International Award Presented To Howard County Swim School Owner

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Goldfish Swim School owner Scott Payne has received the International Franchise Association’s Franchisee of the Year Award. The annual recognition honors a select group of franchisees who have demonstrated excellence within the franchise community.

The Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by IFA’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchisees who exemplify at least one of IFA’s “Open for Opportunity” core pillars: community, workforce, diversity, equity and inclusion, and veterans. The winners were recognized during the association's annual convention award ceremony held Feb. 28-March 1 in San Diego, Calif.

Payne owns Goldfish Swim School – Columbia, Fox Chapel, Peters Township, Silver Spring, Superior, Wexford with his wife Christy. Together they have hosted numerous charitable events, celebrated team members and the community, and recently partnered with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, raising $45,000 and granting 10 wishes.

"When we started this journey in 2014, we were determined to provide swim safety skills within our Wexford, Penn., community and offer families peace of mind in and around the water. Now, eight years and seven schools later, we realize that this is about so much more. We are creating confident and independent swimmers, growing water safety awareness and shattering drowning statistics through education and prevention, and offering the awesome opportunity to provide emerging professionals full-time work in a life-saving industry," Payne said.

Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years, teaching children how to be safer in and around the water.

“Scott and his family are beyond deserving of this award,” Chris McCuiston, CEO and co-founder of Goldfish Swim School, said. “Their passion and commitment to the brand has not gone unnoticed and to see them accept this award among franchising’s greatest players is a true honor. From embracing our core values, to volunteering to take on new projects, to adding more schools to their portfolios, they’ve helped set the foundation for continued growth and opportunity while committing to our brand’s lifesaving mission.”