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
Mary Kennedy Thompson, CFE

IFA Chair; CEO, BNI

Sam G. Ballas, CFE
Sam G. Ballas, CFE

IFA Vice Chair; CEO & Co-Founder East Coast Wings + Grill/ Sammy’s Sliders

Gary Robins
Gary Robins

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

Steve Hockett
Steve Hockett

IFA Past Chair; CEO, Great Clips, Inc.

Bill Hall, CFE
Bill Hall, CFE

IFA Treasurer; CEO, Treats Investments, LLC and CEO, Align Capital, LLC

Ron Feldman, CFE
Ron Feldman, CFE

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

Catherine Monson, CFE
Catherine Monson, CFE

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

Rob Branca
Rob Branca

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

Marcia Mead
Marcia Mead

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

Robin Gagnon, CFE
Robin Gagnon, CFE

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

Matt Haller
Matt Haller

President & CEO

202.662.0770

mhaller@franchise.org

Board of Directors

Tushaar Agrawal
Tushaar Agrawal

Chief Franchise Officer, Marriott International

Jerry Akers
Jerry Akers

Owner, Great Clips

Tiffany M. Atwell
Tiffany M. Atwell

Executive Vice President, Government Relations, Ecolab

Tom Baber
Tom Baber

Multi-Unit Franchisee IHOP

Marcus Banks
Marcus Banks

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

Mitch Cohen
Mitch Cohen

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

Ashley Coneff
Ashley Coneff

VP, Government Affairs & Impact, Inspire Brands

Adam Contos, CFE
Adam Contos, CFE

Partner, Area 15 Ventures

John Crawford
John Crawford

Chief Operating Officer, Jani-King International, Inc.

Randy Cross
Randy Cross

President, Fish Window Cleaning

Kimberly Crowell
Kimberly Crowell

Principal & CEO, Kalo Companies

Steve Danon
Steve Danon

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

Emma  Dickison, CFE, CSA
Emma Dickison, CFE, CSA

CEO & President, Home Helpers Home Care

Jay Duke
Jay Duke

Global Head of Advisory, BDO Global

Clint Ehlers
Clint Ehlers

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

Tim  Evankovich
Tim Evankovich

Chairman, Oasis Senior Advisors Franchise System, LLC

Shane Evans
Shane Evans

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

Sean Falk, CFE
Sean Falk, CFE

CEO, Just For Your Paws, LLC

Rocco  Fiorentino, CFE
Rocco Fiorentino, CFE

CEO, Benetrends Financial

Greg Flynn
Greg Flynn

Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Flynn Group

Nate Garn
Nate Garn

CEO, Sizzling Platter, LLC

Michael Gonda
Michael Gonda

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

Daniel Halpern
Daniel Halpern

CEO & Co-Founder, Jackmont Hospitality

Dustin Hansen, CFE
Dustin Hansen, CFE

Global Board of Directors, InXpress

John Hixson
John Hixson

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

Harvey Homsey, CFE
Harvey Homsey, CFE

Vice President of Franchise Systems, Express Services, Inc.

Earsa Jackson, CFE
Earsa Jackson, CFE

Member, Clark Hill Strasburger

Tamra Kennedy
Tamra Kennedy

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

Jesse Keyser
Jesse Keyser

CEO, Keyser Enterprises 1, LP

Aslam Khan
Aslam Khan

Chairman, Falcon Holdings

Lillian Kirstein
Lillian Kirstein

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

Rolf Lundberg
Rolf Lundberg

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

Ned Lyerly, CFE
Ned Lyerly, CFE

CEO, Starheel Ventures, LLC

Dave Mortensen
Dave Mortensen

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

David Ostrowe
David Ostrowe

President & CEO, O&M Restaurant Group

Caroline Miller Oyler
Caroline Miller Oyler

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

Sarah Powell
Sarah Powell

EVP, General Counsel, and Secretary, GoTo Foods

Todd Recknagel
Todd Recknagel

PCRK Group, National Envy Development

Laura Roberts
Laura Roberts

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

Meg Roberts
Meg Roberts

CEO, Head to Toe Brands

Al Rodriguez
Al Rodriguez

Franchisee, Sport Clips

Azim Saju
Azim Saju

CEO & President, HDG Hotels

Jyoti Sarolia
Jyoti Sarolia

President and CEO, Ellis Hospitality Group

Karen Satterlee, CFE
Karen Satterlee, CFE

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

Heidi Schauer
Heidi Schauer

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

Abby Schmidt
Abby Schmidt

Franchise Partnership Development Manager, Paychex, Inc.

Michael Seid
Michael Seid

Managing Director, MSA Worldwide

Stephen Shields
Stephen Shields

Franchisee, Express Employment Professionals

Omar Simmons
Omar Simmons

Managing Director, Exaltare Capital Partners

Lynette Eaddy Smith
Lynette Eaddy Smith

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

Richard Snow
Richard Snow

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

Christine Son
Christine Son

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

Jeff Sopp
Jeff Sopp

Founder and CEO, Kensington Hill Partners

John Teza, CFE
John Teza, CFE

CEO & President, Hand & Stone Franchise, LLC

Carolyn Thurston
Carolyn Thurston

CEO & Founder, Wisdom Senior Care

Larisa Walega, CFE
Larisa Walega, CFE

Chief Growth Officer, Ziebart International Corporation

Charles Watson
Charles Watson
Steve White
Steve White

President & COO, PuroClean

Tim Williams
Tim Williams

Chief Franchising Officer, Williams Fried Chicken

Gabby Wong
Gabby Wong

Chief Executive Officer, FranConnect

Tony Zaccario
Tony Zaccario

President & CEO, Stretch Zone

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