The ohDEER Annual Event is more than a franchisee conference. It is a reflection of our culture, our leadership, and the strength of the ohDEER franchise community.
Each year, franchise owners, corporate leadership, development team members, and trusted vendor partners gather for a few intentional days together. We step away from daily operations. We reconnect with our mission. We challenge ourselves. And we leave stronger than we arrived.
The ohDEER 2026 Annual Event, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, was everything we hope these few days together can be and more!
We spent time outdoors. We learned together. We competed. We celebrated. And most importantly, we reinforced what makes this brand different: a values-driven franchise community committed to enjoying more time outside.
Check out the recap video HERE!
Most franchisee conferences are built around fancy ballrooms and PowerPoints. The ohDEER Annual Event is built around movement, conversation, and shared experience.
Our 2026 ohDEER franchise event was centered at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, an outdoor venue that perfectly aligned with our mission. Between ropes courses, ziplining, rock climbing, and outdoor team challenges, franchisees were pushed outside their comfort zones in ways that directly mirror business ownership. Because growth does not happen in comfort.
The official theme of the ohDEER 2026 Annual Event was “Paddle Less, Plan More.” The message was simple but powerful: hustle matters, but intentional planning creates long-term momentum. This theme carried through every keynote, breakout session, and team activity.
Some of the most meaningful conversations of the ohDEER Annual Event did not happen in meeting rooms….They happened 40 feet in the air. During high ropes courses and zipline challenges, franchisees had to rely on one another. They encouraged each other from below. They coached each other through hesitation. They celebrated small victories together. That is what the ohDEER franchise community looks like in action.
Trust is not built through slogans. It is built through shared experiences. The outdoor team building at our event reinforced something we already know: this group shows up for one another.
When franchisees return home and face operational challenges, staffing issues, or competitive pressure, they do not face them alone. They have a network. They have peers. They have relationships strengthened through real experiences.
While the outdoor activities create connection, the educational sessions at the ohDEER franchise event drive measurable growth. The ohDEER 2026 Annual Event included strategic breakouts designed for both emerging and experienced franchise owners.
Topics included:
These were not surface-level conversations. Franchisees shared real numbers, real challenges, and real solutions. The breakout format encouraged participation, questions, and collaboration.
As franchisee Rob Jenkins shared,
“Breakouts are amazing. Everyone comes to this event with something to share or ask. The culture and ohDEER community are just amazing. We have to protect this group as we grow. Keep the standards high. It is by far our most strategic asset over our competition.”
That statement captures the essence of the ohDEER franchise community. The culture is not accidental, it is protected, nurtured, and treated as a competitive advantage.
Competition was a consistent theme throughout the ohDEER Annual Event. But at ohDEER, competition is not about ego. It is about growth.
As founder Kurt shared during the Franchisee Awards Ceremony:
“Competition is good because it pushes you to keep growing. Businesses do not stagnate by accident. Keep it evergreen. Franchisees know who their close competitors are within the system. They watch one another. They learn from one another. They raise the bar for themselves and for the entire brand.”
That healthy competition showed up in multiple ways during the ohDEER franchise event:
One of the most talked-about moments of the ohDEER 2026 Annual Event was Deer Tank. Inspired by Shark Tank, Deer Tank gave franchisees the opportunity to pitch operational improvements, marketing strategies, and growth ideas designed to move the system forward.
Four unique pitches. Four different perspectives. One room full of energy.
A panel of deer-themed judges evaluated each presentation. Attendees invested their “ohDEER dollars” into the ideas they believed in most. And this was not just symbolic. Thanks to generous vendor sponsors Nature’s MACE and LearningZen, Deer Tank winners walked away with meaningful prizes. Their partnership helped elevate innovation and reward forward-thinking leadership.
What made Deer Tank powerful was not just the competition. It was the collaboration that followed. Conversations sparked during the pitches continued long after the session ended. Ideas were refined. Connections were made. Implementation plans were discussed.
That is what a strong franchise system looks like.
A highlight of the ohDEER 2026 Annual Event was the keynote from Matt Clarke, a longtime NASCAR pit crew coach and high-performance team strategist whose career bridges elite sports execution and entrepreneurial leadership.
Matt brings nearly three decades of experience coaching teams to excellence under pressure. He’s best known for his work as a Championship Pit Crew Coach in NASCAR, where he helped shape pit crews that supported some of the sport’s winningest drivers, with a focus on rapid decision-making, precise teamwork, and consistent performance under stress. His coaching philosophy centers on mindset, execution, and the power of intentional teamwork to produce results.
Today, Matt is the founder of High Performance Champions Coaching & Consulting, where he applies lessons from the racing world to businesses and organizations looking to build execution-focused cultures. As a speaker, he draws parallels between high-stakes athletic environments and entrepreneurial growth challenges, emphasizing that success is not just about speed, but about mindset, communication, and trust.
At the ohDEER Annual Event, Matt’s message resonated deeply with franchisees because it reinforced one of the core principles of the ohDEER brand: success comes when teams execute together, support one another, and focus on systems that perform under pressure. His insights tied directly into the event theme of intentional planning and teamwork, helping franchisees see how high-performance habits can translate into better business results.
Whether talking about building championship-level teams or helping companies break through limiting beliefs, Matt’s keynote added a dynamic strategic layer to the ohDEER Annual Event, one that left franchise owners inspired to take their teams, operations, and growth goals to the next level.
Recognition is a cornerstone of the ohDEER Annual Event. The Franchisee Awards Ceremony honors the franchise owners who exemplify excellence in customer trust, growth, leadership, creativity, and community impact.
At the ohDEER 2026 Annual Event, we proudly celebrated:
Customer Favorite Award: ohDEER North Middlesex
Two Comma Club: ohDEER South Shore, ohDEER Martha’s Vineyard and ohDEER Southeastern MA
Runaway Buck Award: Rich Harris – ohDEER Montgomery County
Franchise of the Year: ohDEER Central VA
Social Media Star: Josh Hafner – ohDEER Central VA
Community Impact Award: ohDEER Northwest Columbus
Rising Star Award: Rob Jenkins – ohDEER West County STL
Herd Helper Award: Jay Lodi
These awards reflect the depth and strength of the ohDEER franchise community. They represent owners who lead locally while strengthening the system nationally.
The momentum behind the brand was a clear theme throughout the ohDEER Annual Event.
As Dean DeCarlo, CEO of Mission Disrupt Marketing Agency shared on Linkedin,
“You can feel the growth. It is clearly being driven by strong leadership. The mission to spend time more outdoors is not just a tagline. It is fully lived by the organization. The culture feels authentic, real, and aligned in a way you do not see often.“
CEO of Bright Pink Agency and attendee, Madalina Iordache, shared on LinkedIn:
“They operate with the maturity and discipline of a much larger brand. They treat franchisees like true partners, not operators. Everywhere their people go, they represent the brand beautifully.“
That alignment between leadership, franchisees, and vendor partners is not accidental. It is intentional.
The ohDEER 2026 Annual Event would not have been possible without the support of our incredible sponsors and vendor partners.
At ohDEER, partnerships are not transactional. They are intentional. We surround ourselves with organizations that share our commitment to quality, innovation, accountability, and long-term growth. These partners play a critical role in supporting our franchisees year-round, and their presence at the ohDEER Annual Event reinforced the collaborative strength of our franchise system.
We are proud to recognize and thank the sponsors who helped make this year’s ohDEER Annual Event such a success:
Each of these companies contributes to the operational strength of our franchisees in different ways — from marketing and branding to insurance, technology, fleet support, product supply, and strategic consulting.
Several sponsors helped elevate specific moments during the ohDEER Annual Event experience:
Their support enhanced not only the logistics of the event, but the energy and experience that define the ohDEER franchise community. One of the defining characteristics of the ohDEER Annual Event is the presence of vendor partners who are invested in our franchisees’ success.
Franchisees had the opportunity to connect directly with suppliers and strategic partners, ask questions, share feedback, and build relationships that extend beyond the event itself. This level of access strengthens the system and ensures that owners feel supported at every stage of growth.
As we continue expanding into new markets, our commitment to surrounding franchisees with high-quality advisors and vendors remains unwavering. Because when franchisees are supported well, they operate better. When they operate better, customers trust the brand. And when customers trust the brand, families everywhere can Enjoy More Time Outside.
Between educational sessions, outdoor challenges, a NASCAR Hall of Fame visit, shared meals, and team competitions, the ohDEER 2026 Annual Event perfectly reflected who we are.
We are selective about who joins this brand. We hold ourselves accountable. We surround ourselves with high-quality vendors and partners. We protect the culture as we grow. And we build a franchise community rooted in collaboration, respect, and performance. The ohDEER Annual Event reinforces that foundation every year.
As franchisees returned home, they carried more than notes. They carried renewed motivation. Stronger relationships. Sharper strategies. And a shared commitment to growth.
The ohDEER Annual Event is not simply a gathering. It is a catalyst for momentum. As we continue expanding into new markets, the strength of the ohDEER franchise community remains our greatest asset.
We are already looking forward to the next ohDEER Annual Event. Until then, we will keep building, keep learning, and continue helping families across the country Enjoy More Time Outside.
Want more of a look inside ohDEER events? Check out this blog and video from one of our previous Annual Events:
