One of Office Pride’s own has been named among the best franchise owners in the country.

Van Sims, owner of Office Pride in Birmingham-Trussville, Ala., has been recognized as a 2026 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA), the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide.

Sims will be honored at the IFA26 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. this September for being an outstanding franchise owner with excellence in entrepreneurship, community outreach, workforce development and service to others.

As a highlight of their time in the nation’s capital, he and other honorees will visit Capitol Hill to participate in congressional meetings to advocate for the franchise business model and share the impact of franchising in local communities.

“This is such a prestigious honor – we’re delighted for Van,” said Office Pride CEO Doug Phillip. “This isn’t the first time he’s received accolades – he was also named our 2026 Office Pride Franchise of the Year at Office Pride’s annual conference.”

Phillip continued, “There’s a reason Van continues to be recognized; he deserves these honors based on exceptional growth, his stewardship in the community and representation of the Office Pride brand. Van is also a veteran. In the military, Van built the skills needed to be a successful business leader. He brought those skills to Office Pride and applied them to build his franchise, and he’s done a great job.”

Sims says that it’s the commitment he’s made to the business that has made all the difference.

“These awards are a reflection of the hard work and dedication that’s been poured into serving my clients and supporting each and every team member,” he said.

Matt Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association, underlines how that commitment changes things for the better.

“Franchisees of the Year demonstrate what franchising is all about – individuals who have committed their lives and careers to the betterment of those around them, building something bigger than themselves,” said Haller. “We celebrate Van’s commitment to making a difference both within his business and beyond.”

So what’s next for Sims? He’s looking forward to the day-to-day: continuing to serve the Birmingham-Trussville area with professional commercial cleaning services and embracing the growth and opportunities ahead. That’s after taking a few photos on Capitol Hill, of course.