2022 IFA Summer Board of Directors' and Forum Meetings, Laguna Beach

Jim Balis
CEO, Sizzling Platter

Jim joined CapitalSpring in 2014 where he serves as Managing Director and Head of the Strategic Operations Group. He has over 40 years of restaurant experience and has served as CEO for more than 19 restaurant companies.

Jim is currently CEO of Sizzling Platter which is a 660 unit multi-branded franchisee business operating restaurants in the US and Internationally. Previously he served as CEO of Buddy’s Pizza (the originator of Detroit Style Pizza), Norms Restaurants (an iconic family dining brand), and many other restaurant companies.

Jim also serves on the board of directors of more than 10 different restaurant and restaurant service companies, and as an advisor to other boards. Prior to joining CapitalSpring, Jim was Founder and President of the Restaurant Management Group, a boutique advisory firm specializing in the restaurant industry.

Charlie Chase
IFA Chair;
President & CEO, FirstService Brands, Inc. and California Closets, Inc.

Charlie Chase is the president and CEO of FirstService Brands, Inc. and California Closets, Inc. Throughout his 30 years with FirstService Brands, he has held numerous roles starting as a franchise owner in 1982 at College Pro Painters. Believing that there was an opportunity to create a successful and significant full-time painting company, he became the founding president/CEO of CertaPro Painters in 1992. Prior to his role as CEO, Chase served as the president of the Consumer Franchises of The Franchise Company and prior to that he was CEO of CertaPro Painters. Chase is a member of the IFA FranPAC Advisory Committee and Membership Committee. He earned a bachelor's degree with honors in economics from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada.

Frank Fiorille
Vice President, Risk, Compliance, and Data Analytics

Frank Fiorille is the vice president of risk management, compliance, and data analytics at Paychex. Fiorille currently serves as one of the chief stewards of risk for the company, and he leads the implementation of all aspects of the risk function, including processes, tools, and systems to identify, assess, measure, manage, monitor, and report risks. In addition to his overall risk management responsibilities and heading the compliance and data science functions, he oversees the government relations and operating risk functions for Paychex.

Fiorille joined Paychex in 2002, bringing with him several years of experience from previous risk management leadership roles at Citigroup and PNC Bank. He was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Finance by Treasury & Risk magazine in 2008 and 2009, and he’s credited with leading successful projects to build the first risk and retention models in both the educational lending and payroll outsourcing industries.

Fiorille holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School, as well as a certificate in advanced risk management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently chair of the Enterprise Risk Management Committee for the Risk Management Society (RIMS), one of the world’s largest risk management organizations, and a board member for the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO). Fiorille is a frequent speaker both domestically and internationally on the topic of risk management and is an adjunct professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Matthew Haller
President & CEO, International Franchise Association

Matthew Haller is President & CEO for the International Franchise Association.

Matt has been a key member of the IFA team for 10 years, building extensive relationships with all three segments of the IFA membership: franchisors, franchisees & suppliers. During that time, he has held a number of roles including Communications Director, Vice President of Public Affairs, Chief of Staff to the CEO and Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. In 2017, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs: the leadership role he has held until today.

During his tenure leading IFA’s advocacy strategy, Matt expanded the association’s lobbying, coalition building, grassroots, research and communications capabilities and took on some of our more difficult challenges, including defending the business model against the joint employer threat and significant legislative and regulatory issues at the federal, state & local levels. During the pandemic, he led the team’s focus on helping the franchise business model survive, ensuring the Paycheck Protection Program and other relief efforts included eligibility for franchise businesses, while working with the internal team to innovate how to provide IFA members real value for their membership in the association. 

Prior to joining IFA in October 2010, Matthew was director of industry relations at the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, where he developed PCMA’s member and affiliate initiatives surrounding key industry issues. Previously, he served as manager of political affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he managed the Chamber’s $20 million budget for political and issue advocacy campaigns during the 2004 and 2006 election cycles. Matthew has also held positions as legislative assistant for UPS Corporate Public Affairs and as a director of public affairs at Levick Strategic Communications, LLC.   

Matthew received a bachelors degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. He resides in Washington, D.C. 

You can contact Matthew at [email protected] or 202-662-0770 and follow him on Twitter @Franchising411.

Michael Layman
Senior Vice President, Government Relations & Public Affairs, International Franchise Association

Michael Layman is Vice President, Federal Government Relations for the International Franchise Association. He develops public policy initiatives and builds coalitions in support of franchising, and monitors federal agencies and Congress to identify threats to, and opportunities for, the franchise industry. Layman has delivered speeches around the country on public policy issues, and has been interviewed by numerous national publications.

Layman also serves as the Executive Director for the Coalition to Save Local Businesses (CSLB). Layman will serve as the day-to-day liaison between CSLB members and Congress, who are concerned about the impact of an expanded joint employment standard on local businesses.

Prior to joining the IFA in January 2015, Layman was a senior manager with Littler Mendelson’s Workplace Policy Institute. Layman promoted Littler clients’ interests and shareholders’ policy work in Washington. From 2007 to 2013, he worked at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as Manager of Employment and Labor Policy, where he led multiple national coalitions on employment and labor policy.

From 2001 to 2007, Layman served on Capitol Hill, where he was Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania and Professional Staff Member on the House Government Reform Committee staff under committee chair, U.S. Representative Tom Davis of Virginia.

Layman earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Christine, and three daughters. You can contact Michael by phone at (202) 662-4177 or by email at [email protected].

Dan Monaghan, CFE
Managing Partner, Clear Summit Group

Dan’s entre into the world of entrepreneurship began at the age of 19 when he became a franchisee with Dickie Dee – an ice cream bicycle operation in Canada.  He used the profits from this franchise business to put himself through university at Sir Wilfred Laurier University.  With several entrepreneurial successes behind him, and a national best-selling book to his credit (Why Not Me?), Dan founded WSI at the age of 27.  Over the last 25 years, WSI has grown to become the largest digital marketing franchise organization in the world.  WSI’s latest book, Digital Minds, was released in 2013 and quickly achieved best seller status.  Now in its third edition, it is now available in 4 languages and is one of the top rated digital marketing books available through Amazon. 

In 2006 Dan founded Clear Summit Group (CSG), a private equity firm which invests in early-stage high growth franchise and technology companies.  In addition to Dan’s ongoing role with WSI, the CSG portfolio includes Tutor Doctor (world leader in in-home education), Qualicare (specializing in case managed medical home care), Recruiting In Motion (staffing and recruitment), Fuzz Wax Bar (wax salons), College Pro (youth entrepreneurship) and Code Wiz (coding and robotics for kids).  Today the CSG portfolio of companies includes over 1000 franchise locations in countries around the world. 

Dan is passionate about education and has often lectured on franchising at Cornell and Georgetown Universities.  He sits on the board of governors of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives (ICFE) and is the Vice Chair of the IFA Foundation.  He is also the founder of "Make Child Poverty History", a world-wide outreach program operated in partnership with World Vision.

Catherine Monson, CFE
Immediate Past Chair; CEO, Propelled Brands

Catherine Monson brings 30 years of franchising and management experience to her leadership role that spans multiple brands. Catherine has been the CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc.,  the leading sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, since January 2009. In 2021, Catherine oversaw and announced the formation of Propelled Brands, the corporate umbrella that now includes FASTSIGNS®; SIGNWAVE® in Australia where FASTSIGNS centers operate under the SIGNWAVE brand; NerdsToGo®, an emerging IT services franchise brand acquired in September 2020; and Suite Management Franchising, LLC, the parent company of MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza acquired in June 2021. Salon Management Franchising, LLC is a leading concept in the salon suite industry bringing together a collection of independent beauty professionals in one luxurious location. 

With a focus on business-to-business and service franchises and the people behind those businesses, Propelled Brands helps each franchise confidently navigate forward based on their unique position, momentum and purpose. Propelled Brands establishes a strategic path for each brand to chart a course and offer support and guidance to every franchisee in each brand to help them ultimately arrive at maximum success.

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John Murray

In a career spanning policy, communications and politics, John is known as one of the most influential and connected Republican strategists. Previously, he led the YG Network, a nonprofit issue advocacy organization and acted as an outside advisor to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. John served as Deputy Chief of Staff during Cantor’s tenure as Republican Whip and Majority Leader where he oversaw communications, strategic initiatives and political outreach. Earlier John was a Founder of AB+M Partners, a strategic communications and public affairs firm, and held leadership roles at the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Freddie Mac and Burson-Marsteller. He is an alum of Franklin and Marshall College, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Harvard Institute of Politics. John, a native of Seattle, lives in the north end with his wife Joanna and two daughters. He is currently on the Board of Trustees for the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce. 

Todd Recknagel, CFE
Chair, Franchisee Forum;
National Envy Development LLC (Massage Envy)

After obtaining his MBA in finance at the Eli Broad School at MSU and stints in commercial and investment banking, Todd went on to lead and grow a number of companies. Some of those roles and companies included: managing partner of a boutique investment bank which became an INC 500 winner in 1996 for fast growth, CEO, owner and largest multi-unit franchisee of Blimpie Subs in the 90’s (sold to Kahala Corporation 2003), CEO & Partner in the largest and number 1 rated franchisor Mr. Handyman building it to over 300 units (now owned by Neighborly) and CEO & Partner of the largest energy efficiency products and program supplier in the country (AM Conservation Group which was sold to Kohlberg & Company 2015). Todd also was partner and board member of the fastest growing service company in the automotive franchise segment, Take 5 Oil Change (sold to Roark Capital in 2016).  

Todd is currently Franchisee, Operating Partner and Board Member of National Envy Development and PCRK Group, the largest multi-unit operator with over 80 units of the leading brand, Massage Envy. He is also Operating Partner & Board Member of Quatrro Business Services, a leading provider of online accounting to multi-unit businesses as well as Managing Partner of Specialty Tile Products a commercial tile distributor to large multi-unit businesses.  He has partnered or invested in over 75 transactions with over $350 million in realized gains for private equity investors/partners.

Todd has been has partnered as a franchisor in over 10 systems, a multi unit franchisee in 5 systems and is currently a supplier to franchise systems as well.  Todd fully believes that franchising has been a significant blessing to his life provided by God as Todd is a man of faith.  He counts among his other significant blessings, his wife and business partner Kristi Mailloux as well as the 6 children between them.

Mark Vitner
Managing Director, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo

Mark Vitner is a managing director and senior economist for Wells Fargo’s Corporate and Investment Bank, where he is responsible for tracking U.S. and regional economic conditions. Mark writes for the department’s weekly and monthly economic reports and also produces regular publications on residential and commercial construction, regional economies and issues impacting small business.

Mark joined a Wells Fargo predecessor institution in 1993. His commentary has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and many other publications. He makes frequent guest appearances on CNBC and many other major networks.

Originally from Atlanta, Mark earned a B.B.A. in economics from the University of Georgia and an M.B.A. from the University of North Florida. He has completed further graduate work in economics at the University of Florida. He also completed the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) Advanced Training in Economics program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Mark is a member of NABE and its inaugural Certified Business Economist class. Mark has been active in the Charlotte community, co-founding the NABE Charlotte chapter, The Charlotte Economics Club.  He also recently served as board chair for the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community and chaired the Economic Advisory Council for the California Chamber of Commerce for three years. He is a member of the Blue Chip economic forecasting panel and serves on the Joint Advisory Board of Economists for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Honorable Kevin Yoder

Kevin was as a Member of Congress from 2011 to 2019. During his entire time in office, he served on the House Appropriations Committee.  On the committee, he served on a total of 8 different subcommittees, serving as Chairman of both the Homeland Security and Legislative Branch subcommittees.  He also represented the midwest region on the House Steering Committee, as well as serving as a Deputy Whip on the House GOP Whip Team and Vice-Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

While in Congress, Kevin received praise for his leadership on job creation and economic growth policies, including the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He also received national recognition for his work to promote education and medical research, winning the Congressional Champion for Children Award in 2018 as well as the Champion of Science Award from The Science Coalition in 2016.  He was known as a bipartisan leader in Congress and along with Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), he received the Consensus Civility Award for his efforts to bring civility to public life as a Member of Congress.

Prior to being elected to Congress, Kevin served in the Kansas State Legislature, where he chaired the House Appropriations Committee. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas where he received degrees in political science, English and law.  He is now a partner in the consulting firm Hobart, Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC.  He divides his time between Washington, D.C., and Mission Hills, Kansas where he lives with his wife and their two daughters.