FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

jweisbord@franchise.org

@franchising411

IFA ANNOUNCES NEW ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE TO MEET GROWING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

WASHINGTON, Oct.24—International Franchise Association President & CEO Robert Cresanti, CFE, today announced a strategic realignment of IFA’s organizational structure, including numerous promotions that will enhance IFA’s ability to advocate for the franchise business model.

“In anticipation of the next presidential administration, these changes demonstrate how IFA will accelerate its long-term growth in terms of revenue and influence over the critical issues of importance to the franchise business model and the small business community,” said IFA President & CEO Robert Cresanti. “Through our robust @OurFranchise campaign and sustained membership and non-dues revenue growth, IFA ensures that policymakers and the public, in Washington and all fifty states, understand and appreciate the role the franchise business model plays by providing opportunity for all Americans, creating economic growth, creating upward mobility for those who need it most and giving back to local communities.”

The staffing announcements are listed below:

Scott Lehr

Scott Lehr, CFE has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Development, Marketing & Conferences. Scott’s 25-year tenure with IFA continues to deliver value to the association through his deep member relationships and ability to lead the membership, advertising and conferences teams towards greater revenue. He will absorb the marketing function to ensure that IFA’s marketing drives the revenue for all IFA’s products and services including membership, conferences and advertising which includes the IFA website and non-dues affinity programs.  

Matt Haller

Matt Haller has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Public Affairs and will oversee all of IFA’s lobbying, political strategy, grassroots advocacy and public affairs initiatives to protect and promote franchising. Since joining IFA in 2010, Matt has helped grow awareness of IFA as a leader on franchising and small business issues inside Washington and in the states. In 2014, he led the development of IFA’s grassroots network, the Franchise Action Network, which has grown to over 15,000 advocate franchisees defending the franchise business model and working to overturn the NLRB and DOL joint employer standard and other threats to franchising. Most recently, Matt led the launch of IFA’s @OurFranchise initiative to improve the public awareness and reputation of the franchise business model and its contributions to local communities.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor has been promoted to Chief Legal Officer & Chief of Staff. Since joining IFA in 2014, Elizabeth has lobbied on issues including joint employer, tax reform, immigration, small business lending and the SBA, as well as led the launch of the bipartisan Congressional Franchise Caucus, which is a key tool in helping educate the new Congress about franchising issues. She has worked closely with the IFA Board of Directors, Legal/Legislative Committee and our outside General Counsel at DLA Piper to revamp key IFA governance matters.

Paul Rocchio

Paul Rocchio, CFE has been promoted to Vice President, Development and Member Services. Since joining IFA in 1999, Paul’s experience has grown from running IFA’s grassroots programs to being a key player in driving IFA’s membership dues revenue. His relationships are far reaching and many count on him as their go-to person within the IFA. He leads the Franchise Business Network program, the Supplier Business Solutions Roundtables and is the trusted advisor and staff liaison to the Supplier Forum Advisory Board and co-liaison to the Membership Committee.  

Greg Cook

Greg Cook, CFE has been promoted to Vice President, Advertising and Strategic Partnerships. Since joining IFA in 2009, Greg has driven IFA’s media products including Franchising World, Franchise Opportunities Guide, IFA Insider, IFA Smart Brief and the website www.franchise.org to new heights in terms of revenue and member value. His sharp focus on delivering media solutions to IFA members that deliver results and managing a team of sales representatives to drive advertising revenue has allowed IFA to deliver exceptional content and sales leads to the membership. Greg will also lead the IFA Affinity Program and will be supported by Nick Johns, Coordinator, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development who moved from the Government Relations Department recently to launch IFA’s Affinity Program and has been instrumental in evaluating potential programs for IFA members including the ComplianceHR overtime tool and a soon to launch Healthcare program.

Jeff Hanscom

Jeff Hanscom has been promoted to Senior Director. Working closely with IFA Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy Dean Heyl, Jeff has led IFA’s efforts to pass legislation in nine states clarifying the traditional definition of joint employment. He has also helped defeat harmful legislation that would discriminate against franchise businesses by imposing higher minimum wages or predictive scheduling solely on franchises.

Lynette James

Lynette James has been promoted to Senior Manager, Sponsorships and Exhibits. In the ten years that Lynette has been with IFA, she has progressed through a number of positions within the conferences department taking on additional responsibilities along the way. Her focus on customer service and delivering opportunities to franchisor and supplier members looking to grow their brands through exposure at IFA’s events including the Convention, Legal Symposium, Emerging Franchisor Conference, FranTech and others has contributed significantly to the conference department’s bottom-line.

Jenna Weisbord

Jenna Weisbord has been promoted to Senior Manager of Communications & Public Affairs. Jenna has aggressively pushed IFA’s messaging into the media, working with IFA leadership and industry sources to ensure the pro-franchising message is disseminated on key issues impacting the franchise business model. She has also helped grow the organization’s social media following, while helping support the launch of the @OurFranchise campaign.

Sara Williamson

Sara Williamson has been promoted to Senior Manager, Membership and Advertising. Since joining IFA in 2010, Sara has proven to be an invaluable asset to the membership and advertising teams. She leads the Franchise Opportunities Guide listing update project twice a year and is the technical lead for IFA’s membership database, ensuring all data, records, orders and transactions are accurate and in sync with accounting.   

Nick Johns

Nick Johns is moving into the Membership department as Coordinator, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development. In this position, Nick will report directly to Greg Cook who will facilitate the development of the IFA Affinity Program. Through this new role, Nick will have the opportunity to pursue his passion for innovative business expansion and member engagement. 

Shelby Shaw

Shelby Shaw has been hired as Coordinator, Government Relations & Public Affairs. Shelby recently joined IFA full-time after working as an intern this past summer in the Communications & Marketing Department and has a degree from the University of Alabama.

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About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating 56 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 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 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.

1900 K St., N.W., Suite 700   Washington, DC 20006  USA

Phone: +1 202/628-8000    Fax: +1 202/628-0812     www.franchise.org