Meet the Leadership Team of Our Indoor Air Quality Company

A self-proclaimed “serial entrepreneur,” Russ Weldon has been starting and building successful enterprises since he was a teenager.

In 1988, convinced that wireless would become a multi-billion dollar business, Weldon launched The Car Phone Store, which would later become Wireless Zone, a 450-store chain generating a half billion dollars in annual revenues. After selling Wireless Zone in 2012, Weldon began looking for his next opportunity.

“I could have retired,” he said, “but I’m an entrepreneur at heart.”

Russ sought another ground floor opportunity in an emerging, yet commercially marketable space. One of the opportunities that caught his attention was the need for environmentally-preferred products to improve indoor air quality. Russ formed Green Home Solutions realizing that if he could run the company as a “Green” service business, he could recreate what had happened with wireless technology.

“It was clear to me that the green products and services industry was just beginning to move into the mainstream,” Russ said. “It reminded me exactly of where wireless phones were in the late 1980s. I saw it as another of those rare opportunities to get in on the ground floor of a yet-to-be tapped industry and have a major impact on shaping that industry as well.”

It didn’t take long, however, for Russ to realize that this was much more than just another business opportunity.

“Even though it was another franchise concept in its infancy, what I didn’t anticipate was how different it was from what I had been doing,” he said. “Here, at Green Home Solutions, we are talking about much more than how to create a successful business in an emerging category. We are talking about how to save the planet. We are talking about how the work we are doing is something that our kids and our grandkids will benefit from.”

“Here we have indoor solutions that can really change someone’s quality of life by removing mold and allergens from the air.” In the process, he knows that Green Home Solutions is creating opportunities for others to follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps.

“What I like about franchising is seeing others have a chance to become successful business owners,” Russ said. “And in this case, we are also doing something that is making our world a better place to live.”

“As we grow, my vision for Green Home Solutions is to have environmentally-conscious inventors and scientists coming to us because we have the established distribution platform, and more importantly, the reputation for delivering green products and services to consumers everywhere. Then we can bring people more and more comprehensive green offerings to reduce harmful options currently being used. The more products and services we offer, the more good we are doing.”

As the President and CEO, CFE, Jeff Panella is responsible for running all facets of the business and reports directly to the Board of Directors. Jeff has a proven track record and over 20 years of experience driving sales growth in small medium and Fortune 500 companies. Jeff is certified by the International Franchise Organization as a Certified Franchise Executive. Prior to joining, Green Home Solutions Jeff was the Chief Development Officer for a rapidly growing franchise, Famous Toastery. Prior to that, Jeff was instrumental as the Vice President of Sales and Operations for another franchise founded by his current business partner Russ Weldon. Together Russ and Jeff grew Wireless Zone from several locations to 500 locations before selling to a public company. Jeff has had numerous executive leadership positions and has strategically led teams of 400 or more while delivering superior results. Jeff has had many years of experience in mainstream retail and the franchising industry and has excelled in and been involved with brands like Verizon Wireless, Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Brooks Brothers, Watch Station, Bob’s Discount Furniture and Luxottica Retail.

Currently Green Home Solutions is recording record growth and was awarded the Top Recession-Proof Business by Franchise Business Review, 105th fastest growing company by Entrepreneur Magazine, The Game Changer Award by Franchise Dictionary Magazine and the best franchisee satisfaction award from Franchise Business Review.

Al brings more than 25 years of senior executive leadership to Green Home Solutions. He has a proven track record of driving sales and profit growth in family owned, regional and global companies and franchises.

Al’s most recent job was Chief Operating Officer. Al has numerous years of experience in Franchising, Retail, Internet, and Wholesale Sales.

He will work closely with the Area Reps and directly with franchisees on improving sales and profitability, networking and business building strategies to help increase current business and bring in new business.

Al will also be working closely with our current National accounts like City Wide Maintenance, and ResiPro. In addition he will be working to add national accounts to our portfolio.

Al’s passion is to help others achieve their personal and professional goals. He is a certified Life Coach and Yoga Instructor.

David Bloom is our Chief Science Officer. A graduate of the University of Connecticut, with significant post graduate work in microbiology and building sciences, he has lectured throughout the US on indoor air quality issues and remediation. David holds many certifications and memberships in leading industry groups including:

• Certified Mold Investigator, ACAC (American Council for Accredited Certifications)
• AOAC International (Association of Analytical Communities), active member
• ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), active member
• IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association), active member

David is co-author of “A Novel Enzymatic Technology for Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide from Biogas”, Suib, S. (ed.). (2013). New and Future Developments in Catalysts: Batteries, Hydrogen Storage and Fuel Cells. Waltham, MA: Elsevier Science.

As President of nzymSys, Inc. since 2008, he has been instrumental in the development of product formulations and processes for microbial removal, biogas desulfurization, H2S emission reduction at landfill sites, and odor neutralization at various trash to energy facilities and food processing plants.

David has developed our protocols and procedures for a novel method of mold and bacteria remediation and continually developing and sourcing best in class products for the services we provide. David also provides technical support for our franchisees.

As Vice President of Legal and Administration, Traci oversees the activities of the organization’s Legal Department by providing advice and guidance with contracts, regulatory and filing requirements, intellectual property and trademark protection. She also manages Corporate Administrative functions by working to improve processes and policies, as well as other business matters.

Traci brings more than 30 years of business management experience and legal expertise to the Green Home Solutions team. Her experience includes 20 years as a self employed business owner in the golf industry managing private country club events and golf operations, five years in the non-profit sector as a Director of Development and event logistics specialist, and five years in the Legal Department of a publicly traded oil and gas company.

Justin earned both his Bachelor of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management and his MBA from the University of South Carolina. Before joining Green Home Solutions, he served as a Senior Marketing Specialist for Arosa, a leading company in the home care franchise space. Prior to Arosa, Justin worked as a marketing consultant for Equivity, where he developed digital growth strategies for over a dozen businesses across various industries.

Previously, Justin spent nearly eight years as the owner and operator of an executive ground transportation company, which was acquired in 2020. He also served for six years as the Director of Junior Golf Operations with the PGA of America, overseeing the 501(c)(3) Northern Texas PGA Junior Foundation. During his tenure, he worked with future PGA Tour players Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, and Will Zalatoris.

Justin resides in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife, McKenzie, and their sons, Shep and Rhett. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and cheering on the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Tom has spent his entire life in franchising. He started by working in and managing the family operated service station franchises, followed by 30+ years supporting the success of thousands of franchise owners. Tom’s roles have included Global Chief Development Officer of BNI, Senior

Vice President of Franchise Recruitment – CertaPro Painters; Chief Development Officer – Philly Pretzel Factory; Chief Executive Officer – Griswold Home Care; Vice President Operations – MAACO Collision Repair Auto Painting. Tom is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and frequent speaker and advisor on the franchise industry.

Tom is married to Colleen with three adult children. Outside of work you will find Tom curling, golfing, or driving on racetracks.