Mr. Rooter, the Waco, Texas-based franchised, full-service plumbing and drain cleaning company, Oct 9 named Mary Kennedy Thompson its new president. Thompson, a former multi-unit franchisee, took the Mr. Rooter helm Oct. 30.

Thompson succeeds Mike Bidwell who will serve full time as chief operating officer of The Dwyer Group, the parent company of Mr. Rooter and five other franchise companies dedicated to the service trades.

"This is a unique opportunity, and I''m looking forward to applying everything I''ve learned in my career to being president of Mr. Rooter," Thompson said. "I''ve already rolled up my sleeves and I plan to immediately build on the company''s stellar reputation and proven record of success."

In 1994, Thompson became a franchisee for Cookies by Design, a mail-order gift food company headquartered in Plano, Texas, and became its president in 2000.

"Success sparks success," Thompson said. "I look forward to working with the corporate team to encourage new and trailblazing approaches, continually develop tools and services to ensure the growth and expansion of existing franchisees and nurture new franchisees on their path to entrepreneurial success."

In other developments, Mr. Rooter has also been recently named to the Franchise Times Magazine Top 200 List. The magazine ranked Mr. Rooter No. 180 with $250 million in worldwide sales among its 317 total franchise units in 2005.