For immediate release
Contact:Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
aharrison@franchise.org
www.twitter.com/franchising411

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 8, 2010—Kenneth D. Walker, CFE, chairman & CEO of Driven Brands in Charlotte, N.C. is the 2010 Chairman of the International Franchise Association.

Walker assumed the chairmanship at the conclusion of the IFA 50th Annual Convention here after serving several years in the leadership chairs at the IFA, including most recently as first vice chair.  Ken has been a strong advocate for IFA and franchising serving the association in various capacities.  He has been a member of the IFA Board of Directors since 2002 and the IFA Executive Committee since 2007.  He is a member of the IFA Franchisor Forum, the IFA Research Committee and the IFA Finance, Audit and Budget Committee.  He also serves on the IFA Educational Foundation Executive Committee and served as Chairman of the foundation in 2008.  He currently chairs the IFA Convention Committee and the IFA political action committee, FranPAC, Advisory Committee, where he as set records in fundraising.   Walker also served on the IFA Strategic Planning Working Group, which recently completed a 2010-2012 strategic plan for the organization.  He became a Certified Franchise Executive in 2007.

Walker joined Driven Brands, Inc., the parent company of Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc., Maaco Franchising, Inc., Econo Lube and Tune, Inc., Aero-Colours, Inc., AutoQual USA, Drive N’ Style and Tortal.net. in 1996 after serving nearly four years as president & CEO of Parts, Inc., a distributor of automotive parts and supplies with distribution facilities and stores covering 24 states.  Prior to his position with Parts, Inc., Walker spent 17 years in similar businesses.  Before entering the automotive aftermarket, Walker was a Manager and CPA with Arthur Young and Co. in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Walker is currently a member of the World President’s Organization, a global organization of more than 4,600 business leaders who are or have been chief executive officers of major companies. 

He has been active in the auto care industry for many years, having served as Chairman of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association.  He has been an instructor for many Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) seminars and is a recipient of the AWDA Memorial Scholarship and Pursuit of Excellence Award.  Walker served nine years as a member of the board of directors of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association with an active role on the Government Affairs Committee and is also a former board member of the Automotive Hall of Fame. 
Walker is a graduate of the University of Texas.

For 50 years, IFA has worked to promote, protect and enhance franchising through advocacy and educational programs on behalf of its members, which include franchisors, franchisee and companies that support the industry.  Franchising provides $2.3 trillion in economic activity in the United States and provides for 21 million jobs.

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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 1,200 franchise systems, 10,000-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


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Editor’s Note:To request a JPG of Kenneth Walker, 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.  To learn more about CFE programs, visit


www.franchise.org

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