Press Release Details

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Mandeville, Louisiana franchisee stood out from nearly 1,500 franchisees and won recognition from H&R Block (NYSE:HRB), a global consumer tax services provider that virtually created the franchise model in 1956. Melissa Gourgues was one of four Featured Franchisees of the Year.

Melissa Gourgues, enrolled agent and master tax advisor from Mandeville, Louisiana, was selected in the category of three to seven offices. Gourgues, a second-generation franchisee, has been a franchisee since 2015

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4805609-289c-4ec4-aefc-572e02961596

Winners were selected from among the top 100 franchisees who led business results and qualitative factors, including community involvement. In addition to leading top-performing franchises, a demonstrated commitment to H&R Block’s core value to do the right thing made up half the selection criteria.

“All of our Featured Franchisees of the Year exemplify H&R Block’s ‘called to serve’ spirit,” said Kip Knight, senior vice president of U.S. franchise operations at H&R Block. “Not only do the winners operate tax offices that serve our clients well, they also are active participants in their communities. They all live by H&R Block’s pledge to support the communities we live, work and play in.”

Melissa Gourgues, enrolled agent and master tax advisor from Mandeville, Louisiana, was selected in the category of three to seven offices. Gourgues, a second-generation franchisee, has been a franchisee since 2015. She is the Monteleone Junior High PTA past president and treasurer for the Mandeville Middle PTA. She believes it is important to be the voice for children and advocate for their needs. She is also a member of the Professional Women of St. Tammany, a committee member of both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and a sponsor of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation.

Gourgues was recognized with a commemorative crystal award, monetary award, a letter signed by company co-founder Henry W. Bloch and special accommodations at the National Franchise Convention hotel.

More than six decades of franchise support

H&R Block opened its first franchise office in 1956, a year after brothers Henry and Richard Bloch founded the company, virtually creating the franchise model. With 60 years of franchising history, H&R Block has created a support system franchisees use to market their business, serve their clients and expand to new offices.

H&R Block franchisees now operate nearly 3,600 H&R Block offices nationally. To learn more about H&R Block franchises, visit www.hrblock.com/franchise or call 1-800-HRBLOCK.

About H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) is a global consumer tax services provider. Tax return preparation services are provided by professional tax preparers in approximately 12,000 company-owned and franchise retail tax offices worldwide, and through H&R Block tax software products for the DIY consumer. H&R Block also offers adjacent Tax Plus products and services. In fiscal 2017, H&R Block had annual revenues of over $3 billion with 23 million tax returns prepared worldwide. For more information, visit the H&R Block Newsroom.

For Further Information
Lisa Patterson, 816-854-552, lisa.patterson@hrblock.com

Source: HRB Tax Group, Inc.