WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2015 – Ten leading franchise professionals have been elected to the International Franchise Association Board of Directors. The newly-elected board members will assume their positions at the conclusion of the 56th IFA Annual Convention in San Antonio on Feb. 23, 2016.
“We are thrilled that these franchise business leaders will join the IFA Board of Directors,” said IFA Chair Melanie Bergeron, CFE, chairwoman of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, International. “Franchising will benefit from their experience and counsel as we work to protect the franchise model and educate the public and policymakers about the contributions that franchising makes to the country and around the world.”
The new IFA directors are:
- Tom Baber, Money Mailer and IHOP (DineEquity) Franchisee
- John Draper, CEO, Viridian Group, LLC
- Tariq Farid, Founder & CEO, Edible Arrangements International
- Ron Feldman, CFE, Principal and Chief Brand Strategist of the Siegel Financial Group (SFG)
- Sherri Fishman, President & Co-Founder, Fishman PR
- Mike Hickey, EVP & President of Global Institutional for Ecolab, Inc.
- Roy Jackson, SVP, Business Development & Industry Affairs, Coca-Cola North America, Foodservice and On Premise Division
- David McKinnon, Senior Advisor at the Dwyer Group
- John Rotche, CEO, TITLE Boxing International
- Charles Stempler, AlphaGraphics multi-unit franchisee.
- Jeffrey Tews, BrightStar Care & Mr. Handyman multi-unit franchisee,
- Simone Wu, SVP, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & External Affairs, Choice Hotels International
Tom Baber
I am a small multi-unit franchisee of both Money Mailer and IHOP (DineEquity). I have been self-employed for most of my career and have owned and continue to own businesses outside of franchising. I believe in and enjoy the franchising model and feel it important to keep the model strong. I try to do my small part by serving on the Franchise Relations Committee and Franchise Forum while attending as many IFA events during the year as fit in my schedule. Advocacy, especially by franchisees, is very effective at the state and federal level. It is very important franchisees share their message so I find time to educate legislators on our needs and challenges. I started my career in NYC at an investment banking firm but realized in just a few short years self-employment was the direction for me, and small business was my passion.
John “JD” Draper
John “JD” Draper is CEO of Viridian Group, LLC, a multi-state, multi-unit franchisee with Pie Five Pizza Company. JD has over four decades of retail and operational management experiences. He was President of Operations at V & J Holdings Companies, Inc. in Milwaukee from 1994 until 2014. JD and his son, John Draper II, have been awarded up to 55 franchise units of Pie Five Pizza Co. The father-son team plans to introduce the concept throughout Michigan and Wisconsin. JD, who has been recognized for his ability to multi-task and develop teams, attended Wayne State University, where he majored in business administration. Throughout his career he has had direct responsibility for over 100 restaurants, including Pizza Hut, Burger King, Auntie Annie’s, Coffee Beanery, Cinnabon Bakery, Haagen Dazs and MyYoMy Frozen Yogurt. While developing his career in hospitality, JD served as a Dental Specialist Five in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years, owned and operated J.C. Draper Management Consultant, Inc. and for four years was an owner, Vice President and General Manager of two radio stations, WJIZ-FM and WJYZ-AM Communications Group in Albany, Ga. He is a proud member of several professional organizations including The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance, and a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. A longtime resident of Milwaukee, Wis., JD maintains an active profile within the local community, where he serves as a Board Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation of Southeast Wisconsin and a previous Board member with North Milwaukee State Bank and the Milwaukee World Festivals. He is First Vice-Chair and a board member of the IFA Diversity Institute and was named the 2014 IFA Ronald E. Harrison Diversity Award recipient for his accomplishments in diversity and inclusion. In 2015, he was the state finalist from Wisconsin for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Faces of Diversity Award. JD enjoys playing racquetball, golf, traveling and the company of his wife Deborah, his high school sweetheart for over 43 years, three children including an adopted niece, and six grandchildren.
Tariq Farid, CFE
Tariq Farid is Founder & CEO of Edible Arrangements International, the pioneer and worldwide leader of high quality, artistically designed fresh fruit arrangements. He is responsible for the company’s strategic direction and new franchise development across the United States and internationally. Tariq was born in Pakistan, immigrated to the United States at age 11, grew up in West Haven, Conn., and became a U.S. citizen in 1986. As a teenager, Tariq worked at a local McDonald’s where he learned the power of business systemization. His own entrepreneurial journey began at age 17 when he borrowed $5,000 from his parents to purchase a local flower shop. Within two years, he was operating four highly successful stores. Tariq launched the first Edible Arrangements® store in East Haven, Conn, in 1999. The first franchised location opened in 2001 in Waltham, Mass. Today Edible Arrangements® has more than 1,200 stores worldwide. The company has been recognized as an industry leader since its inception. It has ranked first in its category in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500” for the past eight years and regularly places in Entrepreneur’s Top 40 of “Fastest Growing Franchises” and “America’s Top Global Franchises.” Edible Arrangements® was named one of the Top 5 businesses in Connecticut by Inc. magazine’s first Hire Power Awards in 2012 and has also ranked in Inc.’s Top 5,000 fastest growing privately-held companies for eight consecutive years. Tariq was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Award in the Retail and Consumer Products category in Metro New York. He earned his CFE (Certified Franchise Executive) designation in 2011. The same year Edible Arrangements® opened its first franchise, Tariq founded Netsolace, Inc., a computer software distributor for the franchise industry. In 2014, he acquired software provider Emaximation and rebranded the company Naranga. It provides a wide range of technology solutions to help franchise companies market themselves and manage their operations. In 2013, Tariq established the Tariq Farid Foundation to support causes at home and around the world. Beneficiaries have included hospitals, schools, community centers, soup kitchens, revitalization efforts and organizations focused on poverty, childhood cancer, and youth leadership. Tariq also started Edible Cares® to support Edible Arrangements® stores and corporate offices in giving back locally and nationally. This includes the Edible Cares® Fund, which provides assistance to Edible Arrangements® store employees, friends and families in times of extreme need – whether due to natural disasters, family misfortunes, illness or other causes.
Ronald Feldman, CFE
Ronald is a Principal and Chief Brand Strategist of the Siegel Financial Group (SFG), along with its affiliate, Franchise America Finance (FAF) which he co-founded at the height of the Great Recession. SFG and FAF are leading resources connecting and supplying debt financing to Franchise based businesses. Feldman also serves as the Chief Development Officer of FRANdata, the leading research and information source for the franchise industry. Prior to his time at Siegel Financial and Franchise America Finance, Feldman was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Response USA, a publicly traded Alarm Systems Company. Before entering into the private sector, Feldman and his wife were one of the early Goddard School franchisees and successfully owned, operated and sold their Goddard School in 2007. He is often called upon to be a keynote speaker at franchise-related events, and has appeared on television programs championing the cause of small businesses. Feldman has been published numerous times in trade magazines, and is the instructor-of-choice and subject matter expert on financing and capital access to the International Franchise Association (IFA). In 2013, Feldman was awarded the Sid Feltenstein MVP Award for service to the IFA’s Political Action Committee (FRANPAC).
Sherri Fishman
Sherri Fishman is President & Co-Founder of Fishman PR. Since starting Fishman PR in 1991, Sherri and her husband Brad have grown the agency into a leading franchise lead generation PR agency. Sherri launched her PR career at a franchise-focused PR agency. There, over the course of nearly eight years, she reached the level of vice president and represented franchise industry influencers like Fred DeLuca of Subway. Sherri has served on the board of the IFA Franchise Supplier Forum, the IFA Marketing and Technology Committee, the FranTech Task Force and as a former IFA Convention Committee. When not working, Sherri enjoys spending time with her two sons Zack and Jake, entertaining for family and friends and being Brad’s favorite travel companion and wine tasting partner.
Mike Hickey
Mike Hickey is Executive Vice President & President of Global Institutional for Ecolab, the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2014 sales of $14 billion and 47,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. Previously, Hickey was executive vice president and president of Institutional North America. Over his 30-year tenure at Ecolab, he has held a number of key executive positions, including senior vice president and general manager of multiple operating units, as well as senior vice president of global business development. Mike began his career at Ecolab as a territory manager-in-training in 1985. Before joining Ecolab, he gained additional early sales and management experience within the foodservice industry. He serves on the board of directors for the National Restaurant Association and is chair of the board of trustees of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Hickey also serves on the board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Upper Midwest. Hickey has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from St. Bonaventure University. He also has completed the Global CEO Program led by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, IESE Business School at the University of Navarra in Sao Paulo and the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai, as well as executive programs through Stanford University and Pennsylvania State University.
Roy C. Jackson
Roy Jackson is Senior Vice President, Business Development & Industry Affairs for Coca-Cola North America, Foodservice and On Premise Division. Prior to his new role, Roy was Central Zone Vice President, and was General Manager for 21 states in the central US. Roy joined Coca-Cola in 1997 from PepsiCo/Tricon where he was Director of Operations – Southeast for Taco Bell. Roy has held numerous positions with the Coca-Cola Foodservice Division including Director of Sales for the Wendy’s International business, Director of National Accounts, and Vice President of National Accounts in the East Zone. In 2004, Roy left the Coca-Cola Company to become Head Coach, Vice President of Operations – East Territory for YUM! Brands’ Pizza Hut unit and was responsible for operations of over 850 company-owned restaurants. He rejoined Coca-Cola in 2006 as Vice President, National Sales, Foodservice and Hospitality managing Sonic Industries. Roy earned his Bachelor of Arts in political Science from Union College, and his Master of Public Administration from Columbia University, School of International Affairs. Roy is currently Chairman of the Board of the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance and is on the Board of Trustees for Union College in Schenectady, NY. He currently lives in Atlanta. Roy’s wife is Suzanne and he has two sons Brian 25 and Kyle 23.
Charles J. Stempler
Chuck Stempler is a multi-unit AlphaGraphics franchisee in Seattle Wash. He is an active member of the IFA Franchise Action Network, notably in his efforts to promote the value of franchising in his community and participating as a plaintiff in the IFA lawsuit against the City of Seattle’s discriminatory wage law. Chuck has worked to educate members of the Seattle City Council and the public at large about the value of franchise businesses to the city, state and national economies. Before becoming a franchisee in 2001, Chuck held numerous executive positions with leading apparel manufacturing companies. Chuck earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. He regularly gives back to his community through participation in several organizations, including serving as Board President of the Holocaust Center for Humanity, Board Chairman of the Humane Society of Seattle/King County, Board member at Seattle Arts and Lectures, Chairman of the Belltown business Association and President of the Portofino Homeowners Association. Chuck and his wife Sally make their home in downtown Seattle with their two companion cats Vincent and Pablo. Chuck’s hobby of note is running marathons. Chuck has run 69 to date and has a goal of 100.
John Rotche, CFE
John Rotche, CFE, is the CEO of TITLE Boxing International. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1990, John Rotche began his career in franchising at the Ann Arbor-based pizza giant, Domino’s®. Rotche started at the store level where he began delivering pizzas and quickly advanced into a management role. Rotche directed the operations for hundreds of Domino’s Pizza stores in a multi-state region and was then promoted to a corporate area field trainer position. Rotche went on to be recognized as Domino’s Pizza’s World Wide Trainer of the Year. After Domino’s Pizza sold to Bain Capital, Rotche accepted a senior level position with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts® and helped lead the brand’s expansion throughout the Midwest. While at Krispy Kreme, Rotche purchased a small, one-van air duct cleaning business as a passive investment from a family member. Soon after purchasing, Rotche saw the impact this small business could have on improving the indoor air quality for children suffering from asthma, as demonstrated by his own two-year-old son. Rotche decided to resign from corporate America with the plan to take this small company (DUCTZ) national. Within three years, Rotche grew DUCTZ to be the nation’s largest air duct cleaning business with 150 offices before selling the business to Belfor Property Restoration. Two years after selling DUCTZ, Rotche’s entrepreneurial spirit struck again and he recognized another opportunity within the fragmented space of restaurant kitchen exhaust cleaning, so he created his next company, HOODZ. HOODZ quickly became the nation’s largest within its category, growing to over 100 locations in less than two years, prior to Rotche selling it. In April 2012, Rotche accepted the position as both President and Partner of TITLE Boxing Club International. Today, TITLE Boxing Club is currently one of the fastest growing group fitness companies in America with more than 500 clubs under development nationwide and in Mexico. John is currently Chief Executive Officer of TITLE Boxing Club International. Most recently, in 2015 Rotche created his newest company Franworth. Franworth is the management company and equity partner of multiple franchise brands including TITLE Boxing Club, spavia day spas, and Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea. Rotche serves as Franworth’s Managing Director and CEO. Rotche was recognized in 2007 by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the Top 40 Executives under the age of 40. In 2011, Rotche was honored with the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the International Franchise Association (IFA), joining the ranks of Fred DeLuca (Subway®), J. Willard Marriott (Marriott® hotels), Tom Monaghan (Domino’s Pizza®), and Frank Carney (Pizza Hut®) to name a few. Additionally in 2011 Rotche was honored with the Entrepreneurship award from his Alma Mater the University of Michigan. Rotche was also the recipient of the 2015 Outstanding Business Leader Award from Northwood University, and recognized with 2015 The Career Achievement Award from the University of Michigan. As a franchise executive Rotche is often featured on Fox News and Bloomberg. He is also a columnist for Detroit Smart Business, and a frequent public speaker within the franchise industry. Rotche is credited for creating and running FranShip, the mentoring program for the IFA that provides franchisees and franchisors the opportunity to share best practices plus strategic positioning and advice from some of the franchise industry’s premier leaders.
Jeffrey Tews
Jeffrey Tews and his wife Susan Rather have been BrightStar Care franchisees since September 2006. They currently are BrightStar multi-unit franchisees operating four territories in seven counties in South Central Wisconsin with 350 employees. They also are single branch franchisees with Mr. Handyman in the Madison area. They are the first franchisees of a new brand, BrightStar Senior Living which provides assisted living and memory care support. Jeff and Susan have twice been named BrightStar’s Franchisees of the Year. Jeff was the first co-chair of the BrightStar Franchise Advisory Committee and is a current chair of the IFA Franchisee Forum where he has served on the IFA BOD and Executive Committee for the past two years. Prior to becoming a franchisee, Jeff earned an MBA from the University of Minnesota and as a corporate customer service executive for 33 years at US West and Qwest Communications for 28 years and finished his corporate career as a Senior Vice President at US Bank.
David G. McKinnon
David McKinnon is Senior Advisor at The Dwyer Group. He is the former CEO and Co-Founder of Service Brands International, which was acquired by The Dwyer Group in June 2015. David began his franchising career in 1982 when he and a partner purchased a ServiceMaster franchise in Toronto, Canada. In 1984, David acquired the rights to Molly Maid, then a start-up residential cleaning franchise in Canada. He relocated and established the corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich. Today, Molly Maid has grown to more than 800 franchises in the U.S., Canada, Japan, United Kingdom and Portugal. In the late 1990s, David recognized that other segments of the home service business were highly fragmented, and homeowners were both time starved and unwilling or unable to maintain their homes without outside help. After exploring additional home services, Service Brands International (SBI) was created in 2001 as an umbrella organization. SBI grew to include Molly Maid; 1-800-DryClean, a pick-up and delivery dry clean business; Mr. Handyman International, America’s No. 1 professional handyman service business and ProTect Painters, an expert residential and commercial painting business. Alumni SBI brands include Ductz International and CRDN (Certified Restoration Dry Cleaning Network), which were divested. In 2007, McKinnon and his partners acquired a major stake in PuroClean, a Florida-based franchisor of restoration services with over 200 franchisees, serving both the insurance industry and home owners. David has been personally recognized for many outstanding achievements, including: The Blue Chip Enterprise Award in 1995, Crain’s Detroit Business “Top 40 Under 40” entrepreneurs in the state of Michigan in 1995, Co-Founder of The Ms. Molly Foundation, the IFA Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2001 and in 2013 he was inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. David is the Chairman of the IFA’s NextGen movement and serves as Vice Chair of the IFA Educational Foundation.
Simone Wu
Simone Wu serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & External Affairs for Choice Hotels International, Inc. In addition to leading the company’s legal function, she also oversees risk management, procurement services, corporate communications, events and public relations. In this role, she is an integral member of the senior leadership team and serves as the primary legal advisor to the board of directors. Her background includes over 25 years of experience in governance, complex corporate transactions, domestic and international transactions and joint ventures, litigation, employment law, licensing, technology and intellectual property matters. Prior to joining Choice Hotels in 2012, Simone served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Administration for XO Communications, a leading nationwide provider of advanced IP communications, managed network and IT infrastructure services. She has also held legal and business executive roles at MCI and AOL, and practiced corporate and communications law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Simone received a degree in political science from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Columbia University. She serves on the boards of directors for the Association of Corporate Counsel – National Capital Region, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, and The Inkwell.
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About the International Franchise Association
Celebrating 55 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 780,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.9 million direct jobs, $890 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.