For immediate release
Contact: Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15―Decorating Den Systems Chairman and CEO James S. Bugg Sr., CFE, was today named to the International Franchise Association’s Hall of Fame during the association’s 49th annual convention being held in San Diego.
Bugg Sr.’s career started during his college years when he sold Kirby vacuum cleaners door-to-door. Following a 15-year stint with Kirby, he created Fairfax Industries, co-founded the National Acceptance Corp. and became president of Merrill Laboratories and International Cosmetics. In 1970, Bugg became a regional director of Century 21 where he guided the opening of 325 franchises. In 1979, he co-founded Partners Real Estate and helped sell 425 franchises in just three years. In 1985 he was appointed president and CEO of Decorating Den Systems and currently presides as chairman and owner. The company now encompasses more than 500 units in the United States and Canada.
Bugg inspired growth and progress throughout each of these business enterprises through his dedication and quest for service excellence, which were also prominent during his years of involvement with the IFA. In cooperation with 1993 IFA Chairman C. Stephen Lynn, CFE, Bugg helped pioneer the effort to open the association’s membership rolls to franchisees. Under Bugg’s chairmanship in 1994, the association’s board of directors formally approved franchisee-inclusion—a major milestone in IFA’s history. In addition to the 11 years he served on the IFA’s board of directors, Bugg chaired and served on several other committees including Awards, Marketing and Public Relations, Minorities in Franchising, International Affairs and Long-Range Planning.
Bugg has been recognized for his achievements, earning the East Coast Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Institute of American Entrepreneurs and being named Washingtonian of the Year in 2007 by Washingtonian magazine. His contributions to the community include serving as chairman of the Yellow Ribbon Fund, an organization created to assist injured military personnel; founder and chairman of the African Safari Club; co-founder of the African Wildlife Foundation; founder of the Grand National Foundation; and co-founder of the Chesapeake Heritage Foundation.
The Hall of Fame Award is presented to an IFA member who exemplifies the optimum in franchising and has contributed significantly to the advancement of franchising and the franchising community.
###
About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association, the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising, is the preeminent voice and acknowledged leader for the industry worldwide. Approaching a half-century of service with a growing membership of more than 1,300 franchise systems, 11,000-plus franchisees and more than 500 firms that supply goods and services to the industry, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising by advancing the values of integrity, respect, trust, commitment to excellence, honesty and diversity. For more information, visit the IFA Web site at www.franchise.org.
Editor’s Note: To request a JPG of James S. Bugg Sr., CFE, contact the IFA Media Relations Department at 202-628-8000. CFE is a designation of the IFA Educational Foundation’s Institute of Certified Franchise Executives.
0215j