When our founders Justin, Gary, and Kim started a small family side business serving iced tea in Amarillo, TX back in 2009, they had no idea they were brewing up a movement. Realizing they’d struck oil (figuratively, that is), Justin took the reins in 2012 and spent another six years carefully perfecting the experience. In 2018, HTeaO was officially born. You could say we’ve been a bit busy since then. In fact, we’ve already put our unique spin on Southern-style iced tea on the map in 14 states and counting. And there’s a lot more where that came from.
Meet Our Founder & Executive Chairman
justin howe
Justin Howe is the proud Co-Founder of HTeaO, a franchise-based company he has dedicated over a decade to creating. He is thrilled to lead a team focused on delivering a unique lifestyle brand and tea-drinking experience to enthusiasts nationwide.
Beyond the boardroom, his passions extend to the skies as an avid fixed-wing and helicopter pilot, and he also runs several other companies. Flying has been a personal passion and former career for Justin, instilling in him values of precision, strategic planning, and exploration—values that seamlessly translate into his role at HTeaO.
As a devoted family man for over 25 years, Justin understands the importance of balance and harmony in both personal and professional life. He believes a thriving work environment begins with a strong foundation at home, and this philosophy is woven into the fabric of HTeaO’s corporate culture.
What started as a vision has evolved into a high-growth franchise-based company with over 125 locations nationwide. It’s been an incredible journey for Justin to watch HTeaO flourish, and he is proud of the dedicated team that has played an instrumental role in its success.
HTeaO is more than a business; it’s a community of tea enthusiasts, franchise owners, and team members who share a common passion for people and excellence. They seek dynamic individuals eager to join the growing family as franchisees. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and share a commitment to delivering exceptional experiences, explore the exciting possibilities with Justin and HTeaO.
our executive team
Brian Wise
Chief Executive Officer
experience:
30 years in the industry
fav flavor:
Unsweet Blueberry & Ryan Palmer
justin howe
Founder & Executive Chairman
experience:
20 years in the industry
fav flavor:
Unsweet regular
gary hutchens (pops)
FOUNDER
experience:
40 years in the industry
fav flavor:
sweet mango
Chris Phillips
Chief Financial Officer
experience:
25 years in the industry
fav flavor:
Sweet Georgia Peach
Shane Clark
Chief Development Officer
experience:
25 years in the industry
fav flavor:
Sweet Georgia peach & sweet regular
matt gonzalez
chief logistics officer
experience:
7 years in the industry
fav flavor:
sweet coconut
jordan summerville
vice president of real estate
experience:
13 years in the industry
fav flavor:
sweet almond green
Adam Smith
Vice President of Human Resources
experience:
14 years in the industry
fav flavor:
Unsweet blueberry with a splash of sweet watermelon.