WASHINGTON, July 13, 2011-Bestselling author, humanitarian and Navy SEAL Eric Greitens will address more than 500 franchise small business leaders during the International Franchise Association’s 12
^thAnnual Public Affairs Conference Sept. 14 in Washington, D.C. 

“We are thrilled to have Eric Greitens speak at this year’s IFA Public Affairs Conference,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira. “Eric’s military leadership experience will provide IFA members with a first-hand perspective about how veterans can become leaders and entrepreneurs in their communities.” 

A humanitarian volunteer who has served from Rwanda to India to the Gaza Strip, Greitens is also a former Navy SEAL who was deployed four times during the global war on terror. Returning home, Greitens used his combat pay to found The Mission Continues, a non-profit organization that empowers wounded and disabled veterans to become citizen leaders in their local communities. 

Greitens’ work with The Mission Continues has earned him numerous accolades, including the President’s Volunteer Service Award. The Draper Richards Foundation named him a Fellow as one of America’s most innovative leaders. He has been awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his military service, and his recent book,
The Heart and the Fist,has been a national bestseller.  

IFA will launch an expanded campaign at its Public Affairs Conference to raise awareness amongst veterans about opportunities for franchise small business ownership when they return to civilian life. The expanded campaign will include advocacy for the IFA-supported Help Veterans Own Franchises Act and education about IFA’s VetFran program, which offers financial incentives to veterans and has enabled nearly 2,100 veterans to purchase a franchise business since the program’s re-launch in 2001. 

IFA’s annual Public Affairs Conference gathers franchise business leaders in Washington to inform Congress how public policy impacts the economic health of the franchise industry. IFA recently outlined its “

Solutions for the Economy

,” the franchise business community’s public policy goals that encourage economic recovery and job growth. Attendees at the conference will be communicating these goals to lawmakers throughout the conference.

 

“IFA supports pro-growth public policies that encourage economic recovery and job growth in the franchise business community,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira. “These include initiatives that increase small business access to credit, eliminate tax uncertainties, reduce the cost of health insurance and support veterans and minorities as small franchise business owners.” 

IFA’s Public Affairs Conference is supported by Founding and Franchisee of the Year Awards Sponsor ADP. Additional sponsors include Dunkin’ Brands, The UPS Store, HaynesBooone, LLP, Valpak, BeneTrends, Inc. Guidant Financial Group, BrightStar LifeCare, Coverall and Franchise Finance America.  

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About the International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs. Through its awareness campaign highlighting the theme,
Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time,IFA promotes the nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic activity generated by franchising. IFA members include franchise companies in over 90 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.