Former IFA Chairman Doc Cohen named 2015 IFA Franpac MVP at Franchi Action Network Annual Meeting

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Former IFA Chairman Doc Cohen Named 2015 IFA Franpac MVP at Franchi Action Network Annual Meeting

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2015—The International Franchise Association today announced Lawrence ‘Doc’ Cohen, former IFA chairman and president of Cookie Associates, Ltd., as the IFA Sid Feltenstein FranPAC MVP Award winner for his leadership and dedication in supporting FranPAC, IFA’s political action committee.

“The growth of FranPAC is made possible by the commitment of IFA members who are dedicated to strengthening the franchise business model by supporting pro-business, pro-franchising lawmakers,” said IFA Executive Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy Robert Cresanti. “Doc continues to build awareness of IFA’s FranPAC and its importance through his role as a long-time and committed franchise leader, particularly within the franchisee community.”

Cohen received the award during IFA’s Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting, formerly the Public Affairs Conference, where over 400 franchise business leaders are heading to Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of the franchise business model. The award is named after past IFA Chairman and winner of the IFA Hall of Fame Award Sid Feltenstein, who founded FranPAC in 1978 and helped to grow it into the one of the leading business trade association political action committees.

The FranPAC MVP award recognizes an individual who has made extraordinary efforts to enhance IFA member involvement in its FranPAC program. The success of FranPAC increases IFA’s ability to assist those policy makers who support the IFA’s agenda, such as protecting the business model by fighting the overreaching NLRB decision to make new law by designating franchisors and franchisees as joint-employers.

Cohen joined the IFA Board of Directors in 2004 and became the first-ever franchisee to be named to IFA’s prestigious Hall of Fame in 2011. He currently serves as Chairman of the IFA Educational Foundation Board of Trustees and is a member of the Past Chairs Council. He has also served on many IFA Committees including the Franchise Relations, Awards, Long Range Planning and Convention, in addition to serving as Treasurer of the IFA for five years.

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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.

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