Drowning is the leading cause of injury death among children ages 1–4 in Florida and is the highest in the nation. Since the pandemic, drownings are up 70 percent. “This is preventable through education,” says Marlene Bloom, co-founder of Baby Otter Swim School. Baby Otter’s founders Mindy York and Marlene Bloom, along with longtime friend, spokesperson, and Baseball Hall of Famer, Andre “The Hawk” Dawson and professional race car driver and Le Mans Champion, Guy Cosmo, have partnered with acclaimed franchise developer Robert Katz, Managing Director and Senior Franchise Adviser with The Stanwood Group to combat this nationwide epidemic through education and franchise opportunities.
Over the last 40 years in Florida alone, York and Bloom have substantially decreased the drowning statistics throughout the state. They have been helping children learn to swim for decades, teaching everyone from Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton’s grandchildren to Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter, Apple. Paltrow was so pleased with Baby Otter Swim School, she went on to say “I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for Apple. She has been swimming (almost) everyday since you saw her. She has gotten tremendous confidence in the water. Now when we swim, she takes off on her own out of my arms and swims into her daddy’s.” Baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson has been Baby Otter Swim Schools national spokesperson for over 17 years. “This is the best cause I have ever been involved with,” he says.
Founders York and Bloom are committed to ending preventable drownings in the United States through franchising. Enter Robert Katz, who is widely regarded as one of the leading franchise experts in the United States. This year, Katz is celebrating 25 years in the franchise industry. As a nationally recognized franchise developer, Katz has helped hundreds of successful brands to expand through franchising and signed on for Baby Otter’s national expansion.
“I can’t think of a better career opportunity than as a drowning prevention expert in the field of aquatics, making a great living and giving back to your community by saving a child’s life,” says Katz. “Their franchise program combines franchise ownership opportunities with drowning prevention through education in an established, highly profitable, low overhead traveling swim school business model.” “The more people we turn into entrepreneurs and help them become successful, the more children’s lives we will save,” adds York.
In their first two years of offering franchises, Katz, who works with Baby Otter Swim School pro bono, has helped sell over 20 franchised territories throughout the state of Florida with demand growing nationwide. Baby Otter Swim School is now one of the fastest-growing swim schools in the country that’s committed to ending accidental drownings.
“Robert has been so instrumental in helping us to develop the successful franchise program for Baby Otter Swim School,” says York. “His dedication is so inspiring and I do believe our success has been incredible due to his mentorship and experience. I highly recommend Robert and The Stanwood Group – others say they will help, he actually does and cares.”
Katz and the Stanwood Group also represent other successful emerging franchise brands including Santucci’s Original Square Pizza, John’s Water Ice, The Tomato Shack, Gouldsburger’s, 17776Plumbing.com, Original Ricci’s Hoagies, White Horse Coffee & Creamery, Patelmo’s Pizzeria, Baja Smoothies, BAO Nine, Moustaki Authentic Gyros and Koibito Poke, among many others.
Photography by: Courtesy of Mindy York
