PIRTEK USA, a leading provider of mobile and retail hydraulic and industrial hose services, has named Doug Smith as its new vice president of franchise development.
With more than a decade of experience in franchise development and a career spanning restaurant operations, sales and financial services, Smith will lead PIRTEK USA's continued franchise expansion across the country.
Smith joins PIRTEK after nearly a decade with BELFOR, where he helped grow the company's home services franchise portfolio from six to 15 brands. His experience includes working with established franchise systems as well as helping turn emerging concepts into scalable franchise opportunities.
"I've been fortunate to see franchising from a lot of different angles, from working directly with franchisees to helping build franchise systems from the ground up," said Smith. "What attracted me to PIRTEK is the opportunity to help people create something of their own while joining an essential business that supports other essential businesses and makes a meaningful contribution to the communities we serve. It's particularly rewarding to work with those who may be looking for a new direction in their careers. You don't necessarily have to know the hydraulic hose business; you just need strong business and people skills, along with a willingness to learn."
Prior to entering franchising, Smith spent more than a decade in the restaurant industry, transitioning to restaurant equipment and supply sales and later to financial services. That experience gave him a firsthand understanding of the demands of business ownership and the importance of problem-solving, adaptability, and relationship-building.
Smith's approach to franchise development centers on educating candidates about the opportunity rather than simply selling them on a concept. He believes successful franchisees can come from a variety of professional backgrounds when they have the right business acumen and are willing to leverage the systems, training, and support available to them.
"Doug [Smith] brings extensive franchise development expertise and a strong network of trusted relationships with franchise consultants across the industry," said Kim Gubera, CEO of PIRTEK USA and PIRTEK Canada. "His ability to build credibility with consultants and understand what candidates are seeking will be invaluable as we continue to expand our franchise network. We're excited to welcome him to team PIRTEK, and I am confident he will play an important role in driving our continued growth."
In his new role, Smith will focus on building relationships with prospective franchisees and franchise consultants while continuing to expand PIRTEK's presence in markets nationwide. He will also work closely with existing franchisees to expand their businesses into new territories, extending PIRTEK's unmatched hydraulic and industrial hose service — and its 1-Hour ETA and 24/7/365 on site emergency response model — to more customers and communities.
To learn more about PIRTEK franchise opportunities, visit www.pirtekusafranchise.com.
