FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770
Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766
mhaller@franchise.org
jweisbord@franchise.org
IFA NAMES FRANCHISEE RELATIONS EXECUTIVE TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT RANKS
WASHINGTON, May 30, 2014 —Mark McSteen, a franchise industry executive with over 30 years of experience in franchise relations and operational management, has been named Vice President of Franchisee Engagement & Industry Relations at the International Franchise Association.
“Mark McSteen is a proven leader who brings to the IFA extensive experience in building solid relationships among owners and franchisees as a critical component to a franchise brand’s success,” said IFA Chairman Steve Joyce, president & CEO of Choice Hotels International. “This newly-created position is designed to champion franchisee involvement and engagement within the IFA to ensure that franchisees are consistently heard and represented in all aspects of IFA’s advocacy, communications, programs and events. We are thrilled that Mark has accepted this important role.”
McSteen will report directly to IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira, CFE, and will serve on the IFA Senior Management Team. He joins the IFA after 32 years with Marriott International where for the past 13 years he served as vice president, Owner and Franchise Services. In this role he provided leadership to multi-unit clients of Marriott brands, including Marriott Hotels, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites and Fairfield Inn. His success stemmed from creating clear lines of communication and opportunities for input by franchisees, and by being highly-responsive to their issues and needs. Mark’s strong internal business relationships with Marriott operations, finance, marketing and legal teams helped to successfully resolve owner and franchisee issues through respectful collaboration, analysis, alignment and communications.
“Mark McSteen’s ability to bring people together toward common goals makes him a terrific choice for the I FA Vice President of Franchisee Engagement and Industry Relations,” said IFA Treasurer and multi-unit, multi-brand franchisee Aziz Hashim, president & CEO NRD Holdings, LLC. “His proven experience with representing franchisees’ point of view within a large and highly-respected franchise system will greatly support IFA’s steadfast efforts to enhance franchisee recruitment and engagement. We are committed to implementing new and innovative programs and services that will continue to strengthen our franchise relations initiatives. The addition of this important position will greatly support our efforts.”
In addition to his work in franchise services, McSteen’s experience at Marriott International included extensive service in operational functions including, finance and accounting. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University and completed the Marriott Executive Development Program.
“I look forward to joining the IFA at a time when the industry and the association are on an upward trajectory,” McSteen said. “This opportunity to work with the talented IFA staff and members to increase the value proposition for franchisee participation in the IFA is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Franchisee inclusion is critical in our advocacy efforts to protect the franchise business model that has helped so many realize the American dream of business ownership.”
The Vice President of Franchisee Engagement & Industry Relations was created as a result of the outcomes of the IFA Franchise Relations Best Practices Taskforce that identified several key areas to enhance franchise relations, including the adoption of a Statement of Guiding Principles and the updating of IFA’s website to enhance its franchise opportunity and prospective franchisee education tools.
McSteen will join the IFA on June 2, 2014 and will be based in the association’s Washington, D.C. office.
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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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