(PRESS RELEASE) JACKSONVILLE, NC & ASHBURN, VA — Woofie’s, a national franchise specializing in pet sitting, dog walking, and premium mobile pet grooming services, announced that its Woofie’s of Greater Jacksonville Franchise Owners Crystal Witt and Neil Dakake have been recognized with a 2026 Franchisee Excellence Award by Franchise Business Review, a leading independent franchise research firm. This national recognition honors top-performing franchise owners who exemplify exceptional leadership, business performance, and commitment to their communities.
Crystal and Neil were selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by franchise brands that participate in Franchise Business Review’s franchisee satisfaction research. The Franchisee Excellence Awards spotlight franchise owners who consistently set the standard for operational excellence, financial performance, and brand leadership across the franchise industry.
“Franchisees are the backbone of every successful franchise system, and the Franchisee Excellence Awards recognize those who truly elevate their brands through leadership, performance, and integrity,” said Eric Stites, Founder and CEO of Franchise Business Review. “These award winners are not only high achievers, they are role models. Their commitment to excellence, their teams, and their communities is what drives long-term success in franchising.”
After Crystal’s overcoming breast cancer, and with a desire to inspire their children to chase meaningful goals, Crystal and husband Neil launched Woofie’s of Greater Jacksonville in 2024. Since then, they have built a skilled local crew, a strong team culture, and have seen significant franchise growth. Woofie’s of Greater Jacksonville’s talented, AKC S.A.F.E.-certified groomers, trained in pet CPR and first aid, and its 24/7 vet telehealth support help ensure a high level of safety and service for every pet. Crystal and Neil also actively mentor fellow Woofie’s franchisees, and Crystal has been selected to serve on the 2026 Woofie’s Franchise Advisory Council. Deeply engaged in the community, they partner with local rescues, donate grooming services, host adoption and fundraising events, and proudly support military families at nearby Camp Lejeune.
“Choosing to become a Woofie’s franchisee has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my life,” said Crystal. “Building this business with my husband and our children; leading a compassionate, highly trained team, and serving our local community and military families has been an incredible journey. I’m grateful for this recognition and excited for what’s next.”
Amy Addington, Co-founder and President of Woofie’s said, “Crystal and Neil exemplify what makes the Woofie’s franchisee family so exceptional. They have brought premium, personalized pet care to North Carolina with a passion for service and a community-first mindset. We are proud to see them receive this well-deserved recognition, and we value Crystal’s active mentorship of other franchisees through the Woofie’s advisory council.”
Advertisement
To view the full list of 2026 Franchisee Excellence Award recipients, visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com/franchisee-excellence-awards.
For more information about opening a Woofie’s franchise visit ownawoofies.com.
About Woofie’s
Founded in 2004 and franchising since 2018, Woofie’s is the first and only franchise in the professional pet care services industry to offer combined services of pet sitting, dog walking and mobile pet spa services. Woofie’s is further set apart by its completely customizable services and focus on customer service. Today, there are 70 locations open and operating in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
About Authority Brands
Authority Brands’ companies include 15 leading home service franchise brands: America’s Swimming Pool Co., Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Lawn Squad, Mister Sparky, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, Service Team of Professionals Restoration and Woofie’s. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,700 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology and operational support. See authoritybrands.com for more information.
About Franchise Business Review
Franchise Business Review is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and franchise employees and publishes independent guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners across more than 1,300 franchise brands. FBR’s research and awards are based solely on verified franchisee feedback, making them one of the most credible benchmarks in the franchise industry. Learn more at FranchiseBusinessReview.com.
