International Franchise Association Appoints Sixteen New Board Members

Franchisor, franchisee, and supplier members will help lead the world’s oldest and largest franchise association, bringing a range of experience in franchising to protect, enhance, and promote franchising

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2024 – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today announced the election of sixteen new franchise professionals to serve on its Board of Directors. The new directors, who will take their positions at the 2025 IFA Annual Convention in February, are comprised of franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers who will bring a variety of experience and expertise to carry out IFA’s mission to protect, enhance, and promote franchising.

“These new directors will bring the leadership necessary to drive the association and our mission forward at a pivotal time for franchising,” said Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO. “These leaders represent some of the best in franchising across all aspects of the business model – committed to Responsible Franchising and the growth of the model in local communities. Their leadership will guide IFA as we continue to grow so we can even further support our members and all the opportunity they create.” 

“Serving on the IFA Board is one of the greatest ways to contribute to the future of franchising,” said Steve Hockett, Chair of the IFA Board of Directors and CEO of Great Clips. “This is a remarkable group who have shown their dedication to the franchise business model and its incredible reach into nearly every community in the U.S. Their leadership will undoubtedly continue to drive the success of franchising worldwide for generations to come.” 

The 2025 IFA Board of Directors is comprised of franchisee, franchisor, and supplier members, with a diverse representation of industry, thought, and background, who provide critical guidance to the IFA on the association’s key initiatives. 

The incoming 2025 IFA Board members include: 

• Tiffany Atwell – Executive Vice President of Government Relations, Ecolab
• Ashley Coneff – VP of Government Relations & Impact, Inspire Brands
• John Crawford – Chief Operating Officer, Jani-King International, Inc.
• Emma Dickison – CEO & President, Home Helpers Home Care
• Tim Evankovich – Chairman, Oasis Senior Advisors Franchise System, LLC
• Rocco Fiorentino – CEO, Benetrends Financial
• Nate Garn – CEO, Sizzling Platter
• Rolf Lundberg – Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, Global Public Policy and External Affairs, Choice Hotels International
• David Ostrowe – President & CEO, O&M Restaurant Group
• Todd Recknagel – Chairman, PCRK Group, National Envy Development
• Laura Roberts – Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Compliance Officer, Bojangles’ Restaurants, Inc.
• Karen Satterlee – Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, APAC, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.
• Heidi Schauer – Vice President, Communications, Public Affairs & Customer Care, The Wendy’s Company
• Lynette Eaddy Smith – Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
• Gabby Wong – CEO, FranConnect
• Tony Zaccario – President & CEO, Stretch Zone

IFA also announces the succession of its 2025 officers, including the appointment of multi-unit franchisee Gary Robins as second vice chair. Robins has been a franchisee for over 30 years in four different franchise systems, including owning and operating over 60 Supercuts franchises across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware, and more recently Waxing the City. Robins has served as chair of the Multi-Unit Franchisee Conference and in leadership roles with the Supercuts Franchisee Association and the Coalition of Franchisee Associations. 

“I am honored to serve on the IFA executive committee as the organization continues to grow and expand its work protecting, enhancing, and promoting the franchise model,” said Robins. “As a franchisee, I see firsthand how important the work IFA does for my businesses day in and day out, and I look forward to joining this group of leaders at an exciting time both for IFA and the future of franchising.”

The 2025 officers for the IFA Board of Directors include:

• Chair – Mary Thompson, CEO, BNI  
• Vice Chair – Sam Ballas, CEO, East Coast Wings + Grill 
• Second Vice Chair – Gary Robins, President, The G & C Robins Company
• Immediate Past Chair – Steve Hockett, CEO, Great Clips

The directors’ full bios are available here. 

The new directors will assume their positions at the IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV, in February 2025, and will serve an initial term of three years.

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