About Us

Rick Gutridge is franchise owner/operator of Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW), Dry Clothes, Safe Homes, a home service franchise based in Pickerington, Ohio serving all of central Ohio. Mr. Gutridge purchased the rights to franchise DVW in August, 2006.

Dryer Vent Wizard specializes in dryer fire prevention and “urgent response” dryer and vent maintenance, repair, replacement and alterations. DVW services keep dryers functioning properly, prevent dryer fires and reduce energy costs.

Prior to becoming a Dryer Vent Wizard franchisee, Gutridge spent 26 years in the IT industry, most recently with AOL. He has a B.S. C.I.S. engineering degree from The Ohio State University. He also has an M.S. in Engineering Management from NTU.

Gutridge has worked for corporations of various sizes including NCR, CheckFree, Cendant, and AOL. He has a software patent on a write-capture device (credit card electronic signature device). He has worked as a developer, project leader, manager, and director managing up to 65 employees. He isn’t afraid to tackle handy-man projects at home and enjoys small projects to keep him busy.

With a mix of home project challenges, Gutridge feels there is no problem he cannot solve. He enjoys tackling the dryer venting issues that are so prevalent and believes he is truly making homes safer as a result of his efforts. He also enjoys educating home owners on dryer safety concerns.

Gutridge recently finished RCIA classes and is involved in Holy Spirit Church in Columbus.

He plays soccer on weekends, runs and enjoys going to the gym. His wife, Elaine Miller, has her own massage therapy business. Together, they have three children.