Family has always been the heartbeat of UFG. We honor that legacy at our first corporate meeting each year with awards that recognize employee achievements and the individuals who shaped our culture. This tradition also reflects our sports-loving roots. With a founder and CEO who played college basketball, employees who are die-hard sports fans, and even one who played in the NFL, it’s no surprise that many of our awards draw inspiration from athletics.
You’ll hear familiar titles like MVP (Most Valuable Player), MIP (Most Improved Player), and HOF (Hall of Fame). But some of our most meaningful awards carry names with deep roots in our history:
- The UFG Kishlar Byrne Award – honoring Bill Kishlar and Jack Byrne, longtime employees of Roy Titus and Minuteman Press. These two giants not only displayed tremendous loyalty to their friend and boss but also played a key role in shaping the vision of Signarama. UFG recipients of this award exemplify outstanding loyalty and dedication to our company.
- The Gary Rockwell Award – recognizing another longtime employee of Roy Titus and Minuteman Press, whose vision and investment helped grow Signarama. This award is given to an individual who consistently demonstrates excellence and makes a positive impact across the company.
- The JJ Prendamano Award – named after our late General Manager and Ray’s father-in-law, honoring an employee who embodies mentorship, teaching, loyalty, enthusiasm, and teamwork.
- The Roy Titus Hall of Fame – named after Ray’s father, Roy Titus, founder of Minuteman Press, whose leadership and entrepreneurial vision helped create Signarama and laid the foundation for all of UFG.
Our founders—and longtime leaders like Jim Butler, Nick Bruckner Sr., and Jim Tatem—laid the cornerstones of United Franchise Group. Back in 1986, there was only Signarama. Personal computers weren’t common. Cell phones didn’t exist. Sales teams traveling from trade show to trade show carried quarters for pay phones. Contracts weren’t signed through DocuSign but mailed or signed in person. Through it all, one truth stood out: our founders believed in the business, but more importantly, they believed in each other.
That spirit remains at the heart of UFG today. When we talk about “family” at United Franchise Group, it includes everyone—our colleagues across the hall, remote employees, sales team members in the field, franchise owners, and even their employees. Together, we are bound by the same foundation: trust, support, and shared success.
We’ve proven that strength as a family through challenges, especially during the pandemic in 2020. While many companies stopped selling franchises, UFG adapted and grew. We doubled Discovery Day Tours by moving online. Our brands and teams met daily and stayed in constant communication with franchisees and vendors to determine the best path forward. Many of our brands had their best year yet! It was truly inspiring to see our employees unite and embrace flexibility to sustain growth and success.
Our strength has always come from the foundation they built—a foundation of trust, perseverance, and family. Today, we honor our founders by continuing what they started: growing strong brands, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, and supporting one another like family. Their vision continues to guide us, and their legacy remains the heartbeat of United Franchise Group.