Russell J. Frith, former President/CEO and current Lawn Doctor Inc. Board Member, has been awarded the 2017 Hall of Fame Award from the International Franchise Association (IFA). The organization’s oldest and most prestigious honor, the Hall of Fame award has been presented annually since 1979. The presentation took place on January 30th, 2017 at the Association’s 57th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV.

Frith’s involvement with franchising spans more than 45 years, yet he was characteristically modest upon accepting the award. He said, “I am truly humbled to be the recipient of the Hall of Fame award. It is an honor that I never dreamed I would receive.”

Frith joins other franchising luminaries in the IFA Hall of Fame, including Ray Kroc, McDonald’s Corp.; Arthur Bartlett, Century 21 Real Estate Corp; Dave Thomas, Wendy’s International; Bill Rosenberg, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Anthony “Tony” Martino, MAACO®. Each IFA Hall of Famer is an IFA member, past or present, who exemplifies the best in franchising and has contributed significantly to the advancement of franchising and the franchising community.

Frith’s involvement with Lawn Doctor began when he became a customer. He and his wife Margaret moved from Philadelphia to a suburb, and he discovered “having a lawn doesn’t mean you know what to do with it.”

The local Lawn Doctor franchisee introduced Frith to Lawn Doctor President and Co-Founder Tony Giordano. This led to conversations about marketing, and was quickly followed by Frith being hired as Lawn Doctor’s Franchise Sales Director in 1978. He was soon promoted to Vice President of Marketing and elected to the company’s Board of Directors. He rapidly advanced to the position of Executive Vice President, and in 1983, was appointed President and CEO. Under his leadership, the company grew tenfold.
“I had the privilege of seeing Lawn Doctor become the largest lawn care franchise, creating some of the most innovative products and services available,” Frith said. “I still feel proud as the company continues to expand in all aspects.”

Today, Frith’s legacy is being carried forward by his son Scott, who worked in various capacities at Lawn Doctor before being appointed CEO when his father retired in 2011.
“I’m very proud of everything my dad has accomplished throughout his career, and whole-heartedly congratulate him for this honor,” Scott Frith said. “I feel so fortunate to be in a position to build on the foundation he put in place.”

Lawn Doctor has made lawns healthier and greener for 50 years. To learn how we can make your yard more beautiful than ever before, fill out the form below or call us at 866-591-8432.