Otskey Elevated to CEO as Founder Don Daszkowski Remains on Board of Directors
The International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG), a leading franchise growth platform serving more than 1,500 franchisors, franchise consultants and vendor partners, has promoted Matt Otskey from chief operating officer to chief executive officer. He succeeds founder and former CEO Don Daszkowski, who has transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman, Head of M&A and Corporate Development.
Otskey joined the franchise growth platform in 2022 as executive vice president of operations and quickly worked his way to become COO in 2024. During his tenure with the company, Otskey has played key roles in initiatives that have helped shape IFPG’s growth, including the acquisitions of Franchise Business Review and Business Alliance and the development of Franchise Ignition and Franchise Atlas.
“My focus is on connecting the pieces,” Otskey said. “The opportunity is to integrate them into a single ecosystem — one where consultants have the tools, data and support to build real businesses, and franchisors have a true development growth engine rather than a collection of vendors. That means continuing to invest in technology and platform development, deepening the value of membership on both sides of the network and making sure we grow without losing what makes IFPG work.”
While he is proud of leading the acquisitions and integrations of Franchise Business Review and Business Alliance, Otskey finds the moments that matter most go beyond transactions. “It’s the conversations at Retreat, the consultant who told me a placement changed their family’s life, the franchisor who grew because of a relationship that started in our network. Four years in, and those are the things that stuck with me.”
He will lead the IFPG team with directness and transparency and continue the people-first culture Daszkowski has built. “The best ideas at IFPG have almost never come from the top of the organization chart; they’ve come from the people talking to consultants and franchisors every day,” Otskey said. “IFPG has always operated like people matter more than transactions, and that’s not a slogan here — it’s why members stay, and it’s why our team stays. Scale tends to erode that if you let it, and I don’t intend to let it.”
Daszkowski said IFPG is in good hands under Otskey’s leadership. “His first four years at IFPG have been impressive, and I believe the best is yet to come,” Daszkowski said.
In addition to his role on IFPG’s Board of Directors, Daszkowski will also continue his work with the International Franchise Association’s Supplier Forum Advisory Board and the North American Securities Administrators Association’s Franchise and Business Opportunities Project Groups, where he contributes to franchising’s evolving regulatory landscape.
Otskey is thrilled for the future of the IFPG platform. “This network exists because of the consultants and franchisors who chose to build here, and I take that seriously,” he said. “We’re going to keep investing, keep building and keep raising the bar on what membership delivers. I’m excited to get to work.”
About IFPG
Founded in 2012 by investor, advisor and entrepreneur Don Daszkowski, IFPG started as a membership-based franchise broker organization that served franchise consultants, franchisors and suppliers. The top-ranked franchise growth platform now includes more than 1,500 members nationwide. IFPG is regarded for its Certified Franchise Consultant (CFC) program and connects its members through popular year-round events, webinars and its annual Retreat.
