The 2025 IFA Annual Convention brought together a diverse group of industry professionals to discuss the latest trends and innovations in franchising. We connected with some of the 3,800 attendees live in the halls of the Convention, who were eager to share their experiences and offer a unique glimpse into the impact of franchising’s premier event.
Tiffany Martin, Cardinal Coordinator, University of Louisville: “This is my second year at the IFA Convention. This year, I am currently an MBA student at the University of Louisville, and last year I was an undergrad learning my franchise management certificate. The IFA Convention is amazing, it is my inspiration for my future. I would like to teach, train, and develop future generations, making franchising a common goal for people rather than most success stories that the franchisor/franchisee fell into it. Franchising is inspiring, a whole community of people, and it’s exactly where I want to be.”
Lee Payne, Senior Account Executive, Franchise Ventures: “This is my 18th IFA Convention. I missed the one in 2021 with the virtual show. Great turn out this year, awesome venue, and excited to be here!”
Brandon Clifford, CEO, Business Alliance, Inc.: “This is my fourth IFA Convention. It’s been a great turn out and great show so far!”
Trevor McGinness, Managing Director, ConnectBridge: “We’ve been members of the IFA for the last five years. It is our first time exhibiting and we’re here to provide exceptional leave administration services for all the members of IFA.”
David Zyck, Senior Enterprise Customer Success Manager, Motive: “Motive is a new member as of just a few weeks ago and we are excited to be here as making a concretive focus into the franchise space. We have been told this is the industry event to come to, so a lot of great networking and exposure so far. Thrilled to be here!”
Chandler Hayden, CFE, Franchise Development Manager, Taco John’s International, Inc. and FAI Cohort: “One thing that I took away was the connections that we’ve made, the kitchen table learnings that we have had an opportunity to participate in, meeting different brands, and different leaders of companies. Also, the FAI cohort members and I have been learning so much from our peers, it’s just been a blessing. The program has been so invaluable and it’s just a dream come true to be chosen for something like this. I cannot wait for my future and to thrive from this all.”
Jasmine Thurston, Franchisee, Wisdom Senior Care and FAI Cohort: “I would definitely join the IFA FAI program because they put in the money, time, effort, and resources. We have met so many different franchisors, franchisees, multi-unit, mumbos. I mean you probably don’t know what that is because you aren’t in the program yet, but literally before I got into this program it was just amazing. I didn’t know what an FDD was or the operations manual. I have learned so much that it’s just literally breathtaking at how much information, knowledge, and networking that I have gained from being here at the conference, being with the IFA, being with so many mentors. It has been a dream come true!”
Liz Berman, Senior Advertising Specialist, BizBuySell: “We love IFA. We love coming to the IFA Convention. We have great facetime with clients and it’s a wonderful opportunity to be in this space with the whole franchising community. We’ve been a member, supplier, and partner for over a decade and we’re team franchising!”
Karen Booze, CFE, Director of Growth and Development – Relationship Builder, AnswerConnect: “AnswerConnect has been a member with the IFA for eight years and for four years we’ve been a preferred vendor. It is the best money we’ve spent and the best relationships we’ve ever built.”
Stewart Germann, Principal, Stewart Germann Law Office: “I’ve been a member of the IFA for 25+ years, and I love the IFA! I am a member because it’s international and I do a lot of international franchise attorney transactions, also a qualified mediator. I love these conventions, I come to the Legal Symposium in May that the IFA runs and I’m a great supporter.”
Matthew Montoya, Sr. Manager, Indirect Customer Ops and Success, Constant Contact: “Constant Contact is a 20-year member of the IFA. We are excited to be involved with the IFA and so honored to be working with the franchises that belong to IFA and so honored that the IFA does all that they do to help lift all franchisors and franchisees up! Constant Contact is proud to be a key component to the franchise ecosystem, helping franchisors control their marketing while offering the franchisees an easy-to-use solution that they will adopt.”
Katie Anders, Sales Rep, FM Flow and Ava Pappas, Sales Rep, FM Flow: “FM Flow is a technology CRM platform for the service industry for franchises and is a sponsor. It’s our first time at the Convention, and we’re having a great time. Our biggest takeaway is there are so many amazing people to network with and this is such a great opportunity. It is a great community!”
James Roussos, Franchise Business Consultant, Chicken Salad Chick: “Being it’s my first time at Convention, I highly recommend. As a matter of fact, one of my franchisees this morning I talked to, I told him about this and will get him connected. Without a doubt, I will be here next year.”
Josie Van Scholten, Managing Partner, Valenta: “This is my first IFA event. It has been super exciting, and it’s really helped me see the bigger picture and how all the pieces work together. I’m learning the different perspectives from suppliers, franchisors, and franchisees and how they all work together to make this industry so amazing!”
Aren Johnstone, CEO, Franchise Ramp: “We are a creative and marketing agency founded for franchisees by franchisees. We have been a member of IFA and coming to IFA for over six years now. It’s the first franchise event of the year and it really kicks off the year for us. We get to see all our familiar faces, clients, potential new customers, vendor partners, and every year we learn something new. We plan on coming to IFA for many years into the future and are really excited about the opportunity to get together at the biggest franchising event of the year.”