Dwyer Group and Texas State Technical College Team Up for Women in the Trades (5/01)

According to the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 540,000 plumbers in America in 1999, with approximately 10,000 of that number being female. And, while there are few organizations or schools that cater to promoting women in the industry, two female executives in Waco are planning to change that.

Dina Dwyer-Owens, president and CEO of The Dwyer Group (Nasdaq: DWYR), and Martha Ellis, Ph.D., president of Technical State Technical College in Waco, have announced a joint effort to offer a two-week continuing education program on service plumbing at the Waco campus. While the women manage traditionally male institutions, they have joined forces to not only change the gender landscape of their industries, but also educate the masses about the exceptional quality of life for those who choose a career in the plumbing trades.

The pilot program will run Sept. 17-28 and, if successful, may be expanded to a semester-long course.

While the program will be open to men and women, Ellis and Dwyer-Owens particularly want to encourage women into the program. "It's a great opportunity for someone to enter a profession that offers good compensation in an industry hungry for skilled workers," Dwyer-Owens said. "Regardless of being a man or woman, the nation needs more plumbers. And unlike the myths that it's a man's job, women have been very successful in the field."

Ellis, is optimistic that interest in the Waco community for this type of continuing education will be high. She added that TSTC has seen female enrollment at the school increase from four percent to 25 percent in the last 10 years.

The Dwyer Group, which licenses the Mr. Rooter Franchise concept, one of nation's largest plumbing franchises, also has seen women in their business take on a larger presence. According to Dwyer-Owens, the company plans to encourage its franchise owners to send any interested employees to the Waco course as well.

The Dwyer Group also will provide licensed plumbers and trainers from corporate headquarters to guide the instruction. Ellis pointed out that this will be a big help in the program's focus toward the service side of this trade as opposed to new construction, where most technical schools concentrate.

"This is the best collaboration of higher learning and real-world business application," Dwyer-Owens said.

ABOUT THE DWYER GROUP
The Dwyer Group Inc., based in Waco, supports over 900 franchisees in the United States and nearly 400 franchisees in 23 countries. The Dwyer Group's franchise concepts include: Rainbow International Carpet Care and Restoration Specialists, Mr. Rooter (Drain Doctor in the UK), Mr. Electric, Mr. Appliance, Glass Doctor, Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning and an associate company, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide. Combined, these concepts offer a broad base of residential and commercial services. The Dwyer Group's objective is to have 3000 Franchises doing $1 billion in annualized system wide sales by December 2005.

ABOUT TSTC
Texas State Technical College Waco is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate of Applied Science Degrees and Certificates of Completion. Equal opportunity shall be afforded within the TSTC System to all employees and applicants for admission or employment regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age or disability. TSTC will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.