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The International Franchise Association named Rebecca "Becky" Grovenstein, a multi-unit Lightbridge Academy franchisee in Holly Springs and Apex, North Carolina, as the recipient of the inaugural IFA Franchisee Cornerstone Award. Selected among IFA's Franchisee of the Year recipients, the Franchisee Cornerstone Award recognizes a franchisee who is not only an exceptional operator and brand ambassador, but also a lasting source of support and leadership for employees, fellow franchisees, and their broader community.
"Becky and Lightbridge represent the best of franchising: a powerful brand, executed by an exceptional local owner in their community," said Matt Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association. "She has built thriving businesses while remaining Miss Becky, the music teacher her students know and love. She has gone above and beyond to invest in career opportunities for educators, supported working families, and helped strengthen the path for other franchisees. Becky Grovenstein's leadership is grounded in service and making this business model even stronger, and that is exactly what the inaugural Cornerstone Award was created to recognize."
Grovenstein and her husband, Brian, became Lightbridge Academy's first franchisees in North Carolina after signing with the early childhood education brand in 2017. They opened their Holly Springs location in September 2020 and their Apex location in May 2021, as families navigated the challenges of the pandemic. Both schools opened with the highest first-day enrollment in Lightbridge Academy history.
"I started as a teacher with a dream to impact the next generation, and today I have the privilege of watching an incredible team carry that dream with me," said Grovenstein. "Franchising gave us the foundation to grow and a platform to advocate for early childhood education, our teachers, and the families we serve. Have the dream. Build the team. Make the plan. And then go make your impact."
Today, the Grovensteins employ 66 teachers and support staff across their two schools, serving working families throughout the region and are developing a third location. Their schools graduate approximately 90 prekindergarten students each year and provide reliable care for families through extended operating hours and a commitment to remain open whenever possible. A former elementary music teacher, Grovenstein continues to teach music at her schools. She also has created career pathways for teachers, including support for required credentialing courses, partnerships with NC Teach scholarships, and opportunities for advancement into leadership roles.
Established in 2026, the Franchisee Cornerstone Award recipient is selected annually by a judging panel from eligible Franchisee of the Year nominees whose brands applied for the award. Grovenstein was also one of 89 individuals named a 2026 IFA Franchisee of the Year honored at the IFA26 Advocacy Summit, Sept. 14-16, in Washington, D.C.