Ghadery Recently Served as President and COO
EverSmith Brands, a B2B franchise platform focused on commercial services, has promoted Justin Ghadery to CEO. Formerly serving as president and COO, Ghadery succeeds Ken Hutcheson, who will remain a board adviser.
“Since joining in 2024 as COO, we’ve focused on professionalizing the platform: strengthening leadership development, improving unit economics, building scalable infrastructure and reinforcing a culture of accountability and service,” Ghadery said. “During this time, we have grown from three franchised brands to seven brands as of 2026, more than doubling our franchisees to over 330 franchise owners and 700-plus territories. While certainly a proud milestone in my career, I am confident this would not have been the same outcome without the hundreds of incredible team members we have who are obsessed with supporting franchisees through every step of their journeys.”
Ghadery’s professional background includes leadership roles as a franchisor, franchisee and executive within private equity-backed platforms, as well as eight years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He currently serves as vice chair of VetFran, a program of the International Franchise Association focused on helping veterans pursue franchise ownership.
“My military experience drew me into business models that combined structure, accountability and opportunity, while still allowing individuals to build something of their own,” he said. ”Franchising does exactly that. When franchising is done well, you’re not just growing a brand – you’re creating pathways for entrepreneurs to achieve independence, stability and pride of ownership, while providing meaningful careers for their teams. Helping others win at that level is incredibly fulfilling.”
Building Trust Through Strong Leadership
Ghadery credited the Marine Corps for shaping how he views leadership. “Leading Marines taught me that rank doesn’t make you a leader; trust does,” he said. “Franchising reinforced those lessons. Success in the world of franchising requires alignment, consistency and the ability to lead through influence rather than authoritative control. My military experience gave me the foundation, and my franchising career taught me how to apply those principles in complex, high-growth business environments, with people at the intersection of all roads along the way.”
He said leading with clarity is key to being effective as CEO. “I also do my best to role model the things we have most control over: our attitude and effort. Those two things have served me well throughout my career because I don’t give anyone the power to control those two things over me.”
Michael Eblin, senior operating partner at EverSmith Brands’ parent company, The Riverside Company, praised Ghadery’s franchising expertise and successful track record. “We are thrilled to promote Justin and have him lead EverSmith Brands into its next phase of growth,” Eblin said.
Investing in a Franchise
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Ghadery emphasized the importance of investing in a brand that aligns with their values. ”Franchising isn’t passive ownership. The most successful owners are servant leaders who care deeply about their people, their customers and their community. If you’re willing to work hard, follow proven systems and lead with humility, franchising can be an incredible path to both personal and professional fulfillment.
“While unit economics are important – and you should absolutely look for strong ones – they shouldn’t be the only factor. Equally critical are leadership integrity, robust support systems and a culture that genuinely invests in its franchisees.”
Outside of work, Ghadery finds purpose in spending time with family, traveling and learning about topics others may find uninteresting.
About EverSmith Brands
EverSmith Brands’ portfolio of franchises include Clintar, Kitchen Guard, 1-Tom-Plumber, The SEALS, Prism Specialties, MilliCare and U.S. Lawns.
