Hosted at the Marriot on the Falls in Niagara Falls, Canada from 12-14th November, the event united franchise owners and team members from across the globe to exchange ideas, celebrate achievements and look ahead to the next phase of growth.
Across several uplifting and informative days, attendees took part in professional development sessions, collaborative networking and the highly anticipated DBA 2025 Gala and Awards ceremony, which highlighted franchisees who exemplify Tutor Doctor’s mission to transform lives through personalised education.
This year’s theme, ‘Elevate’ reflected Tutor Doctor’s ongoing commitment to raising standards, sharing expertise and strengthening its international network. Throughout the three-day event, participants engaged in a lively blend of learning, discussion and connection.
A series of interactive workshops offered two development tracks – foundational and advanced – designed to support both new and established franchisees as they build and scale their business. Sessions delivered by industry experts, franchisees and Tutor Doctor head office team covered a wide range of topics including marketing strategy, operational excellence, leadership and tutor recruitment.
Networking remained a core focus, with ample time dedicated to bringing franchisees together to collaborate, exchange ideas and recognise the shared accomplishments that give the Tutor Doctor system its strength.
The conference concluded with the much-loved DBA Gala and Awards evening, spotlighting the network’s standout performers and those who best represent Tutor Doctor’s ethos of changing lives through education. This year’s award recipients included:
- Franchisee of the Year – Kimberly Selchan, USA
- Rookie of the Year – Johan Melissen, Canada
- Community Crusader Award – Jessica Bush, USA
- President’s Award – Piyush & Smita Gupta, UK
- Top Producers for Revenue and Tuition Hours Delivered – Piyush & Smita Gupta (1st), Rob & Lynne Kerrison (2nd) and Mark Butler (3rd), all UK
- Trailblazer Award – Inspired by the late Joanna Butler, who ran Tutor Doctor Berkshire with her husband, Mark, this special award honours those whose vision, courage and dedication continue to inspire the Tutor Doctor community. This year, the Trailblazer Award was posthumously presented to Melodie Watson, co-owner of Tutor Doctor Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who sadly passed away earlier in the year. Melodie’s legacy continues to light the way for others through her unwavering passion for education and innovation.
The recipient of the President’s Award, Piyush Gupta, shared his pride, “We are truly humbled, honoured, and proud to receive this award and to be recognised by our peers. In truth, as well as our hard work and dedication to the cause, we owe much of our success to our wonderful tutors and team who go that extra mile to ‘change the trajectory’ of our students’ lives. We are lucky to be in a business where, if we win, everyone wins.”
For Mark Szpak, Tutor Doctor’s Vice President of Field Operations, the conference encapsulated the brand’s philosophy of empowering franchisees to dream big, believe in potential and achieve lasting success. “This was a special time for our network, a chance to celebrate what makes Tutor Doctor exceptional: the people who lead with passion, heart and have a shared belief in inspiring change through education.
“Each year, I’m reminded of the incredible strength of our community and the extraordinary impact our franchisees have across the globe!”
