Kathleen is an experienced, driven leader with extensive experience in home inspection, home services, franchising, marketing, strategy, application development, and prop tech (real estate technology).
About Kathleen Kuhn
Kathleen started her career as a summer intern for AT&T. After college she continued on the path in Systems Sales with AT&T. While she was launching her corporate career her father was leaving his. Kathleen’s father, Ken Austin was the son of an Irish immigrant and had always dreamed of having his own business. His father owned several taverns where Ken learned first-hand the value of hard work and self-employment. However, Ken had no interest in the food and beverage industry so he went on to earn a college degree. After a successful career in marketing with several fortune 500 companies, he was ready to make a change. Ultimately in 1979, Ken found a service business he felt had the potential to achieve national success. The business was HouseMaster, a provider of home inspections. Ken spent 5 years perfecting the model with the goal of launching a franchise under the HouseMaster name.
HouseMaster was slowly moving forward when Kathleen saw the perfect opportunity to leave corporate America and harness her own entrepreneurial spirit. She left AT&T and the west coast behind and started a HouseMaster franchise. Kathleen hit the ground running and quickly became one of the top revenue locations in the system and expanded into several other locations. Kathleen went on to become President and CEO of the company which she grew to 365 locations throughout the US and Canada. In 2008, she sold a majority interest in the business to a Private Equity firm. She launched several other home service brands including Modern Candlelight a holiday lighting service and PatchMaster, a drywall repair home services franchise in addition to helping several other home service brands franchise as a consultant.
In 2020 Kathleen and her partners sold HouseMaster to Neighborly and shortly after she left Neighborly to pursue other opportunities and interests.
Technology, Marketing, and Strategy
The home inspection industry was in its infancy when HouseMaster was launched, There were no third-party solutions to turn to despite the demand for solutions, so HouseMaster built them. Kathleen was heavily involved with building out the technologies that home inspectors needed to manage, grow their businesses, and deliver a superior customer experience. Shortly after leaving Neighborly, Kathleen became President of MooveGuru, a fast-growing prop-tech start-up where she used her experience in product management, application development, strategy, and UI/UX design as well as her passion to help homeowners better manage their homes. As President of MooveGuru, she was heavily involved in the re-design and re-launch of HomeKeepr, a real estate-driven home management platform, and utility concierge service as well as securing over 5 million dollars in series B funding, an acquisition of an industry competitor, doubling company revenue growth and all aspects of marketing the product and implementing sales training.
A Unique Blend of Franchise Expertise and Strategic Vision
Kathleen offers a unique level of experience as a home service franchisee, a family business owner, and a franchisor coupled with hands-on strategy, project management, business development, and prop tech experience.
Kathleen’s knack for problem-solving and her dedication to fostering positive relationships within the franchising community make her an invaluable asset as a franchise consultant. Her track record of successfully guiding businesses through expansions, restructurings, and strategic planning initiatives speaks volumes about her capabilities and commitment to excellence”.
~ Karen Frank, Founder/CEO Greenlight Mobility, LLC