After a year of seeing record growth and prosperity, PuroClean, the nation's fastest growing property emergency services franchise, honored one local Franchisee for standing above the rest. To commend his exceptional commitment to helping homeowners recover from water, fire, smoke, and other property crises, Nathan Smith, owner of PuroClean of the Palm Beaches, was recognized as PuroClean's 2009 "Franchisee of the Year."

PuroClean, known as the nation's "Paramedics of Property Damage," shows up on the scene of property disasters to take the necessary steps to bring the situation under control and prevent it from becoming worse. The Tamarac-based company chose Smith for the prestigious award from among nearly 300 franchise owners across the country, presenting him with the honor at the company's annual national convention, held July 28-31, 2009 in Orlando, FL.

Having opened the business at the age of 21, Smith said being recognized as the Franchisee of the Year just four years later has been great validation for all the hard work he has put in.

"I didn't think I would be able to accomplish this much so soon," Smith said. "I definitely would not have been able to achieve this without the support and dedication from my outstanding group of employees."

While winning the award has been a wonderful experience, Smith said being able to provide some needed comfort for families suffering through emergency situations has been even more satisfying.

"When we are called to the scene of property emergencies caused by fires, floods and other disasters, we're dealing with more than just damaged property," said Smith. "While our services focus on restoring property, our mission focuses on offering comfort and peace of mind. It's truly rewarding to help homeowners regain their sense of security during a very stressful time in their lives."

The PuroClean home office chose the "Franchisee of the Year" by using a point system that considered specific criteria, including advocacy of the system, branding, contributions to the system and many other factors. In addition to recognizing him for his commitment to providing superior service to his customers, Smith was also honored for his tireless efforts to unite his fellow Florida Franchisees to compete effectively in the insurance arena.

"Nathan is an extremely hardworking, committed person who exemplifies the commitment to servicing insurance agents and their clients," said Keith Gerson, President and COO of PuroSystems, Inc., the Franchisor and National Support Center for PuroClean Franchisees. "Year after year, he is consistent when it comes to quality customer service and growing his business, and is very deserving of this award."

For more information on PuroClean, visit www.puroclean.com.