Public ceremony will also honor three companion medalist – Jack Day, Steve Popper and Buddy Raney
West Palm Beach, Fla., USA (October 12, 2023) – On Tuesday, November 14, Palm Beach Atlantic (PBA) University will host its annual American Free Enterprise (AFE) medal ceremony to recognize four individuals whose hard work and achievement exemplify the best of the American free enterprise system. PBA has celebrated American Free Enterprise Day since 1984, affirming the values that have built American society and the principles on which the university was founded. The 2023 AFE medalist of the year is Dina Dwyer-Owens, an acclaimed author, motivational speaker and franchise leader. Three business leaders will also be recognized as companion medalists: Steve Popper, founder, president and CEO of Meals of Hope; Jack Day, vice president of Franchise Development for Meals of Hope and Buddy Raney, founder of Raney Construction, Inc, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Since its launch, AFE has recognized 38 medalists and 184 companion medalists.
The 2023 medalist and companion medalists will be honored at 11 a.m., November 14 in the Rubin Arena of the Greene Complex for Sports and Recreation, 1100 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. The public is invited to attend. The ceremony will feature patriotic music and the color guard. In addition to the recognition of the medalists, the event will honor scholarship recipients, feature patriotic music, live orchestral performances, enchanting choir renditions, and the presence of the Color Guard. The public is invited to celebrate American Free Enterprise Day with PBA. For more information about the free event, visit pba.edu/AFE.
“We are excited to honor individuals who embody the spirit of American Free Enterprise, those whose unwavering commitment to hard work, innovation, and the principles of our great nation have shaped their own success and enriched our society,” said Dr. Debra Schwinn, president of Palm Beach Atlantic University. “Dina Dwyer-Owens, Steve Popper, Jack Day, and Buddy Raney exemplify what can be achieved through determination and entrepreneurial vision. Dina, our esteemed Medalist of the Year, has not only left an indelible mark on the world of franchising, but, through her writing and talks, has inspired countless others to embrace the values of respect, integrity, customer focus, and the joy of the journey. In the spirit of American Free Enterprise, may we continue to celebrate the values that drive progress, innovation, and prosperity.”
Meet the Awardees:
Medalist of the Year
As medalist of the year, Dina Dwyer-Owens has more than 40 years 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. 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, 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. 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 her the Bonny LeVine Award, its highest award for women who mentor other women and advance the careers of women in franchising. She is also the first solo female member to be inducted into the IFA Hall of Fame. A globally renowned speaker, Dwyer-Owens is frequently interviewed on national podcasts and in leading media outlets including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Bloomberg, Forbes. She gives God all the glory for the opportunities He has provided and is especially grateful for her family.
Companion Medalists
Stephen Popper is the visionary founder, president, and CEO of Meals of Hope, a remarkable nonprofit organization dedicated to combating hunger nationwide. Popper’s journey began in 2007 when he responded to a call for food assistance in Haiti while serving as Principal of a Wholesale Lumber Company. This generous spirit led to the birth of Meals of Hope, sparked by a community-wide meal packing event involving 500 volunteers who packed an astounding 135,000 Dried Fortified Meals. Inspired by this achievement, Steve and his wife, Charissa, set a goal to pack 1,000,000 meals in a year. Since then, Meals of Hope has developed eight unique meals and packed almost 100,000,000 meals. The organization’s multifaceted approach includes operating 15 weekly Food Pantries in SWFL, distributing 10,000 Backpacks of Food monthly to underprivileged elementary school children, and organizing meal-packing events nationwide. What makes Meals of Hope exceptional is its pioneering franchise model, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their businesses while supporting the nonprofit’s mission. Meals of Hope anticipates packing over 15,000,000 meals in 2024, significantly impacting the fight against hunger across the United States. Steve’s dedication and leadership have truly made a difference in alleviating hunger throughout the country.
Jack Day serves as the vice president of franchise development at Meals of Hope, Inc., where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction for its meal packing business franchising. With his extensive experience and prior position as Director of Franchise Operations, Day has successfully developed their unique nonprofit-for-profit franchise model, resulting in the awarding of eight franchise territories within the first 18 months. Meals of Hope envisions expanding its impact across states with over 64 planned franchise territories, offering investors the opportunity to build successful businesses while providing nutritious meals to those in need nationwide. Before joining Meals of Hope, Jack accrued 37 years of senior management experience in the semiconductor industry, culminating in his role as Director of Foundry Operations, overseeing multiple subcontract suppliers and a $500M operating budget.
Buddy Raney is the visionary founder of Raney Construction, Inc. which he started in 1997. Emerging from a challenging background with limited formal education, he has displayed exceptional resilience, innovative thinking, and a keen business acumen as he navigated the intricacies of the construction industry. In 2008, amid the challenging financial crisis, he confronted significant adversity as bank lending evaporated, business loans were called in, and credit lines disappeared. Undeterred, Raney undertook a remarkable business transformation, embracing vertical integration and cutting-edge automation to streamline construction, minimize errors, and enhance quality. By 2019, Raney Construction had flourished, expanding exponentially with numerous divisions, a workforce of hundreds, and an impressive industrial presence. In 2019, the company was sold to Builders FirstSource, Inc. He is now a philanthropist and entrepreneur, and he and his wife, Connie, founded the Anchored Support Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “help those going through a hardship.” The goal is to “follow Jesus’ example by sharing compassion through unexpected blessings.”, bestowing newfound wealth, prompting introspection and a reevaluation of his life’s purpose.
Read more about American Free Enterprise Day and past recipients here.
About Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University, founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 55 undergraduate degrees, numerous graduate degrees and professional degrees in nursing and pharmacy, with a 29-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus and the 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system. The university is dedicated to the integration of biblical principles to prepare students for learning, leadership and service. Learn more at www.pba.edu.