FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770
Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766
mhaller@franchise.org
jweisbord@franchise.org
ROMANIELLO ASSUMES CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE IFA
IFA Announces 2013 Association Leadership and Board
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 20, 2013—Steve Romaniello, CFE, chairman of FOCUS Brands and managing director of Roark Capital Group, Atlanta, Ga., is the new chairman of the International Franchise Association. Romaniello accepted the chairman’s gavel during the 53rd IFA Annual Convention.
Romaniello has over 25 years of experience with top brands in the franchise industry and a history of successfully managing for long-term success. As Managing Director of Roark Capital Group, Romaniello is actively involved with Roark’s investments in FOCUS Brands, Wingstop, Corner Bakery, McAlister’s and Arby’s. Prior to joining Roark, Romaniello was CEO of FOCUS Brands, the franchisor and operator of over 3,300 ice cream stores, bakeries, restaurants and cafes in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 50 foreign countries under the brand names Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Schlotzsky’s®, Moe’s Southwest Grill®, Auntie Anne’s® Pretzels, and the franchisor of Seattle’s Best Coffee® on certain military bases and in certain international markets. Before becoming CEO of FOCUS Brands, Romaniello served as president of Carvel Ice Cream.
Prior to his tenure at FOCUS Brands, Romaniello was president and COO of U.S. Franchise Systems (USFS), the franchisor of Microtel Inns & Suites® and Hawthorn Suites®, which are now part of the Wyndham Hotel Group. Romaniello helped grow USFS from one brand with 22 hotels in nine states to three brands and more than 500 hotels open in 50 states and five countries. Prior to joining USFS, Romaniello was a vice president at Holiday Inn Worldwide, where he was responsible for franchise services, support and training for 1,700 hotels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean operating under the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands. During his tenure, annual franchise sales performance increased fivefold. From 1988 to 1991, Romaniello held various positions with Days Inn of America.
Romaniello received a B.A. from Tufts University.
2013 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Steve Romaniello, CFE
FOCUS Brands Inc. and Roark Capital Group
Chairman
Stephen Joyce
Choice Hotels International
Vice Chairman
Melanie Bergeron, CFE
Two Men And A Truck International, Inc.
Treasurer
Aziz Hashim
NRD Holdings, LLC
Secretary
Saunda Kitchen, CFE
Mr. Rooter of Sonoma County, Calif.
Franchisee Forum Chairwoman
John Kujawa, CFE
McDonald’s Corporation
Franchisor Forum Chairman
Michael Joblove
Genovese Joblove & Battista
Supplier Forum Chairman
Ex-Officio
Stephen J. Caldeira, CFE
International Franchise Association
President and CEO
Board of Directors
Doug Allison
PepsiCo
James Anhut
InterContinental Hotels Group
Jania Bailey, CFE
FranNet Franchising, LLC
David Barr
PMTD Restaurants
Susan Black-Beth, CFE
Super Wash, Inc.
Joe Bourdow, CFE
Valpak “
Liam Brown
Marriott International
Charlie Chase
FirstService Brands
Mitch Cohen
Baskin Robbins/Dunkin’ Donuts Bayshore, N.Y.
Carlton Curtis
The Coca-Cola Company
Rocco Fiorentino, CFE
Swiss Farm Stores
Darrell Johnson, CFE
FRANdata Corporation
Mark Kirsch, CFE
Gray Plant Mooty
Supplier Forum First Vice Chairman
David Liniger
RE/MAX, LLC
Gordon Logan
Sport Clips, Inc.
Robert McDevitt, CFE
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill
Barry Miller
Sylvan Learning Center of Girard, Ohio
Catherine Monson, CFE
FASTSIGNS International
Tabbassum Mumtaz
Apex Restaurant Management, Inc.
Karen Powell, CFE
Decor&You
Todd Recknagel, CFE
AM Conservation Group, Inc. and Mr. Handyman Board Member
Michael Seid, CFE
CFWshops
Shelly Sun, CFE
BrightStar Franchising, LLC
Jeffrey Tews
BrightStar Healthcare of Madison, Wis.
Franchisee Forum First Vice Chairman
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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.