By IFA Staff

Ask Sam Ballas about his role as the 2026 Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Franchise Association (IFA), and his enthusiasm is contagious.

“How cool is this — to be part of the rank-and-file franchising world for more than 20 years, navigate through the noise, build a brand, stay true to my goals and strategy — to becoming the chair of the board?”

From a career that began in finance then spanned into commercial real estate investments to transforming a local restaurant into one of the region’s most highly acclaimed casual dining franchises, it’s been quite a professional journey for the 60-year-old Ballas.

As the Founder and CEO of East Coast Wings + Grill and Sammy’s Sliders, Ballas recalls looking for information on the internet about how to franchise when he came across IFA’s website.

“I called Washington, D.C. to learn more about what the IFA does to help franchise systems, and I got invited to come to my first IFA convention in 2006 — right after I became an IFA member in 2005. I didn’t know anybody. In exactly 20 years, I’ve gone from the back row of a breakout session to have the honor in holding the gavel in the IFA Board room.”

In two decades, it’s all come full circle.

An early career in financial advisory and real estate brokerage taught Ballas the importance of a sound business strategy and strategic planning. His franchising journey began in 2001 when he acquired a locally owned wing restaurant in Winston-Salem, and East Coast Wings + Grill was born.

From the beginning, Ballas’ goal was an experience that welcomed families and sports fans alike, with a menu focused on legendary Buffalo-style wings and a family-friendly atmosphere that felt inviting to everyone. “I wanted to transform it from a beer joint to a dining experience,” he recalls.

Ballas worked hard to reimagine the décor, expand the menu, and make East Coast Wings + Grill a full-service dining destination. With close to 40 locations across five states in the Southeast, it’s clear he succeeded.

In late 2023, as the COVID-19 pandemic faded, Sammy’s Sliders was born, with locations in Winston-Salem and Kernersville, and with additional growth throughout 2025 in the Triangle region. According to IFA’s 2025 Franchising Economic Outlook, North Carolina ranks among the top 10 fastest-growing states for franchise growth.

With his deep roots in finance and real estate, Ballas is a numbers man heavily driven by both EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and unit-level economics. He does not believe in “ballpark” figures, and calls EBITDA the “ironclad benchmark” and predictive model used to measure and plan for the company’s future. “I’m laser focused on the details and the nuts and bolts,” he said.

Ballas’ other north star is putting franchisees in a position to succeed, emphasizing operational tools and a focus on unit-level economics. “I truly believe in creating environments where others can thrive,” he said.

Ballas has always been interested in sharing his experience with others on their own franchise journey, which inspired him to found a franchise coaching and investment firm called ZorAbility in 2016. Based in Winston-Salem, ZorAbility provides financial and investment strategies, primarily to emerging franchise brands. Ballas calls it his “passion project.”

In 2024, Ballas co-founded Dine Growth Group (DGG), a franchise sales organization established to support the growth of restaurant brands. DGG’s model emphasizes sustainable, relationship-driven growth and aims to help brands flourish in a competitive landscape.

Ballas is committed to responsible franchising, recalling writing the first Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) — now known as the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) — in his basement by hand before bringing the 200-page document to his franchise attorney.

“I’m built a little different. I’ve got to dig into the details and really understand the mechanics.”

Above all, for Ballas, franchising means family. “I have been married 33 years, and my spouse is my comptroller. I see her every day at the office. I am a CEO who gets paid by my wife. My son has also decided to get out of the corporate structure and become an East Coast Wings + Grill franchisee, and my three daughters are engaged at the unit level or managing pieces of our social media.” he said. “My ecosystem is unique.”

During a conversation in the fall of 2025, Ballas was already thinking about his convention speech in Las Vegas at the upcoming IFA Convention in February. “I am the emerging brand story, and that is where my passion lies. I had an idea that was working, and then franchising helped me grow it. IFA helped me reach the next level.”

“I’m very methodical, patient and laser-focused on the right plan.”

Asked about his vision as IFA’s chairman, Ballas is bullish. “I have participated in IFA for 20 years now. Under {IFA President and CEO} Matt Haller’s leadership, we are the best positioned that I have ever seen.”

Ballas specifically cites Haller’s “approachability” for emerging brands.

Other goals for the coming year include elevating the new IFA web site, as well as highlighting an important — and, in Ballas’ view, under-talked about — phase in the franchising journey: the re-emerging class.

“Franchising goes through four steps: emerging stage, re-emerging stage, then growth and then mature. During the re-emerging phase, you make mistakes, lose locations, pick wrong franchise owners, hire wrong talent. Then you fix all that, and you re-emerge stronger, better, and more responsible for it. I’d like to put attention on that re-emerging phase and ensure we help brands navigate it.”

Of course, Ballas is laser-focused on advocacy and the bipartisan American Franchise Act, the landmark legislation locking in a clear, franchising-specific joint-employer standard to end years of regulatory whiplash that has raised costs and legal risk for brands and local owners.

“How cool is it to have legislation potentially become law that the IFA helped develop? It’s an open window of opportunity. It changes the dynamic of our voice,” Ballas said. “With the American Franchise Act, not only are we addressing joint employer for the long-term viability of franchising, but we’re establishing franchising as a critical voice in Washington. Success on the AFA creates opportunities in the future. It changes our perception and how the franchise community is treated in D.C.”