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Innovative New National Drycleaning Brand Bizzie Hires President

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Franchise Veteran Credited with Establishing World’s First Accredited Degree in Franchise Management

June 26, 2013 // Franchising.com // BERKLEY, Mich. – Berkley, Mich.-based bizzie, the revolutionary cleaning service concept that integrates mobile technology and personalized locker service, announced the hiring of Gregory A. Longe as president of the franchised business. Wayne Wudyka, bizzie founder and CEO of its parent company, Clean Brands International, LLC, made the announcement.

Launched in Jan. 2013, bizzie is comprised of three service offerings: home/office pick-up and delivery of drycleaning and laundry, a locker-based delivery solution and on-location cleaning for window treatments and light upholstery. As president, Longe is responsible for scouting and developing new bizzie franchises nationally as well as transitioning current 1-800-DryClean operators—also a part of Clean Brands International, LLC—over to the new bizzie brand. Longe will oversee the brand’s centralized operations, marketing and customer service center, and chart the strategic direction for the company.

“Greg is a well-respected, proven leader with more than 30 years of franchising expertise. His stellar reputation and track record of results truly speak for themselves,” said Wudyka. “With decades of experience launching successful brands and unparalleled knowledge of franchising, he is the ideal leader to grow bizzie.”

Longe’s commitment to the franchising industry recently was acknowledged by Northwood University, where he was instrumental in developing the curriculum for the world’s first accredited degree in franchise management. Private, nonprofit, and accredited, Northwood University specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education at three full-service, residential campuses in Florida, Michigan and Texas, adult degree program centers available online and in more than 20 cities, and the DeVos Graduate School of Management. Consistent with its mission of developing the future leaders of a global, free-enterprise society, Northwood University is offering a new major for fall 2013?Franchising Management.

Dr. Lance Lewis, Northwood’s Michigan academic dean, stated, “This new major recognizes the importance of the franchising industry and goes hand-in-hand with the University’s mission. Franchising already contributes over $2 trillion dollars to the global economy and continues to grow, both domestically and overseas. With the support of partners like the International Franchise Association (IFA) and Northwood alumni such as 30-year veteran franchisor Greg Longe, graduates in this major will provide the future leadership to continue that industry growth. Northwood would like to give a special acknowledgement to Greg Longe who assisted from the inception of the program to date.”

Before joining bizzie, Longe served as president and CEO of Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Service Brands International franchise companies Molly Maid, Inc. and Mr. Handyman International LLC. Immediately prior to joining bizzie, Longe spent five years serving as president of Lapeer, Mich.-based Roosters Men’s Grooming Centers owned by Regis Corporation. He is also the co-founder and served for eight years as CEO of Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Dryer Vent Wizard. Longe founded and managed AFS Group of Companies, a franchisor of seven national brands headquartered in Warren, Mich., and also worked for Troy, Mich.-based Ziebart International where he rose to the rank of vice president of worldwide development.

Wudyka, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and leading authority in the drycleaning, textile restoration and franchising industries, launched bizzie in January 2013. bizzie was created to offer the ultimate convenience for consumers, saving busy customers time by taking cleaning services where they live, work or even park. Customers can drop off dirty garments in secure, on-site lockers, or “bizzie boxes,” and pick them up at their convenience—freshly cleaned. The locker system, using patented processes and smart phone technology, will be installed across the U.S. and Canada in office buildings, residential communities, multifamily residences and parking structures.

About bizzie

bizzie is the revolutionary cleaning service concept for today’s busy individuals. bizzie was founded in 2013 by Clean Brands International, LLC, CEO Wayne Wudyka, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and leading authority in the drycleaning, textile restoration and franchising industries. Clean Brands operates Michigan-based Huntington Cleaners & Shirt Laundry, Wesch Cleaners, CRDN (the Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network) as well as the national 1-800-DryClean franchise that is being rebranded as bizzie. bizzie is comprised of three service offerings: home/office pick-up and delivery of laundry and drycleaning, a locker-based delivery solution and on-location cleaning for window treatments and light upholstery. For more information, visit www.bizzie.com or call (248) 654-7000.

SOURCE CRDN

Contact:

Jeff Schultz
Vice President of Communication
CRDN - The Textile Experts
(800) 520-CRDN, ext. 7870
Direct (248) 246-7870
Fax (248) 246-7868
www.crdn.com

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