February 2010
Franchising World

 

A franchise executive with extensive business and CPA experience takes association helm. 

Leadership 
In 2009, International Franchise Association Chairwoman Dina Dwyer-Owens, CFE, appointed a Strategic Plan Working Group representing all segments of the industry, which included established franchise companies and emerging leaders, franchisors, franchisees and suppliers to review IFA’s strategic priorities, mission, vision and values.
  
In 2010, Kenneth D. Walker, CFE, president and CEO of Driven Brands in Charlotte, N.C. becomes chairman of IFA after serving several years in the leadership of the association, including most recently as first vice chair. Walker also served on the IFA Strategic Planning Working Group, which completed a 2010-2012 strategic plan for the organization.
  
Walker 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 association’s Franchisor Forum, Research Committee and Finance, Audit and Budget Committee. He also serves on the IFA Educational Foundation Executive Committee and was chairman of the foundation in 2008. He currently chairs the IFA Convention Committee, and the FranPAC Advisory Committee. He became a Certified Franchise Executive in 2007.
  
Walker joined Driven Brands, Inc., the parent company of Meineke Car Care Centers, Maaco Franchising, Econo Lube and Tune, Aero-Colours, AutoQual USA, Drive N’ Style and  Tortal.net   in 1996 after serving nearly four years as president and 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.ž Before entering the automotive aftermarket, he was a manager and CPA with Arthur Young and Co. in Fort Worth.  
  
Strategy 
Under the direction of IFA Chairman Kenneth Walker, CFE, and other leaders, IFA will implement the association’s 2010-2012 Strategic Plan that is designed to “leverage IFA and the franchise industry’s significant growth in previous years and ensure that as the organization enters its 50th year in 2010, its mission to protect enhance and promote the franchise industry will be accomplished.” Here are the key points from the plan.   
  
Goals, Objectives 
   IFA will:
  
A. Shape the legislative, regulatory and public policy decisions that impact franchising. 
   •

Objective 1
: Deliver public affairs programs and advocate for policies that promote and protect franchising.
   •

Objective 2
: Create and sustain the Franchise Congress program to manage key relationships between policymakers and their local franchise business leaders.
   •

Objective 3
: Raise awareness and increase participation in FranPAC to support the public policy objectives of the franchise business community.  
  
B. Enhance and promote the unique image, attributes and benefits of franchising and of the association among key audiences.  
   •

Objective 1
: Protect the business climate for franchising through communications programs that increase the awareness and favorability of IFA and franchising among public policy elites.
   •

Objective 2
: Deliver positive messages about franchising and IFA through unified communications and brand marketing programs.  
  
C. Deliver programs and services 
   that provide value to membersfranchisors, franchisees and suppliers.
   •

Objective 1
: Deliver first-in-class benefits and educational opportunities for the franchise community through quality services, conferences and programs.
   •

Objective 2
: Increase multi-unit franchisee involvement through education, networking and savings on products and services.
   •

Objective 3
: Conduct research to support advocacy programs, provide information to IFA members, and support international initiatives.
   •

Objective 4
: Enhance franchising by providing the highest standards of education and training of IFA members through the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives.
   • Objective 5: Become the recognized source for international franchising information to serve the global needs of IFA’s members.   
  
D. Increase membership across all franchise sectors. 
   •

Objective 1
: Develop membership recruitment and retention programs to meet specific targets.