Career Opportunities for Veterans to be Offered at Events throughout U.S.
 

 

With nationwide veteran unemployment rates climbing as high as 30 percent, IFA is inviting U.S. veterans to attend the Franchise Expo South in Miami and the 2012 IFA Convention in Orlando
free of chargeas part of “Operation Enduring Opportunity,” our campaign to hire as team members and recruit as franchise business owners 75,000 veterans and 5,000 wounded warriors by 2014.
 

 

At the IFA’s Franchise Expo South January 20-22 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, veterans will meet franchise leaders and learn more about opportunities at hundreds of franchise brands. The Franchise Expo South is the premier franchise expo serving the Southeastern U.S.
 

 

At the 2012 IFA Convention, U.S. veterans and military spouses will be invited to visit with franchisor and supplier exhibitors on Sunday, Feb. 12 starting at 4:00 pm and the VetFran and Lender Reception starting at 7:00 pm, as well a General Session on the IFA’s Operation Enduring Opportunity Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 8:00 to 10:00 am free of charge. For the first time, IFA VetFran member companies will have the opportunity to display their support of veterans with a special “VetFran Blue Ribbon” exhibitor package which will raise funds for the landmark strategic initiative.
 

 

Also for the first time, the Convention will include a “VetFran Pavillion” where attendees will find suppliers of tools and solutions to support veteran hiring and recruiting efforts. VetFran member companies may also choose to exhibit in the VetFran Pavillion for a premium which will support the veteran transition campaign. Contact Lynette Darby at




ldarby@franchise.org



to learn more.
 

 

The “Panel of the Pros” general session of the Convention Feb. 14 will feature franchise business leaders including Mary Kennedy Thompson (USMC, Ret.), President of Mr. Rooter and VetFran Committee Chair, Greg Tanner, VP of Franchising, Aaron’s, Stuart Mathis, President of The UPS Store
®, as well as SSG Shilo Harris (U.S. Army, Ret.), a wounded warrior. The panel will be moderated by IFA Second Vice Chair Steve Romaniello, Managing Director of Roark Capital Group.

 

 

 
IFA will recognize companies that have recruited the most veterans in the franchise industry. Additionally, White House Joining Forces, Veterans Administration, and Department of Defense officials will attend the IFA Convention for the first time.
 
“As tens of thousands of service men and women return from deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan and Southwest Asia, expanded opportunities are needed to ensure veterans and their families are able to transition into the civilian economy. With its rapid training, defined structure and systems, and need for operational excellence, franchising provides an ideal opportunity to enable returning veterans to become leaders of and productive participants in the U.S. economy,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira. “Our franchise businesses, including franchisors and franchisees, are answering the call to offer career opportunities to veterans, wounded warriors and their families. Not only is this critical for the economic and social stability of veterans and their families, but it is important to the U.S. economy.”
 
Veterans have a proven track record of success in franchising. According to a recent study based on U.S. Census data, there are more than 66,000 veteran-owned franchise establishments in the United States, providing jobs directly for 815,000 Americans. Over 2,100 veterans have become franchise business owners through the IFA’s VetFran program, originally established in 1991, and subsequently revamped after 9/11. Responding now to veteran unemployment rates of 11.7 percent (30 percent for veterans under 25 years old), IFA launched Operation Enduring Opportunity in November to offer returning veterans career paths in franchising including employment and ownership on a broader scale. 
 
VetFran, a strategic initiative of the IFA, was developed from an idea of the late Don Dwyer Sr., founder of the Dwyer Group, who understood that the skills and operational excellence learned through military service translated into owning and running successful franchise businesses.
For more information about the IFA Convention Feb. 11-14 in Orlando,

click here.

Veterans and military spouses can

register here.





 

 
For more information about the Franchise Expo South Jan. 20-22 in Miami, 
click here. Veterans and military spouses should use VETGP as their registration code.

 

To learn more about about IFA’s VetFran program, please visit

VetFran.com