Dina Dwyer-Owens

Dina Dwyer-Owens is an acclaimed author, motivational speaker and franchise leader who is passionate about sharing with others the personal and professional benefits of leading a values-driven life.

Dwyer-Owens speaks on stages across the globe and is regularly interviewed on national podcasts and in leading media outlets including Inc., USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, Fortune Small Business, CNN, International Herald Tribune, Working Mother, Ladies’ Home Journal, FOX Business and more.

Dwyer-Owens has more than 38 years of executive leadership experience, including 15 years as CEO of Dwyer Group (now the world’s largest franchisor of home services brands called Neighborly). Much of America knows her best for going undercover as a participant in Season 3 of CBS’ hit reality show, “Undercover Boss,” then again in season 4 of the show on its first-ever episode of “Epic Bosses.”

In 2005, Dwyer-Owens released her first book, “Live R.I.C.H.: How to build success in your company and your life with a proven Code of Values” and became a popular international motivational speaker on the topic of Living R.I.C.H. (Respect, Integrity, Customer focus and Having fun in the process). In 2015, she released her second book, “Values, Inc.”, which was chosen as a Top Ten business book by Forbes. Both books are available for purchase at Values-INC.com.

Dwyer-Owens is the 2010 past chair of the International Franchise Association (IFA), the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. In this role, she testified on behalf of small business owners before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Small Business, was a guest speaker to the China Franchise Expo in Beijing, and shared the stage with President George W. Bush at the 2010 Annual Convention for the IFA, along with her more traditional duties.

Dwyer-Owens also spearheaded the reintroduction of the IFA’s VetFran program in 2001, which now includes some 650 franchisors that offer franchising financial incentives to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. To-date, more than 6,000 military veterans have become franchise owners through the VetFran program. In 2002, the IFA awarded Dwyer-Owens the Bonny LeVine Award, the IFA’s highest award for women who mentor other women and advance the careers of women in franchising.

Dwyer-Owens is married to Mike Owens. They have a daughter, son, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and one grandchild.