Jeffrey Kolton,  Founder & Principal, Franchise Market Ventures, LLC.

Named in honor of the man whose vision and leadership led to the creation of the IFA Foundation, the William Rosenberg Leadership Award is presented each year to an individual with outstanding contributions and leadership in advancing the mission of the IFA Foundation. The 2025 recipient of this award is Jeffrey Kolton, founder & principal at Franchise Market Ventures, LLC.

In the world of franchising, where personal stories and entrepreneurial spirit often take center stage, Jeffrey Kolton has spent over 35 years ensuring that those stories are backed by the weight of undeniable truth. This year, the International Franchise Association proudly recognizes Jeffrey Kolton with the William Rosenberg Foundation Leadership Award, honoring a man who transformed the industry from one based on anecdotes into one built on empirical excellence.

Reflecting on the honor, Kolton is characteristically humbled. “Franchising is an amazing industry,” he notes. “Everyone is fun, they work together, and they want to educate the world about their impact. I have been privileged to meet its members, travel the world, and make lifelong friends.” This sense of community has been the backdrop of a career dedicated to protecting the very model that fosters such connections.

Kolton’s journey to becoming a pillar of the IFA was guided by two pieces of parental wisdom from his vibrant 92- and 93-year-old parents. From his mother, he learned to “be nice to everyone,” a vital trait in a sector where people and positions move frequently. From his father, he took the anatomical lesson: “You were born with two ears and one mouth — use them proportionally.”

It was this commitment to listening and observing that led Kolton to identify a critical vulnerability in the 1980s: the franchise sector lacked credible, objective data. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes’ maxim that “it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data,” Kolton abandoned a successful legal career at DLA Piper to found FRANdata Corporation in 1989. He understood that without data, advocates are prone to “insensibly twisting” facts to fit theories.

This dedication to empirical truth saved the industry during high-stakes legislative battles. Appearing before the U.S. Congress twice on behalf of the IFA, first in 1992 at the LaFalce hearings to refute attempts to dismantle the Franchise Rule and later with his “Item 20 Turnover Study.” Finally, his authoritative “Franchising in the Economy” study became the industry’s shield against regulatory overreach. He also worked directly with the SBA to create the Franchise Registry, a move that unlocked financing for countless franchisees. Kolton also testified before the FTC, allowing the ophthalmic industry to franchise.

Beyond the numbers, Kolton’s leadership within the IFA has been foundational. As Chairman of the Supplier Forum and an IFA Board member, he mediated complex disputes over dues and secured greater representation for suppliers. His creative philanthropy led to the founding of the Summer Wine Auction, which raised over $700,000 for the IFA Educational Foundation.

Today, as a Principal at Franchise Market Ventures, LLC, Kolton remains a mentor and a historian for the next generation. By honoring him with the William Rosenberg Foundation Leadership Award, the IFA recognizes a leader who taught the industry not just how to fight for its future, but how to win — by educating others and letting the data speak for itself.