The newly-created position will further enhance the association’s advocacy efforts to advance small business and franchising issues.  

Franchising World September 2011  

Jay Perron, a veteran government relations and political professional, has been hired as vice president, government relations & public policy for the International Franchise Association. The association continues to expand its federal and state advocacy efforts on behalf of the $2.1 trillion franchise small-business industry. Perron joined IFA on Aug. 23. 

 “Jay’s broad range of legislative and political experience will further position the IFA as the leading voice in Washington on behalf of franchise small businesses,” said IFA President and CEO Steve Caldeira, CFE. 

The newly-created position will further enhance the association’s advocacy efforts to advance small business and franchising issues, advocating on behalf of 825,000 franchise establishments across 295 business categories that represent nearly 18 million jobs. IFA recently introduced its “Solutions for the Economy,” the organization’s pro-growth agenda for the 112th Congress. The agenda is focused on increasing credit access to boost job creation for small business, repealing and replacing costly provisions in the health care law passed   last year, improving tax certainty, and creating employment and ownership opportunities for returning U.S. military service members and minorities. 

Perron will report to IFA Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy Judith Thorman, and will serve as the association’s day-to-day lobbyist on Capitol Hill, while also directing political strategy for FranPAC, the organization’s political action committee that supports probusiness candidates who promote a legislative and regulatory climate favorable to the small-business community. 

Perron joins the IFA from IBM Corporation, where he served as a government programs executive with responsibility for developing key relationships with members of Congress in the U.S. House and Senate, with a focus on issues related to tax and labor policy, free trade and patent reform. Prior to that, Perron was political director for then-House Majority Whip (and current U.S. Senator) Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and the Roy B Fund Political Action Committee. Perron has also held positions with Prism Information Network and Valente & Associates, and has a wide range of experience with Republican campaigns.