Jan celebrates 15 years of supportive leadership as Tauranga’s Master Franchisee
Fifteen years ago, Jan Lichtwark couldn’t have known that saying no to a move to Auckland would shape the next chapter of his life in such a big way.
Back then, Jan was working in management at Goodman Fielder when the company asked all managers to relocate to Auckland. For Jan and his family, Tauranga was home. Taking voluntary redundancy felt risky at the time, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Jan joined CrestClean as a Regional Manager, and within a year, he took the leap and bought the Master Franchise. At that point, the Tauranga region was small with just nine franchisees.
He has since expanded his portfolio to include the Whakatāne region and now supports 70 franchisees, with the help of a dedicated team of four, including an Operations Manager, Quality Assurance Co-ordinator, Business Development Manager, and Executive Assistant. Jan speaks with genuine pride about his team, who work hard behind the scenes to keep the Tauranga and Whakatāne regions thriving.
Looking back now, the growth still amazes him.
“I couldn’t have envisaged it to get to where it is today,” he says.
What really sets Jan apart is the way he shows up for his franchisees. He’s known for being steady, supportive, and invested in their success. He says he’s been lucky to work with franchisees who are motivated and willing to put in the work.
“Owning a business is not always easy, but if you want something, you have to work for it,” he says.
Mentoring is a huge part of Jan’s role. He keeps an open-door policy, making sure franchisees know they can drop in and talk things through whenever they need to.
Over the years, he’s watched franchisees reach financial milestones they never thought possible, like sending their children through tertiary education, buying homes and investment properties, and finally being able to travel. Some started with very little to their name, but with Jan’s support, many have gone on to build strong, successful businesses.
“I see our role as helping our people achieve exactly what it is they want to achieve,” he says.
Those success stories are what Jan loves most. From Rolly Abangan buying the restaurant he once worked in, to Cesar Rogacion, who started with nothing and went on to earn an Exemplary Business Achievement award. And the many franchisees who once believed they’d never own a home, only to later buy their second or third. These moments are incredibly rewarding for Jan.
But the best thing is seeing those who’ve achieved success turn around and help others do the same.
Over the past 15 years, Jan has invested in genuine relationships with franchisees and customers, showing time and again that he truly believes in his people.
