Spherion’s Mary Barrineau and Pam Thompson Named 2026 Franchisees of the Year by the International Franchise Association

Mother-Daughter Franchise Owners Recognized for Business Growth, Workforce Impact and Leadership in Charleston

ATLANTA – Spherion Staffing and Recruiting (Spherion) announced today that Mary Barrineau and Pam Thompson, franchise owners of Spherion Charleston, have been named 2026 Franchisees of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). 

The IFA Franchisee of the Year Award recognizes leading franchise owners for their community involvement, commitment to building a strong workforce, support of fellow franchisees and embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit. Nominated by Spherion, Mary and Pam bring more than five decades of combined experience with the organization and have built one of the strongest-performing operations in the Spherion network.

“Receiving this recognition alongside my mom makes it incredibly meaningful,” said Mary Barrineau, franchise owner of Spherion Charleston. “We’ve spent more than 30 years building this business together, and through every stage of growth, our focus has remained on taking care of our people, supporting our clients and creating opportunities in the Charleston community. This award belongs just as much to our team. I’m proud of what we’ve built together and grateful to be part of a franchise network where we can learn from and support one another.”

Mary and Pam have built Spherion Charleston together with a shared commitment to their employees, clients and community. Their office has achieved more than 20% annual growth for three consecutive years including a 23% year-over-year revenue increase in 2025.

Beyond their business, Mary and Pam are known throughout Spherion for their “One Spherion” mindset. They regularly share best practices and support fellow franchise owners across the network. Their leadership was recognized at Spherion’s 2026 National Meeting where they received both Spherion’s Franchisee of the Year Award and the President’s Award, two of the organization’s highest honors.

“Mary and Pam represent so much of what makes Spherion special,” said Kathy George, president of Spherion. “What I admire most is how hands-on and deeply connected they stay to every corner of their business. Even through challenging years, their persistence never wavered, and seeing that grit translate into consecutive years of tremendous growth is deeply inspiring. Mary and Pam’s commitment to Charleston’s workforce and their fellow franchisees is unmatched, and we couldn’t be prouder to see them both earn this well-deserved national recognition.”

Mary and Pam were recognized during the Franchisee of the Year Celebration and Luncheon on Sept. 15 as part of the IFA Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.

Spherion brandishes the power of local through a network of independent and empowered franchisees. Each Spherion franchisee enriches their community through connecting and facilitating employment opportunities every day—and when they’re successful together, their investments flow back into the neighborhoods where they live and work. 

About The International Franchise Association

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 832,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $907.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.