The premiere event of the franchise industry will feature well-known captains of industry with insights to help your franchise grow, as well as numerous educational and networking sessions. 
 

Franchising World January 2012
 

By: Laura Fenwick 

Each year the International Franchise Association hosts its Annual Convention that brings together franchise industry leaders and a host of speakers to provide compelling programming that will enable your franchise business to grow. This year’s program will again deliver on that goal.  

Joining opening General Session keynote speaker Bill O’Reilly of FOX News, who officially launches the IFA Annual Convention on Feb. 12 with his insights on today’s political and economic climate, will be two innovators who will provide practical solutions to aid your franchise business in reaching new successes.  

Guy Kawasaki, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, bestselling author, and former Apple Fellow who was the chief evangelist for the company and one of the employees originally responsible for marketing the Macintosh computer, will be a speaker during the closing General Session during the IFA’s 52nd Annual Convention Feb. 14 in Orlando, Fla. The convention is scheduled Feb. 11-14.  

“Guy Kawasaki’s unique insights in business and technology will be well received by the nearly 3,000 franchise industry professionals expected in Orlando for IFA’s Convention,” said IFA President and CEO Steve Caldeira, CFE. “Guy Kawasaki’s in-depth knowledge of the high-tech industry combined with his years of management experience will enable him to address the wide range of franchise industries represented in franchising who attend the IFA Convention.”  

Kawasaki is the author of Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. He is also the co-founder of  Alltop.    com  , an online magazine rack of popular topics on the Web, and a founding partner at Garage Technology Ventures.  

Kawasaki is the author of nine other books including Reality Check, The Art of the Start, Rules for Revolutionaries, How to Drive Your Competition Crazy, Selling the Dream, and The Macintosh Way. Kawasaki has a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a master’s of business administration   degree from UCLA, as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.  

On Feb. 13, the Super Session will feature David Novak, chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc., the world’s largest restaurant company. Yum! Brands has more than 38,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants in more than 117 countries and territories.  

Novak shapes the company’s overall strategic direction, with an emphasis on such key growth strategies as aggressive international expansion, including building leading brands across China; dramatically improving U.S. brand positions, consistency and returns; and driving industry-leading, long-term shareholder and franchisee value. Novak will share why he also devotes much of his time to personally train leadership skills to the company’s management and franchisees, and how his trademarked “Taking People With You” program emphasizes teamwork, and a belief in people that rewards and recognizes customer-focused behavior.  

Novak is also the author of Taking People With You: The Only Way to Make Big Things Happen (January 2012), a book inspired by his unique leadership program. A recipient of the national 2008 Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, Novak has also been recognized as one of the world’s “30 Best CEOs” by Barron’s, one of the “Top People in Business” by Fortune and one of the “100 Best-Performing CEOs in the World” by Harvard Business Review. You won’t want to miss this first-hand and personal account from one of the industry’s most exemplary leaders.  

Education and Networking 

Many business people understand that moving in the right circles with other influential people can help augment their professional and personal growth. The IFA Annual Convention creates a haven for industry representatives to hear from experienced business people, policymakers and visionaries in a relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for educational and networking opportunities. 
  

The General Sessions are designed to provide cutting-edge speakers and content that is wide-ranging enough to address the varied needs of IFA’s diverse membership. As noted above, some of the most recognized names in business, technology and the media will address convention attendees.  

Convention attendees can also take advantage of concurrent sessions on a variety of business-building topics, summits, as well the popular Executive Business Solution Roundtables (Feb. 13) and the Business Solution Roundtables sponsored by the IFA Supplier Forum. The Supplier Forum-sponsored Business Solution Roundtables will be conducted Feb. 14 and will target finance, franchise sales, general, international, legal, marketing and public relations and operation issues.  

Some in franchising say small-business lending is up, but many current and potential franchisees are struggling to get loans. Where are the solutions? Don’t miss the Financial Summit on Feb. 12, where 28 experts from Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, alternative lenders, the   SBA, accomplished franchise leaders and The Wall Street Journal will hash out the challenges and potential answers. Don’t miss this solutions-driven dialogue among the industry’s inside players. 

Also on Feb. 12, participants can gain useful insights from industry experts on social marketing during the Technology Summit. Topics will include protecting your brand on social networks, driving sales through local searches and using “cloud” technology to streamline your system’s processes. 

As you review the schedule, a few of the informative sessions to consider might include the Annual Leadership Conference, scheduled Feb. 11 on “Dare to Be Bold: Taking Risks for Reward,” and the Super Session and Panel of the Pros on Feb. 14 will describe how your company can get involved with the IFA VetFran’s “Operating Enduring Opportunity” campaign, which is geared to hire and recruit more new veteran franchise owners and team members. 

In addition to a staggering array of outstanding educational seminars are high-powered networking opportunities   including the first-time Franchising Gives Back, Women’s Franchise Committee, International, VetFran and Lenders receptions—the Exhibit Hall that will feature door prize drawings, the Gala Party and the always popular Taste of Franchising. 

The Taste of Franchising event is an extravaganza of donated food and beverage products made available by association members. The setting guarantees a popular gathering place for old and new acquaintances and colleagues to share ideas while enjoying the tasty delights of numerous brands. The fun-filled evening encourages casual conversations among leading experts in franchising that can vary from catching up on personal news to sharing best practices that can be applied to your franchise business. If you didn’t get a chance to catch that highly-sought after CEO during an educational seminar, who deftly navigates the churning waters of day-to-day business, seek her out amid the tables of savory dishes during the Taste of Franchising event.   

Be sure to use the mobile IFA Annual Convention Mobile App to follow the convention schedule of events and to create your own custom schedule; find a list of all exhibitors, along with an interactive trade show floor plan; access educational sessions, speakers and speaker Power Point sides; catch up with friends attending the convention; and locate the latest IFA news, convention alerts and integrated social media tools.  

This year’s IFA Annual Convention is a can’t miss event with best practices and business solution-supplying sessions and networking opportunities galore. Join your colleagues next month in Orlando. 

 IFA will be offering news and updates about additional keynote speakers and educational and networking sessions on its Facebook page and on Twitter (@franchising411) using the hashtag #IFA2012. 

Laura Fenwick is manager of publishing for the International Franchise Association. She can be reached at 202-662-0761 or
 lfenwick@franchise.org.