When Tim Lightner started the Madison-area franchise of the moving company TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® in 1993, its name was literal – just Lightner, his partner and a truck. But within a few years it grew into one of the area’s biggest franchises. It now offers full-service local and long-distance moving, including packing and unpacking, junk removal and storage.

In 2000, Lisa Paley joined the company and quickly found that she had a passion for the business. “It’s rewarding to help people during a stressful time,” Paley says. “Our customers frequently share that our movers are compassionate, kind and go the extra mile.”

Last year, Lightner and Paley acquired the Milwaukee franchise of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, which now celebrates its one-year anniversary with the group that also includes Waukesha, Racine and Madison locations. Paley also celebrates an anniversary of her own – one year as president.

According to Paley, outstanding employees are what set the company apart. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK never farms out services to contractors, and each team member adheres to the “Grandma Rule®” – treat everyone the way they would want their own grandmother treated. This approach has paid off, with the franchise boasting a 96% customer referral rate.

“Our mission is to move people forward,” Paley says. “We do that by providing great service to customers and great opportunities for our employees. We want our employees to grow and evolve as a result of their time with us.”