NFL and IFA Launch Franchising Boot Camp at Ross School of Business at Univ. of Michigan

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:

Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

mhaller@franchise.org

jweisbord@franchise.org


NFL AND IFA LAUNCH FRANCHISING BOOT CAMP AT ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT UNIV. OF MICHIGAN

Carolina Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson Featured as Keynote Speaker Program to Host Current & Former Players and Spouses April 26-29


WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2012—The National Football League (NFL) and the International Franchise Association (IFA) today announced a partnership to design the first-ever NFL Franchising Boot Camp, an intensive program for 20 current and former NFL players and their spouses who are interested in learning about the franchising industry.


The NFL Franchising Boot Camp will take place April 26-29, 2013, at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, which was named for Miami Dolphins Owner STEPHEN M. ROSS. Over the four days, participants will hear firsthand from franchisees, franchisors, professors, former players and executives at the IFA on all aspects of franchising. Carolina Panthers Owner JERRY RICHARDSON, who spent more than three decades as a restaurant franchisee, will open the program as the keynote speaker.


“As both a former player and one who is still active in the food industry, I am excited and honored to address these players,” said Richardson, a Baltimore Colts receiver (1959-60) who became a Hardee’s franchisee in 1961. Richardson grew his business to more than 600 Hardee’s restaurants and 200 Quincy Steak Houses before selling the business and becoming president and CEO for the new ownership, where he managed more than 2,500 restaurants and 100,000 employees. “There are many parallels to success in business and football and the opportunity to provide whatever insight I may have to this select group is appreciated.”


”As we continue to educate in post-playing experience career opportunities, we are excited to work with IFA and the Ross School of Business to offer the most comprehensive franchising education to our players,” said NFL Vice President of Player Engagement TROY VINCENT. “This program builds upon the successes of our prior initiatives in educating and providing hands-on experience to players in a wide variety of disciplines and has the added benefit of inviting players’ spouses.”


“We are thrilled to partner with the NFL to design a program that educates current and former players and their spouses and creates a path to business ownership for them in franchising,” said IFA President & CEO STEVE CALDEIRA. “Franchising is a proven, structured and very scalable business model that can result in a predictable return on your initial investment. Despite the recent economic downturn, growth in the franchise sector has continued to outpace growth in other businesses due to the strength of the franchise business model.”


The NFL Franchising Boot Camp is the latest NFL Player Engagement initiative offered to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers. Earlier this year, the NFL added the new Pro Hollywood and Business of Music Boot Camps.


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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.


About the Stephen M. Ross School of Business

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a dynamic, distinctive learning community consistently ranked among the world’s leading business schools. It offers 10 degree programs in graduate and undergraduate study as well as executive education. Michigan Ross Executive Education is ranked No. 1 globally for leadership development. Through custom and open enrollment programs focusing on general management, leadership, strategic HR management, and more, it delivers the latest research and thinking in practical terms to clients ranging from emerging to senior leaders, and organizations large and small. Leaders come away with entirely new ways of thinking and powerful new tools to take on their most important goals. The University of Michigan consistently ranks among the world’s greatest universities. Ninety-five of 100 graduate programs at U-M are ranked in the top ten nationally (U.S. News and World Report, 2012).

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