Dream Vacations has awarded Fredericksburg, Virginia resident and Army wife Stacy Evans with a free Dream Vacations franchise.
The award was part of the home-based travel agency franchise's partnership with MilitarySpouse magazine to host a contest for military spouses who want to enter the travel industry.
Dream Vacations, a CruiseOne company, cited the 2016 Department of Defense Survey of Active Duty Spouses, that found an approximately 23 percent unemployment rate among active duty spouses who, on average, spend five months looking for a new job.
The company said that behind the award is its recognition that military spouses in the job market are looking for flexibility to create their own hours and need a virtual office as a result of frequent moves in the military.
"Being a military spouse is one of the hardest jobs there is," said Tim Courtney, vice president of franchise development and ambassador of veteran affairs. "As a result of having spouses who serve in the military and spend extended periods of time away from home as well as require frequent career moves, military spouses are extremely resilient, well-traveled and have to be organized.
"These traits are the glue which keeps families together and also makes a successful franchise owner," he added. "We believe owning a travel franchise is one way military spouses can earn extra income while having the flexibility of working from home."
Evans, who has an entrepreneurial background, in 2002 launched an internet company providing updated BIOS (Basic Input Output System) chips for desktop computers. She sold it in 2009.
That job afforded her the time to be a stay-at-home mom and in 2014 she decided she wanted to go back to work. In 2015 she graduated from the 61st Basic Police Academy and started working with the Animal Protection Unit shortly after. Due to the long hours and commute resulting in many hours away from home, she decided to find a home-based business opportunity that gives her the flexibility to be there for her kids.
"When my friend shared the link to the Dream Vacations Franchise contest on Facebook I thought that would be a perfect fit for me," said Evans. "I truly believe everyone should have a hobby or activity just for them that brings them happiness. I'd want a business that would be portable if we were to move again; a business doing something that I enjoy."
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Candidates for the free franchise participated in a phone interview and wrote a brief essay describing why owning a home-based travel franchise would be a valuable opportunity for their family.
There were twenty finalists and one final winner. The grand prize is valued at $12,700 and includes a complimentary Dream Vacations franchise and week-long franchise training at the Dream Vacations' world headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
In addition to the waived $9,800 initial start-up fee and monthly service fees, Evans will be reimbursed up to $500 for travel and receive complimentary accommodations during her training. Following training, she'll be able to take the business on the road if her husband is relocated.
Dream Vacations, which is committed to giving back to the military community, also hosts Operation Vetrepreneur, an annual contest that awards five franchises to veterans; gives a 20 percent discount off the franchise fee, and offers additional discounts for hiring former members of the U.S. military or active-duty military spouses as associates.
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