IFA Names New Director of Political Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy

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For immediate release





Contact:
Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770



aharrison@franchise.org


mhaller@franchise.org


twitter.com/franchising411


 

 


WASHINGTON, Jan. 5-The International Franchise Association today announced Erica Fitzsimmons, an experienced political fundraiser and grassroots professional, has been named Director of Political Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy. In her new role, Fitzsimmons will be responsible for elevating FranPAC, IFA’s political action committee, and the association’s grassroots advocacy, as the association continues to increase its influence as a leading small business voice in Washington on small business issues.


“Erica’s wide range of political, grassroots and public policy experience will be vital to IFA and the franchise small business industry as we continue to highlight the economic impact and job-creating prowess of franchising to policymakers in an election year,” said IFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations & Public Policy Judith Thorman. “Franchise businesses have a presence in every state and congressional district and Erica will provide additional focus on raising money for FranPAC to support pro-business candidates for the House & Senate and to connect franchise business owners with lawmakers and their staffs on the issues impacting the franchise industry’s ability to create jobs.”


Fitzsimmons will lead the fundraising efforts for IFA’s political action committee, FranPAC, which supports pro-business, pro-franchising candidates at the federal level. As part of the IFA Strategic Plan, FranPAC was slated to become a $1 million PAC by the 2013-14 election cycle. However, with the success of FranPAC in 2011 (over $600,000 raised against the yearly goal of $375,000), the IFA will meet this goal this year. Fitzsimmons also will oversee Franchise Congress, IFA’s grassroots advocacy program. Franchise Congress members create relationships and hold events with their members of Congress at the local level and serve as a bridge between IFA’s Government Relations & Public Policy team in Washington, D.C. and its membership around the country on the issues of importance to the franchise small business community.


Fitzsimmons joins IFA from The Herald Group, a public affairs firm representing trade associations, corporations and coalitions supporting pro-business initiatives in Washington, DC. Previously, she held several positions with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Political Affairs division, where she managed various aspects of the Chamber’s voter education, get-out-the-vote and fundraising campaigns. Erica graduated from the University of Richmond and received a Master’s degree from the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. She will begin at the IFA on January 9
th, reporting to IFA Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy Judith Thorman.





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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 over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development. 

 

 

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