in Waco with his wife, Laura, and their children, Caleb and Hannah. Elmore likes to play disc golf, roller hockey and Xbox with his son.

Tracy Brackeen
Executive Assistant

Tracy Brackeen joined the Aire Serv® team in March 2000. Before joining Aire Serv, she was a stay at home mom for 1 ½ years at which time she decided it was time to go back into the work force outside the home. Prior to that Brackeen was Manager of the Underwriting Department at a Life Insurance Company from August 1990 to August 1998 where she had more than 30 people on staff. She has a strong background in office management.

Brackeen was born and raised in Waco, Texas. She and her husband Clint have three girls, Tori, Taylor and Katie. In her spare time, Brackeen enjoys camping, fishing and coaching her daughter’s volleyball team.

David Perkins
Franchise Consultant

David Perkins received his MBA in Business and Administration, with a concentration in leadership, and gained a deep background in consulting work for the software and hardware industry before joining the Aire Serv team.

Spending nearly three years working with national brands, including new start-ups, conversions and small-to-large businesses, Perkins is now excited to help Aire Serv franchise owners work on their business, not in it, by fully utilizing the Aire Serv systems.

Randy Smith
Franchise Consultant

Randy Smith joined the Aire Serv corporate team after being an Aire Serv franchise owner for seven years, where he was responsible for field operations, marketing, advertising and was the sales manager.

Now as a Franchise Consultant, Smith is using his business experiences and training to assisting Aire Serv franchise owners across North America in implementing systems and helping the companies meet their customer's expectations.

Tommy Dutton
Franchise Consultant

Tommy Dutton is from the Greenville South Carolina area where he began his business career. He learned in his parents businesses of commercial refrigeration, heating and air conditioning which his father owned, and the furniture upholstery and decorating business, which his mother owned. He operated a successful commercial refrigeration business which he sold in 1999 and an Aire Serv® franchise which he sold in 2004. Since selling his Aire Serv business he has worked for The Dwyer Group® as a Franchise Systems Manager for Aire Serv.

He has been married to Patricia who has been very supportive of his business career since 1972. They have three adult children and three grandchildren. After the sale of his Aire Serv business he and Patricia bought a second home in Las Vegas where their son in law is founder and pastor of a Southern Baptist Church. Tommy and Patricia split their time between their homes in Las Vegas and South Carolina so that they can be active in the Church in Las Vegas and their home church as well as spending more time with their daughter and grandchildren. On most Saturday nights he can be found at the local NASCAR track in Greenville, S.C. or Las Vegas.

Chuck Sternod
Northwest Region
Master Licensee

Chuck Sternod’s background in the plumbing, heating and cooling service industry goes back 47 years. Beginning as a plumbing and heating apprentice in the U.S. Air Force in 1957, he earned his Journeyman status in 1963 and received his Master License in 1969. Over the years, he has continually upgraded his knowledge and skills by attending numerous seminars and courses and developing a library of tapes and videos related to his field.

Sternod was a founding member of the Washington Plumbing Heating & Cooling Contractor Association in 1982. He served in every board capacity including the presidency during 1986–1987. He was Membership Coordinator from 1988 to 1989, formed five local Chapters in Washington State and was appointed Executive Director in 1990. He served on the National Association’s Long Range Planning Committee in 1990 and chosen to form a State Association in the State of Wyoming, which was completed and chartered in 1991. Additionally, Sternod has written several articles in the National Trade publications.

In 1993, Sternod was the first to be awarded the prestigious President’s Ring from The Dwyer Group® of Waco, Texas for excellence in franchise sales by selling more than 10 franchises in one year. Sternod was a founding member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) Advisory Council and served two years on the Board.

Sternod was awarded the first Master Franchise License in the U.S. from The Dwyer Group. He was a founding member of the Sno-King Chapter of Air-Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) in 1993 and served as the Chapter’s Executive Manager.

Sternod was twice chosen the recipient of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractor Association “Person of the Year Award” in 1988 and 1990.

Robert Tunmire
Executive Vice President
The Dwyer Group®

Robert Tunmire has 29 years of experience in the franchising industry and is widely known for his ability to grow companies. He was the President of GlassDoctor®, a 30-year old company, since it was acquired by The Dwyer Group® in July 1998 with 28 franchisees and through July 2005. It now has more than 140 franchises nationwide.

Tunmire has served as Executive Vice President of The Dwyer Group® since 1998. Prior to this, he was President and CEO of The Dwyer Group since 1994 after leaving the position of President of the Mr. Rooter Corporation®, one of The Dwyer Group companies.

As a very young man, in 1975, he opened his first franchise for Rainbow International Carpet Dyeing & Cleaning® (now Rainbow International Carpet Cleaning & Restoration Specialist®), a Dwyer Group company. After selling his franchise and buying and selling another, he joined the home office in 1980 and began work for Rainbow International, which was to become the flagship company of The Dwyer Group.

Tunmire takes an active role in the training of all new GlassDoctor franchisees. He supervises all of the sales to new franchise owners and speaks with many of the franchisees on a regular basis. He believes it takes continuous training and support to grow companies and when companies grow, people blossom! The Dwyer Group operates by a Code of Values^TM that Tunmire definitely lives by.

Tunmire is married to a wonderful woman named Kitty. They have four children, two girls and two boys. His greatest priority is building his relationship with Christ. He also enjoys road trips on his Harley with his wife and gardening.

Mike Hawkins
Vice President of Franchising
The Dwyer Group®

Mike Hawkins is the Vice President of franchising, is 58 years of age, married 37 years to his wife Mary, has three children and two grandchildren. Hawkins went into business for himself when he was 22 in the Insurance business and invested in a franchise at the age of 24. Hawkins owned and operated a training franchise for four years in Iowa. He joined the home office in Waco, Texas and came over to The Dwyer Group® in May of 1995. Hawkins and his wife’s hobbies include gardening, fishing and camping.

Pat Humberg
Director of Lead Development
The Dwyer Group®

Pat Humburg is Director of Lead Development. Her responsibilities include generation of all incoming leads, direct mail campaigns for all seven concepts, telemarketing for franchise sales and customer surveys.

Humburg was born and raised in Waco, Texas and attended Tarleton State University. She has been with The Dwyer Group® since 1981.

She is active in her church and her hobbies include gardening, cooking, interior design, traveling, fishing and helping others.

Eddie Baker
Franchise Director

Eddie Baker was born in Alabama and moved to Texas in 1983. Baker is married to wife Dyana and has three children. He joined the Aire Serv® Team in 1996 and has won numerous awards.

Baker's hobbies include all things related to Alabama football, fishing and golfing and spending time with his family.

Bruce Knudson
Franchise Director

Bruce Knudson received a BBA degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Knudson owned an independent insurance agency with five locations for 26 years and sold his business in August 2004.

Knudson has a wonderful wife, Cindy, and three boys ages 19, 23 and 25. Knudson likes to spend time with family, playing golf and he loves game day at College Station, Texas watching Texas A & M football.

Gary Landon
Franchise Director

Gary Landon has a BA Degree in Radio / TV / Film (Telecommunications) from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Gary and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 20 years.

Debbie and Gary are “health nuts” who enjoy working out often at a local gym.

They have four children (three girls and one boy) – Sharayah (18), Cassia (9), Charis (6) and Josh (12). Sharayah recently got married and lives in Denton, Texas. Cassia and Charis both compete in gymnastics. Josh plays roller hockey and is on the youth leadership team at their church.

The Landon family is an active part of Antioch Community Church Waco, Texas.

Gary enjoys weight lifting, listening to music and reading.

Jerry Locklin
Franchise Director

Jerry Locklin has 25 years of sales, marketing and general management experience as a dynamic, highly motivated retail management and logistics professional. Locklin has extensive experience in new product market introductions, product mix planning, loss prevention and staff development. He has the ability to inspire and implement start up vision and operations of new businesses and fast growth ventrures generated by organizational change or unique market opportunity.

Locklin is married with two grown children and his hobbies include golf and sports.

Charlie Baker
Resale Department

Charlie Baker is 62 years old, married to Andi 40 years, has three grown children (including Eddie with Aire Serv®), and eight wonderful grandchildren.

Baker is a native of Birmingham, Ala. He began college as an adult student after a term in the Air Force. He earned an associate’s degree from Walker College; a BA (Business and History) from UAB; and a MA in Educational Leadership from UAB.

Baker's hobbies are bridge, golf and reading.

Ronnie Musick
Franchise Director

Ronnie Musick served as vice president of sales and marketing for a world wide training and consulting firm for the last six years prior to coming to Aire Serv®. He has been in the sales and marketing industry for the last 10 years.

A native Texan, Musick enjoys fishing, camping and spending time with his family.

Gretchen Rogers
Franchise Director

Gretchen Rogers owned and operated a cloth diaper service business, Tender Bottoms, from 1990 to 1997 in Bakersfield, Calif. before operating several Internet businesses and becoming the Top leader in sales for several affiliate companies.

Rogers has sold manufactured homes and modulars for Fleetwood Retail Center and Palm Harbor Village, was salesman of the month for two consecutive months, November and December 2004, and has sold radio advertisements for a locally owned and operated radio station.

In August 2005, Rogers joined The Dwyer Group® in the Lead Development department and was awarded the opportunity to go to El Paso and earn the Franchise Management Certification Program Certificate in April 2006. Shortly after, she made Top Producer for the month of July 2006 and was promoted to Franchise Director for Aire Serv® in December 2006.

Brian Peters
Sure Start Franchise Consultant

Brian Peters has a diverse background in the service industry, which includes working in residential sales and services and later working for The Dwyer Group as a Franchise Director for Glass Doctor and Mr. Rooter.

Now, Peters has joined Aire Serv as the Sure Start Franchise Consultant to help new franchise owners put all the proper systems and software in place to make the best first impression they can.

Wesley Hogue
Franchise Systems Specialist

Wesley Hogue is a graduate of the MBA program at Baylor University with a concentration in Finance. While attending Baylor he had the opportunity to consult for several organizations both small and large; from a small software startup to the Texas State Comptroller’s Office. Other organizations he consulted for included a hospital in Waco, the Coca-Cola Minutemaid bottling company and Brinker (owners of the Chili’s restaurants). He is extremely excited about being part of the Aire Serv® team.

Jennifer Jackson
Sure Start Coordinator

Jennifer Jackson joined the Aire Serv® family in November 2006. Before joining Aire Serv, she worked for another concept at The Dwyer Group®. There she assisted and coordinated the making of their Sure Start Program. Jackson has been apart of The Dwyer Group since May 2002. Prior to that, she worked in the medical field at Hillcrest Hospital.

Steve Truett
VP of Marketing
The Dwyer Group®

Since January 2005, Steve Truett has served as vice president of marketing for The Dwyer Group, Inc. Truett is responsible for managing the department’s budget and operations, the advertising agency of record, the public relations and communications efforts, coordinating national advertising and marketing planning for each Dwyer Group brand, and various other executive management functions.

Truett has been in the franchising industry for more than 18 years and is a member if the International Franchise Association (IFA).

Under his leadership, the Dwyer Group’s marketing department has grown significantly, increasing the in-house services offered to The Dwyer Group franchisees more than ever before. Truett has played a key role in the development of new concept Web sites, the in-house creative team, the cross-promotional consumer magazine—My Home Life^TM—and with bringing multi-media development and public relations into the department.

Kari Sanders
Marketing Specialist

Kari Sanders received her bachelor's degree in Marketing with a minor in Management from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. Before joining Aire Serv, she was Marketing Coordinator for Time Warner Cable in Waco, Texas where she placed TV, radio and newspaper buys, managed direct mail campaigns, billboards, yellow pages advertising and CSR training.

As Marketing Specialist for Aire Serv, Sanders is responsible for all creative work produced in-house, including: direct mail, yellow pages, newspaper, radio, television, inserts, flyers, Web sites, CD media, signs and billboards. Sanders has the approval of all media that touches the consumer both locally and nationally to uphold the brand to improve the companies brand awareness, promotion dissemination and service to its customers.

Julina Macy
Marketing Communications
Specialist

A native Houstonian, Julina Macy received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations at the University of Houston. Before joining Aire Serv®, she was Marketing Coordinator for the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau where she assisted in PR and marketing efforts that promoted Houston museums, theater performances, sport events and conventions while working with a variety of cultures and organizations.

As MarCom Specialist for Aire Serv, Macy is responsible for focusing on all PR efforts and assisting with marketing directed to each franchisee owner, developing owner profiles, managing the AireStream newsletter, creating consumer-focused press releases and pitching media on story ideas.