August 2008 Franchising World
IFA program is one of six chosen out of 38 applicants.
The International Franchise Association has received one of the six 2008 Summit Awards from the American Society of Association Executives for its Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative.
“We are honored to win the coveted Summit Award,” said Matthew Shay, IFA president and CEO. “This award validates the hard work by our members and staff to provide opportunities to help former military personnel achieve the American dream of small-business ownership. We are grateful that the ASAE committee recognized the many contributions that franchising makes to our society. “
ASAE serves approximately 10,000 associations that represent more than 287 million people and organizations worldwide. Each year, up to 50 associations are selected to receive the ASAE Association’s Advance America Award of Excellence for improving the quality of life in America today. This year, 38 organizations were selected in three rounds. The six Summit Award winners, including IFA, were chosen from this group.
To honor those men and women who have served in the U.S. military, VetFran was developed to help them transition to civilian life. The idea of the late Don Dwyer Sr., founder of The Dwyer Group, VetFran is a voluntary effort of IFA-member-companies that is designed to encourage franchise ownership by offering financial incentives to honorably discharged veterans.
To date, purchases of franchised businesses by former military personnel VetFran has reached 1,155 and more than 200 others are currently in negotiation. There are nearly 350 franchised businesses from which to choose. Most participating franchise companies offer significant reductions of the initial franchise fee required at purchase. Company details and their incentives for veterans may be viewed at www.franchise.org, “VetFran Directory.”
As part of the ASAE’s Center for the Association Leadership’s Associations Advance America program, the Summit Award is given to the very best efforts engineered by associations across the country in areas like public education/information, economic development, business and social innovation, skills training/development and civic and volunteer activities. The Summit Awards will be presented Sept. 23 at an awards dinner in Washington, D.C.
Click here to view the VetFran participating companies:
VetFran Committee List
Michael H. Seid, CFE, Chairman, Managing Dir., Michael H. Seid & Associates
Ron Berger, CEO, Figaro’s Italian Pizza, Inc.
Ryan Cunningham, President, Javelin Solutions
Janice M. Dwyer, CFE, President, Luce, Smith and Scott, Inc.
Marisa D. Faunce, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP
John Francis, PostNet Area Franchisee for Minnesota & Wisconsin
Lonnie Helgerson, CFE, President, IDENT-A-Kid Services of America
Clint Lee, Director, Franchise Development, Wing Zone Franchise Corporation
Mark Liston, CFE, Director, New Franchise Development, Valpak
Bret Lowell, CFE, Partner, DLA Piper US LLP
G. Thomas MacIntosh, Partner, Krass Monroe, P.A.
Joseph McCord, Vice President of Corporate Development, Steak-Out Franchising, Inc.
Steve Olson, Publisher, Franchise Update, Inc.
H. Scott Pressly, CFE, Founder and Managing Partner, Van Ness Capital Advisors
Jerrod Sessler, CEO, HomeTask Handyman Service, Inc.
Mary Thompson, CFE, President, Mr. Rooter
Phil Trigg, FranFit Sales Manager, NG Franchise Services, Inc.
Steve White, President, Signs Now