Fort Lauderdale business owner recognized by world’s oldest and largest franchising association during Annual Convention in Las Vegas; Recognized for excellence in business, giving back, and providing opportunities to those around them.

LAS VEGAS, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The International Franchise Association (IFA) has named Marie Denise Simmons, owner of Wisdom Senior Care in Fort Lauderdale Florida, 2024 Franchisee of the Year. Simmons was honored on February 11, 2025, at the 65th IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator. Each year, the IFA recognizes a top franchisee from of each of their member brands from across the country and around the world whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model with the esteemed award. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for serving in their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, creating opportunities for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.

“Franchisees of the Year represent the very best of franchising,” said Matt Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association. “They embody the American Dream, create economic opportunity, serve their communities and show what it means to go into business for yourself, but not by yourself. We are proud to recognize Marie Denise Simmons with the highest honor IFA awards to individual franchisees, and we salute her tireless efforts to lift up all those she serves.”

Simmons’s journey began in 2009 when she was faced with one of the most difficult decisions of her lifetime: to continue a career in Media Relations in New York City or to move to Florida to care for her aging parents. Simmons chose the latter. Years later, faced with a growing family of her own and the increasing healthcare needs of her parents, she found that her peace of mind and her parents’ safety were both in jeopardy. On the brink of becoming burnt out, she concluded that she could no longer go at it alone and hired caregivers to manage her parents’ in-home care. This proved to be one was the best decisions. Not only did she experience relief and an improved quality of life, but she felt joy and peace knowing that her parents were being treated with respect and compassion. This awakened a new passion and purpose in Simmons. She began honoring her parents’ legacy by giving back to elders in her community starting with the senior members of her church family and eventually opened a Wisdom Senior Care franchise.

Wisdom Senior Care is a growing franchise whose mission is to create sustainable solutions for seniors that enable them to be nurtured with compassionate care while living happily in the comfort of their own homes. In 2006, the franchise, founded by Carolyn Thurston, first began serving the Durham, North Carolina area and has since expanded nationwide. Wisdom Senior Care is dedicated to leading with faith and compassion and is known for providing high-quality training and support for its owners and staff.

There are approximately 830,000 franchised businesses across the U.S., providing nearly 9 million direct jobs and generating over $896 billion in economic output. According to Oxford Economics, franchising on average provides higher wages and better benefits than non-franchised businesses, as well as greater entrepreneurial opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, and other underrepresented communities. 

About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchises worldwide. Through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs, IFA works to protect, enhance and promote approximately 830,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $896.9 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.

CONTACT: Katherine Knight Patterson
[email protected]
(202) 662-0783

SOURCE Wisdom Senior Care