IFA NAMES DAVE MORTENSEN AND CHUCK RUNYON WINNERS OF THE 2020 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

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Orlando, FL, February 9, 2020 – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today announced Anytime Fitness’s President Dave Mortensen and CEO Chuck Runyon as the winners of the 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

This award gives recognition to individuals with exemplary vision, willingness to take risks, and the management skills needed to create a successful business enterprise through franchising. Mortensen and Runyon will receive the award at the 60th Annual IFA Convention, in Orlando, Fla.

“Dave and I are grateful and humbled, this award recognizes the hard work and achievements from thousands of passionate franchisees and dedicated employees.  We thank the IFA for this award and for protecting and promoting the franchise industry,” said Chuck Runyon, Anytime Fitness Co-Founder.

“Admiring so many franchises and a fan of the IFA, we are humbly grateful to be recognized. We hope to continue our path and contribute back to other organizations as we honor the many systems who have helped pave the path for franchising,” added Dave Mortensen, Anytime Fitness Co-Founder.

“Dave and Chuck are well-deserving of this honor,” said Robert Cresanti, IFA President and CEO. “Their leadership of Anytime Fitness and the entire Self Esteem Brands family led to pioneering new concepts in fitness, expanded opportunities for their franchisees, and a healthier America. IFA is proud to honor them as the 2020 Entrepreneurs of the Year.”  

First beginning their entrepreneurial journey in 2002, Chuck and Dave opened their first Anytime Fitness gym in Cambridge, Minnesota and just became the first franchise in history with a franchise on all 7 continents. Unlike many companies that begin with corporate-owned locations, Anytime Fitness was founded on franchising and continues to demonstrate the value of the business model across the globe.

About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating 60 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) 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. To learn more about the IFA, visit https://www.franchise.org. 

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