For Thomas Murphy, owning a Huntington Learning Center has always been about more than building a successful business. It has been about creating opportunities for students, supporting families, strengthening schools and making a meaningful difference in the communities he serves.
That commitment has now earned Thomas national recognition.
Thomas Murphy, Huntington Learning Center franchisee in Pennsylvania, has been named a 2026 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). He is one of just 89 franchise owners nationwide receiving the honor this year and will be recognized during the IFA Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.
The annual Franchisee of the Year Awards recognize outstanding franchise owners for their leadership, community involvement, contributions to their businesses and fellow franchisees, and their embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit.
For Thomas, those qualities are evident not only in the success of his Huntington Learning Centers, but in the students, families, educators and fellow business owners he has impacted along the way.
Building a Business Around Student Success
Thomas’s journey with Huntington began as a family endeavor. His mother came out of retirement to help him launch his business and establish the foundation for what would ultimately become an extraordinary Huntington success story. Her support and guidance helped shape Thomas’s approach to leadership and his commitment to Huntington’s mission.
Today, Thomas and his wife, Melissa, own and operate Huntington Learning Centers in Springfield and Abington, Pennsylvania.
As a former educator with a master’s degree in education, Thomas brings a unique perspective to business ownership. He understands that helping a student succeed goes beyond improving a grade or mastering a particular subject. It means understanding each student’s individual needs, building confidence and giving students the skills they need to reach their potential.
That student-first philosophy reflects Huntington’s mission to give every student the best education possible, a mission Thomas has carried beyond the walls of his centers and directly into the schools in his community.
Expanding Educational Opportunities for Hundreds of Students
One of the most powerful examples of Thomas’s community impact is his partnership with the Chester Upland School District.
Thomas recognized an opportunity to bring personalized academic support directly to students during the school day, particularly in reading and mathematics. Instead of waiting for families to independently seek tutoring, Thomas and his team worked with the district to bring Huntington’s instructional model into local schools.
The impact was significant.
In 2025, Thomas’s Springfield center was selected as the district’s sole tutoring provider after demonstrating exceptional student outcomes. His team provided small-group reading and math instruction to 140 elementary students in grades 2 through 5, supporting students academically while helping build confidence and classroom engagement.
The program’s success led the district to expand its partnership with Huntington dramatically, from one school to seven schools, creating the opportunity to provide personalized academic support to hundreds more students throughout the school year.
That growth represents something much bigger than an expanded partnership. It demonstrates what can happen when local business ownership, education and community needs come together around a shared goal: helping students succeed.
In recognition of that impact, Thomas and Melissa received the 2026 Community/Organization Partnership Award from the Chester Upland School District. Nominated by Principal Dr. Greene, the award recognizes the meaningful difference their centers and tutors have made through strong school partnerships and a sustained commitment to student achievement.
Entrepreneurial Success with a Greater Impact
Thomas’s commitment to students and his community has been matched by exceptional business leadership. He has also received Huntington’s Franchisee Excellence Award for outstanding business performance, leadership and dedication to the brand and was inducted into Huntington’s 2025 High Achievers Club.
His accomplishments demonstrate how entrepreneurship and community impact can work hand in hand.
For Thomas, business growth creates an opportunity to reach more students, support more families and expand Huntington’s presence within the communities it serves. His centers are businesses, but they are also places where students can gain confidence, families can find support and educators can find a trusted partner.
Helping Other Huntington Franchisees Succeed
Thomas’s influence extends well beyond his own centers. As President of Huntington’s Philadelphia Co-Op, Thomas helps bring together eight Huntington centers to collaborate, share best practices and strengthen local marketing efforts. He mentors fellow franchisees, develops future leaders and openly shares ideas that can help other owners improve their businesses.
That willingness to share his experience reflects one of the strengths of franchising: independent business owners working within a larger network and learning from one another.
Thomas understands that his own success doesn’t have to come at the expense of someone else’s. By helping fellow franchisees succeed, he contributes to a stronger Huntington system and, ultimately, helps the brand reach even more students and families.
A National Recognition for Local Impact
Being named an IFA Franchisee of the Year recognizes what those around Thomas have seen firsthand: a franchise owner who combines entrepreneurship with leadership, service and a genuine commitment to education. His story demonstrates the potential of franchise ownership to create impact on multiple levels.
Thomas has built successful businesses. He has created a family legacy. He has strengthened the Huntington franchise network. He has developed meaningful relationships with schools and educators. Most importantly, he and his team have helped expand educational opportunities for hundreds of students.
Thomas’s leadership embodies Huntington’s belief that every student deserves the best education possible. His work shows how that mission can extend from one learning center to an entire community.
From the students who receive personalized instruction to the families who gain a trusted educational partner, the educators who see their students grow and the franchisees who benefit from his mentorship, Thomas’s influence reaches far beyond his own business.
As Huntington Learning Center celebrates Thomas Murphy as a 2026 IFA Franchisee of the Year, we also celebrate what his recognition represents: the extraordinary difference one local business owner can make when business success and student success grow together.