Jo Kirchner of Primrose Schools Named 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year

Recognized by the International Franchise Association for her past and present work growing and scaling Primrose Schools and her entrepreneurial drive that has helped advance the franchise sector

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 27, 2023 – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today named Jo Kirchner, CEO of Primrose Schools, as the 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year. Kirchner is recognized for her visionary leadership that has enabled Primrose Schools to grow from a few local schools to one of the premier early education and care providers around the country, enriching the lives of tens of thousands of children every day.

“Jo Kirchner exemplifies the power of franchising, taking a concept and expanding it to hundreds of locations that have impacted the lives of countless children and families,” said IFA President and CEO Matthew Haller. “She is a pioneer in franchising early-childhood education and has led the way in the industry for more than 20 years. Because of Jo’s leadership and entrepreneurial vision with Primrose Schools, thousands of children and families have had greater access to high-quality education and care, sending a positive ripple effect through communities that will be felt for generations to come.”

Jo Kirchner joined Primrose Schools in 1990 and assumed the role of CEO by 1999, initiating the strategic direction of franchising to the school. Under her leadership, Primrose has grown from four schools in Atlanta to more than 480 Primrose Schools in 33 states today serving over 75,000 children, becoming an industry-leading national brand. Kirchner’s passion for providing children and families with the highest-quality education and care has not only grown the business but also its extensive philanthropic work, which donated more than $450,000 last year in support of children and families.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award, given at IFA’s 63rd Annual Convention, is one of the highest honors presented by IFA, given to an individual who is currently managing and building a successful business through franchising. Recipients are selected for having the vision to see what might be, being willing to take risks that traditionally accompany any new endeavor, and possessing the management skills to create a successful business enterprise through franchising.

To view past recipients of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, go here.

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About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 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 approximately 790,492 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.4 million direct jobs, $825.4 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 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.

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