Honorees Recognized for Outstanding Contributions in Franchising
Six outstanding professionals received the highest honors in franchising during the International Franchise Association’s 2024 Annual Convention. The awards were presented throughout the event, which started this past weekend and continued through Tuesday morning in Phoenix.
The honorees were recognized for growing the franchising sector of the economy, for service to their communities and for their overall contributions to franchising. The franchise business model is popular in the U.S., with more than 800,000 establishments operating, according to the IFA; Web FX says 10% of all U.S. businesses are franchises.
When IFA announced the recipients in December, the association’s president and CEO, Matt Haller, said, “Their hard work, drive, and entrepreneurial spirit have fueled not only their professional achievements but also opened the doors for so many others to pursue the American dream.” The award recipients are:
Hall of Fame Award
Catherine Monson, CEO of Propelled Brands
This is the oldest and absolute highest honor that the IFA confers. It is bestowed upon a franchisor or franchisee who has contributed significantly to advancing the business model and assisted the IFA in its mission. In choosing Monson, an IFA news release noted that she “has been a lifelong leader and is often viewed as a legend in franchising.”
As the only two-term IFA chair, Monson led the association through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. As CEO of Propelled Brands and the umbrella’s original brand, FASTSIGNS, she is known for her business acumen and community leadership. Propelled Brands has added NerdsToGo, MY SALON Suite and, most recently, Camp Bow Wow to its portfolio under her guidance. Monson also has held leadership positions at Sir Speedy, PIP Printing and Multicopy Europe.
Past winners include:
- 2022 Neal Aronson, founder and managing partner of Roark Capital Group.
- 2021 Dina Dwyer-Owens, CFE, Neighborly.
- 2020 Jerry Crawford, CFE, Jani-King International Inc.
- 2019 Gordon Logan, Sport Clips.
- 2018 Steve Romaniello, Roark Capital Group.
- 2017 Tariq Farid, Edible Arrangements.
- 2016 Russ Frith, Lawn Doctor.
- 2015 Mike and Marian Ilitch, Little Caesars.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman, co-founders of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving
This honor recognizes a founder (or in this case, founders, plural) or franchising executive who has built or grown a franchise business. The honorees have shown a willingness to accept risk in successfully managing and expanding their brand, IFA stated in the awards news release, and they have inspired additional entrepreneurs.
Friedman and Soliman started their hauling and moving service in 2003 with one beat-up cargo van. After they won a $10,000 entrepreneurship prize through the University of Miami, they refined their business with a call center to upgrade customer service and efficiency, enhancing franchisees’ profitability. The IFA news release also pointed out that the duo increased their brand recognition by appearing on ABC’s Shark Tank and CBS’s Undercover Boss, two reality TV series. The news release praised them for expanding to more than 250 franchise units. College H.U.N.K.S. has a strong, hardworking culture with a community focus: It donates two meals for every completed job, with a total more than 4 million meals provided to date, and it gives free moves to people who have suffered because of domestic violence.
Bonny LeVine Award
Tamra Kennedy, Franchisee/Twin City TJS Inc. (Taco John’s)
This honor, which acknowledges the importance of mentorship in the franchising sector, recognizes female leaders who have actively mentored and nurtured future leaders. Each recipient serves her community, provides resources and creates opportunities for others, and inspires others.
Starting as a secretary for a Taco John’s owner, Kennedy (above, far right) worked her way up the ladder and eventually bought the restaurant company, according to the IFA news release. Currently she is a multi-unit franchisee in the Twin Cities area who has helped her employees flourish, with some of them becoming franchisees. The IFA said Kennedy “has made it her mission to recruit and seat women at the franchisee table.” She also has testified to Congress about franchising and her personal success story.
Past winners include:
- 2022 Sherri Fishman, co-CEO and co-founder of Fishman Public Relations.
- 2021 Dena Tripp, Nothing Bundt Cakes.
- 2020 Shannon Wilburn, CFE, Just Between Friends.
- 2019 Amy Cheng, Cheng Cohe LLC.
- 2018 Jania Bailey, FranNet.
- 2017 Jo Kirchner, Primrose Schools.
- 2016 Rhoda Olsen, Great Clips.
- 2015 Therese Thilgen, Franchise Update Media Group.
Ronald E. Harrison Award
Paul Pickett, chief development officer and executive vice president of franchising for Wild Birds Unlimited
The IFA gives this award to an individual or organization with a track record of enhancing diversity in franchising. This accomplishment involves supporting or initiating programs that “educate, engage or recruit members of traditionally underserved communities into the franchising community,” according to the IFA.
Pickett (above, center), a 34-year veteran of franchising, teamed up with Mark Jameson of Propelled Brands to establish and lead IFA’s Pride Franchise Leadership Council, the IFA said. The council’s mission is to emphasize that franchising is safe for and open to all; it also teaches why inclusiveness is a smart move financially and in terms of social growth. Pickett also chaired the Franchise Update 2018 Leadership Conference and ensured every panel was diverse, IFA’s news release said, and he has helped Wild Birds Unlimited become one of the most highly rated companies for franchisee satisfaction.
Past winners include:
- 2022 Richard Snow, vice president and SBA manager of WSFS Bank.
- 2021 Wanda Williams, Yum! Brands Inc.
- 2020 PepsiCo.
- 2019 Daniel Halpern, Jackmont Hospitality.
- 2018 Earsa Jackson, Clark Hill Strasburger.
- 2017 Ali Nekumanesh, Deli Delicious.
- 2016 Ferenz Feher, Feher & Feher.
- 2015 Rick Davidson, Century 21 Real Estate.
William Rosenberg Foundation Leadership Award
Tony Valle, managing partner of Clear Summit Group
This award, named for the man who spearheaded establishment of the IFA Foundation, goes to a person who has had a major, positive influence on franchise education, outreach and sharing the franchising story.
Valle’s career started when he was 19 and ran a College Pro franchise. Then for 30 years, he held executive positions in multi-brand franchising platforms, including FirstService Brands. He is now with Clear Summit Group, a brand accelerator. Valle has been a major player within IFA, its news release noted, with roles including trustee for the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives, co-founder of the Nextgen Program, assisting with the start of the Emerging Franchisor Bootcamp, and past chairman of the IFA Foundation. His philanthropy includes support for World Bicycle Relief, working as an Entrepreneur in Residence for local programs, and holding a fundraiser for the Community Music Schools of Toronto, his hometown.
Past winners include:
- 2023 Mary Kennedy Thompson, chief operating officer of Neighborly.
- 2022 Gordon Logan, Sport Clips.
- 2021 Jerry Crawford, Jani-King International.
- 2020 David McKinnon, CFE, Radiance Holdings.
- 2019 Michael Isakson, CFE, Insight to Execution.
- 2018 Steve Romaniello, CFE, Roark Capital Group.
- 2017 John Reynolds, CFE, International Franchise Association.
- 2016 Lawrence “Doc” Cohen, CFE, Doc & Associates.
- 2015 Dennis Wieczorek, DLA Piper LLP (US).
2024 Crystal Compass Award
Debra Vilchis, president of Fishman Public Relations
The Crystal Compass is given annually by the IFA Women’s Franchise Committee to an individual who has made significant contributions through leadership within his or her franchise organization, through the franchise community as a whole and/or in the community where the recipient lives. Vilchis (above, left) oversees Fishman PR’s integrated campaigns and develops best practices so that her agency, which exclusively serves franchise brands, helps its clients thrive. She is a specialist in crisis communication and has a background in content marketing and journalism. Vilchis has helped the IFA by serving on its Women’s Franchise Committee and Annual Leadership Conference Task Force.
Past winners include:
- 2023 Michelle Rowan, Franchise Business Review president and chief operating officer.
- 2022 Nancy Bigley, brand president and CEO of The Little Gym International.
- 2021 Clarissa Bradstock, CEO, Any Lab Test Now Franchising Inc.
- 2020 Paul Pickett, chief development officer, Wild Birds Unlimited.
- 2019 Emma Dickison, president and CEO, Home Helpers.
- 2018 Greg Nathan, founder, Franchise Relations Institute.
- 2017 Mary Kennedy Thompson, chief operating officer, Neighborly.
