Summary

What makes a franchise system durable enough to grow through recessions, COVID, supply-chain disruption and technological change?

Kim Gubera believes it begins with relationships, strong foundations and franchise owners who are genuinely invested in their local businesses.

This week on Franchise Today, Stan Friedman welcomes Kim Gubera, President and CEO of PIRTEK USA and Canada.

Kim brings 26 years of franchise experience. Before joining PIRTEK in 2016, she spent 16 years helping U.S. Lawns grow from approximately 50 to 250 locations. She joined PIRTEK as corporate controller, advanced to CFO and vice president, and became CEO in January 2019.

Today, she leads a system of more than 200 active franchises providing mobile hydraulic and industrial hose replacement. PIRTEK’s one-hour ETA service model helps customers minimize costly equipment downtime while combining the strength of a national organization with the commitment of locally owned operators.

Stan and Kim discuss:

• Why ambition and resilience matter more than a candidate’s résumé
• The advantages of a true owner-operator franchise model
• How technicians and employees can progress into franchise ownership
• Why measured growth allows a franchisor to provide better support
• What COVID and supply-chain disruption taught PIRTEK about adaptability
• How AI may improve hose-life prediction and simplify access to thousands of parts
• The evolving role of private equity in franchising
• Why culture and values matter more than trying to predict the next ten years

Kim also shares the deeply personal franchisee stories that continue to inspire her—including an owner who used the business he built to repay his daughter’s student loans.

This is a conversation about growth, but not growth at any cost. It is about building franchise relationships and operating foundations strong enough to endure whatever comes next.