IFA Names John C. Draper as the Ronald E. Harrison Diversity Award Winner

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:

Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

mhaller@franchise.org

jweisbord@franchise.org


IFA NAMES JOHN C. FRAPER AS THE RONALD E. HARRISON DIVERSITY AWARD WINNER


WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2013 – John C. Draper , president of Restaurant Operations for V&J Holdings Companies, Inc., has been awarded the International Franchise Association’s premier honor for accomplishments in diversity and inclusion, the IFA Ronald E. Harrison Award. The formal presentation is scheduled during the association’s Annual Convention, Feb. 22-25, in New Orleans.


The IFA award recognizes organizations and/or individuals who have made significant contributions to minorities in franchising either within their franchise organization or within the franchise community.


In his role as President of Operations for V&J Holding Companies, Inc., “JD” (as he is known) has direct responsibility of over 100 restaurants including Pizza Huts, Burger Kings, Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon Bakeries, Coffee Beanery’s and Haagen-Dazs Shops that collectively operate in Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. Additionally he oversees the training and development of over 3,100 team members.


Over the past 40 years Mr. Draper has worked with minority-owned companies to ensure that they not only practice diversity and inclusion, but demonstrate its business necessity and importance throughout the restaurant industry. By casting his shadow, he has been instrumental in developing many programs to recruit and train minorities. He has led with the philosophy that franchising teaches people to be independent while providing an environment of constant learning and self-improvement to achieve success.


During his career, Draper worked with minority owners in Detroit as the VP of Operations with Keys Group Inc., owned by the first African-American Burger King and KFC franchisee Brady Keys Jr. and in Milwaukee with V&J Holding Companies, Inc. the largest Female-owned franchisee in the U.S., Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter. In every place he has worked, he has found, regardless of age, race or religion, that people are people and if you can find that common bound, and spirit of hospitality, you can achieve a win-win.


Draper has dedicated himself to community enhancement by mentoring African-Americans to get involved in the franchising industry and their community. He has worked to increase community cohesiveness working with the Detroit Pistons Basketball Association on its “Read to Achieve” Program, offering many “benefit night” donations where up to 20 percent of sales go to community-based organizations. He has served on many boards including the Detroit Public Schools on its mentoring program, and Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation for its college scholarship program. Draper is a board member of the IFA Diversity Institute. He has been recognized numerous times for his efforts within the African-American community from Multi-unit Franchise Magazine, QSR, Black Enterprise Magazine and Essence Magazine and has been featured in many articles about his company’s work within the business community to increase awareness of the opportunities in franchising, including his son John C. Draper II who is a Wingstop franchisee in Michigan.


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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.


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