July 2010
Franchising World

On June 15, the International Franchise Association welcomed a well-known and respected franchise executive with nearly 30 years of legislative, communications and professional development experience to serve as its chief executive. Stephen J. Caldeira, the former Dunkin’ Brands executive vice president of global communications and chief public affairs officer, was named IFA president and CEO. He succeeds Matthew Shay who resigned in March to lead the National Retail Federation.
  
“As the franchising industry continues to work through a challenging economic and political climate, the search committee recognized that the IFA was going to need a passionate leader that had the strategic and tactical abilities to bridge the critical areas of public policy, communications and member services,” IFA Chairman Ken Walker, CFE, (Driven Brands chairman and CEO) said upon announcing Caldeira’s appointment. “Clearly, Steve is that leader and we are thrilled that he will guide the IFA for many years to come. His unique blend of political, corporate, franchising, trade association and fundraising experience will further strengthen and facilitate IFA’s mission to protect, enhance and promote franchising.”
  
Caldeira is no stranger to the association having been a member of its board of directors and a participant in several IFA annual conventions, legal symposia and public affairs conferences during the past few years.  
  
“I am truly excited to have the opportunity to work with the IFA Board of Directors, staff and membership in leading such a well-respected and increasingly influential trade association,” Caldeira said. “As the IFA looks to the future, it will be critical to build on the momentum the association has gained on Capitol Hill the past several years. As part of the IFA’s unwavering and steadfast commitment to protect and enhance brand and member value, we will continue to be proactive in reminding policymakers and the media that the franchising industry is, and will continue to be, an economic force and proven job creator in the global economy.” 
  
Search Committee 
IFA Chairman Walker appointed a Search Committee in mid-March to begin the process to identify a replacement for Shay. The Search Committee was comprised of current and past officers, including Walker; IFA First Vice Chairman and Earle Enterprises Managing Partner (McDonald’s franchisee) Jack Earle; Dunkin’ Brands Executive Chairman and IFA Second Vice Chairman Jon Luther; IFA Secretary and Roark Capital Group Managing Director Steve Romaniello, CFE; IFA 2009 Chairwoman and The Dwyer Group Chairwoman and CEO Dina Dwyer-Owens, CFE; and IFA 2008 Chairman and PostNet International Franchise Corporation CEO Steve Greenbaum, CFE.        Stephen J. Caldeira served as a communications, public affairs and business development consultant specializing in the restaurant, retail and hospitality industries before joining the International Franchise Association.
  
As Executive Vice President of Global Communications and Chief Public Affairs Officer for Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., the $7 billion parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins based in Canton, Mass., Caldeira oversaw worldwide communications for all internal and external audiences, as well as government affairs, corporate social responsibility, customer relations, multicultural initiatives, community relations and industry relations. He was co-chair of the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation and chairman and treasurer of the Dunkin’ Brands Political Action Committee.
  
Before his career at Dunkin’, Caldeira was co-founder, president and CEO of The Elliot Leadership Institute, a not-forprofit organization dedicated to the development and advancement of executives in the $566 billion foodservice industry.
  
Caldeira has also served as vice president of industry relations for PepsiCo, where he was responsible for developing and sustaining PepsiCo’s presence and visibility for the $39 billion parent corporation of Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Quaker Foods. His areas of responsibility across the foodservice, retail and entertainment business channels included business development, strategic alliances, corporate sponsorships, trade advertising, trade show management, trade media relations and customeroriented initiatives.
  
Before joining PepsiCo, Caldeira was a managing director in the U.S. Public Affairs Practice for Burson-Marsteller in New York City where he was responsible for developing and implementing communications and public policy strategies for several Fortune 100 companies and notfor-profit associations.  
  
As president and COO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation in Chicago, he managed all aspects of the foundation’s mission to develop, promote and provide educational and training solutions for the foodservice industry.
  
Serving as senior vice president of communications and marketing for the National Restaurant Association in Washington, D.C., Caldeira was the restaurant industry’s chief spokesman.
  
His political experience includes positions with Ronald S. Lauder (R-NY)—former Ambassador to Austria, deputy assistant secretary for European and NATO Policy and chairman of Estee Lauder International—in his bid for mayor of New York in 1989. Earlier positions included senior manager of political affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Northeast Region) and political director for former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato’s (R-N.Y.) successful 1986 re-election campaign. He also served as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill to former Rep. Greg Carman (R-N.Y.).
  
His professional memberships are extensive and varied. In addition to serving as a member of the IFA Board of Directors, Caldeira has served as a member of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Board of Directors, and as an officer and board member of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance and Women’s Foodservice Forum. He is also a past member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee.
  
In 2009, Caldeira served as tournament chairman for the seventh consecutive year of The Emeril Lagasse Golf Classic to benefit Johnson & Wales University, where he has led the effort to raise more than $2.9 million for student scholarships. He is also a member of the corporation and an Executive in Residence at Johnson & Wales University. He is a member of the 2010 Restaurant Leadership Conference Advisory Council, serves as a member of the Society of Fellows at the Culinary Institute of America and is a member of the National Committee of Advisors for the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy at California State University—Monterey Bay. For the third consecutive year in 2009, Caldeira served as tournament chairman for the Richard E. Marriott Save American Free Enterprise (SAFE) Invitational that has raised $1.2 million to benefit the National Restaurant Association’s legislative and regulatory efforts in Washington, D.C.
  
Caldeira has received numerous honors, including the 2008 International Foodservice Manufacturers Association President’s Award for significant contributions to IFMA and the foodservice industry. In 2007, he was named one of the restaurant industry’s “Top 50 Influencers” by Nation’s Restaurant News. He received the 2004 William J. Tobin Award from IFMA for advancing foodservice education, the 2004 Corporate Champion Award from the MultiCultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance and the 2003 Directors Award from the Women’s Foodservice Forum. In 1999, Caldeira was named a “Rising Star” by Restaurant Hospitality magazine and in 1991, “Rising Star” by Campaigns & Elections magazine.
  
Caldeira earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Providence College and in 2007, was awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration and foodservice management from Johnson & Wales University.
  
He is relocating to the Washington, D.C. area from Wellesley, Mass. with his wife Jane and two young children, Madeleine and Alexander.