Meet the IFA Team
Leading the way in franchising together. When it comes to the IFA community, our collective passion for our business is our power.
The diverse groups of dedicated leaders on this page work together to shape the future of franchising and make it stronger for all. They connect the franchise community, providing innovative resources, support, and education. By guiding IFA initiatives and influencing key policies, they protect, enhance and promote the business model that is the foundation of entrepreneurship.
Executive Committee

Mary Kennedy Thompson, CFE
IFA Chair; CEO, BNI

Sam G. Ballas, CFE
IFA Vice Chair; CEO & Co-Founder East Coast Wings + Grill/ Sammy’s Sliders

Gary Robins
IFA Second Vice Chair; President, The G & C Robins Company

Steve Hockett
IFA Past Chair; CEO, Great Clips, Inc.

Bill Hall, CFE
IFA Treasurer; CEO, Treats Investments, LLC and CEO, Align Capital, LLC

Ron Feldman, CFE
Chair of IFA Foundation Board of Trustees; Brand Ambassador, ApplePie Capital Inc.

Catherine Monson, CFE
Vice Chair of IFA Foundation Board of Trustees; CEO, Propelled Brands

Rob Branca
Chair of IFA Franchisee Forum; President, Branded Management Group, Inc.

Marcia Mead
Chair of IFA Supplier Forum Advisory Board; President, M Squared Franchise Consulting

Robin Gagnon, CFE
Chair of IFA Franchisor Forum; Co-Founder and CEO, We Sell Restaurants

Matt Haller
President & CEO
202.662.0770
mhaller@franchise.org
Board of Directors

Tushaar Agrawal
Chief Franchise Officer, Marriott International

Jerry Akers
Owner, Great Clips

Tiffany M. Atwell
Executive Vice President, Government Relations, Ecolab

Tom Baber
Multi-Unit Franchisee IHOP

Marcus Banks
SVP, Litigation, Employment Law & Government Relations Wyndham Hotels and Resorts

Mitch Cohen
Franchise Owner, Jersey Mike's Subs and Sola Salon Studios; Partner, PerforMax Franchisee Advisors

Ashley Coneff
VP, Government Affairs & Impact, Inspire Brands

Adam Contos, CFE
Partner, Area 15 Ventures

John Crawford
Chief Operating Officer, Jani-King International, Inc.

Randy Cross
President, Fish Window Cleaning

Kimberly Crowell
Principal & CEO, Kalo Companies

Steve Danon
Vice President, Head of U.S. Government Relations & Community Affairs, Restaurant Brands International

Emma Dickison, CFE, CSA
CEO & President, Home Helpers Home Care

Jay Duke
Global Head of Advisory, BDO Global

Clint Ehlers
Owner, FASTSIGNS of Willow Grove, PA and Cherry Hill, NJ

Tim Evankovich
Chairman, Oasis Senior Advisors Franchise System, LLC

Shane Evans
Co-Founder & CEO, Heights Wellness Retreats (Massage Heights Franchising)

Sean Falk, CFE
CEO, Just For Your Paws, LLC

Rocco Fiorentino, CFE
CEO, Benetrends Financial

Greg Flynn
Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Flynn Group

Nate Garn
CEO, Sizzling Platter, LLC

Michael Gonda
Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer of North America, McDonald's USA

Daniel Halpern
CEO & Co-Founder, Jackmont Hospitality

Dustin Hansen, CFE
Global Board of Directors, InXpress

John Hixson
Chief Sustainability Officer & Vice President of Global Government Affairs, Yum! Brands

Harvey Homsey, CFE
Vice President of Franchise Systems, Express Services, Inc.

Earsa Jackson, CFE
Member, Clark Hill Strasburger

Tamra Kennedy
President, Twin City's T.J.'s, Inc.

Jesse Keyser
CEO, Keyser Enterprises 1, LP

Aslam Khan
Chairman, Falcon Holdings

Lillian Kirstein
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary for 7-Eleven, Inc.

Rolf Lundberg
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Head of External Affairs and Global Public Policy, Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Ned Lyerly, CFE
CEO, Starheel Ventures, LLC

Dave Mortensen
Board of Directors - Purpose Brands, LLC; Co-Founder - Anytime Fitness

David Ostrowe
President & CEO, O&M Restaurant Group

Caroline Miller Oyler
Chief Legal and Risk Officer, Papa John’s International, Inc.

Sarah Powell
EVP, General Counsel, and Secretary, GoTo Foods

Todd Recknagel
PCRK Group, National Envy Development

Laura Roberts
Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Compliance Officer, Bojangles’ Restaurants, Inc.

Meg Roberts
CEO, Head to Toe Brands

Al Rodriguez
Franchisee, Sport Clips

Azim Saju
CEO & President, HDG Hotels

Jyoti Sarolia
President and CEO, Ellis Hospitality Group

Karen Satterlee, CFE
Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Asia Pacific Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Heidi Schauer
Vice President, Communications, Public Affairs & Customer Care, The Wendy's Company

Abby Schmidt
Franchise Partnership Development Manager, Paychex, Inc.

Michael Seid
Managing Director, MSA Worldwide

Stephen Shields
Franchisee, Express Employment Professionals

Omar Simmons
Managing Director, Exaltare Capital Partners

Lynette Eaddy Smith
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Chick-fil-a, Inc.

Richard Snow
Vice President, National Specialty & Franchise Banking Relationship Manager, Bremer Bank

Christine Son
Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Secretary, Dine Brands Global

Jeff Sopp
Founder and CEO, Kensington Hill Partners

John Teza, CFE
CEO & President, Hand & Stone Franchise, LLC

Carolyn Thurston
CEO & Founder, Wisdom Senior Care

Larisa Walega, CFE
Chief Growth Officer, Ziebart International Corporation

Charles Watson

Steve White
President & COO, PuroClean

Tim Williams
Chief Franchising Officer, Williams Fried Chicken

Gabby Wong
Chief Executive Officer, FranConnect

Tony Zaccario
President & CEO, Stretch Zone