For immediate release





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



aharrison@franchise.org


mhaller@franchise.org


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ORLANDO, Feb. 14, 2012―Michael J. Roman, CFE, was presented the IFA Educational Foundation’s highest honor, the William Rosenberg Leadership Award, during the International Franchise Association’s 52nd Annual Convention in Orlando, Fla.  The award honors the memory of William Rosenberg, founding chairman of IFA and founder of Dunkin’ Donuts. 

“Mike Roman has made enormous contributions of his time, talents and energy to the franchising community and we are much better for it,” said IFA Past Chairman Mike Isakson, president and CEO of the ServiceMaster Company, who served with Roman on the foundation and IFA boards. “He has been a bridge-builder who has championed outreach to many diverse communities, in both the franchise and energy industries,” he added. 

For the past 35 years, Roman, public and government affairs advisor in ExxonMobil’s Washington office, has served the intertwined industries of energy and franchising as an executive and government affairs advisor. He is a past chairman of the IFA Educational Foundation and former member of the IFA Board of Directors. He has also served as an active member of IFA’s Legislative Action Group, the Franchisor Forum and the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives’ Board of Governors. 

As Educational Foundation Chairman, Roman spearheaded efforts to secure financial support for the Diversity Institute, including generous donations from the ExxonMobil Corporation and other IFA members. Over the years, he has continued to work with the Diversity Institute to sponsor MinorityFran seminars and outreach programs to educate women, minorities and veterans about career opportunities in franchising. This year, the ExxonMobil Corporation sponsored research reports on veteran ownership of franchise businesses, and women and minority ownership of franchise businesses. 

In his current role, Roman manages education, communication and advocacy initiatives for energy-related issues affecting the full range of ExxonMobil’s domestic and global business operations. He works closely with the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, providing ExxonMobil’s perspective on energy-related operational, legislative and regulatory issues. He is a member of the National Association for Business Economics, the National Economics Club of Washington, D.C., the Delta Epsilon Sigma Academic Society, and has been named to “Who’s Who in Finance and Industry.” 

The award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to franchise education, and to the IFA Educational Foundation, through research, teaching, fundraising or other activities or service. 

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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.