Last week in Phoenix, I invited attendees from various facets of the franchising community to share the impact IFA has had on their careers. Collectively, I am calling this the Many Voices of IFA and presenting it as this week's episode of Franchise Today.  Seasoned industry professionals like Frank Fiume, Nick Friedman, Rocco Fiorentino, and others spoke to the value of the relationships, mentorship, community, and access that IFA facilitates within the industry. Key figures such as Omar Soliman, John Francis, Terry Braun, Dave McDougall, Scott Perry, and Ron Bender emphasized the organization’s role in providing educational resources, protecting the franchise model, and supporting “smart growth,” including the encouragement of veteran participation through the IFA’s Vet Fran program.

The significance of the IFA was further underscored by contributions from Ralph Yarusso, who expressed his passion for giving back after 20 years of involvement, and Josh Wall, who noted the importance of learning from industry leaders’ mistakes. Mike Kelly valued the networking opportunities and client connections made possible by the IFA, while newcomer Michael Friedman, son of yours truly, brings his decade of software sales experience with him, into the FRM business.

Enthusiasm for the IFA was also echoed by Ron Feldman, Aslam Khan, David Kurkjian and Marty Welch, who collectively praised the association for its role in fostering knowledge exchange, support, and insight-sharing among franchising professionals. The IFA was celebrated as a platform that not only enables connections with seasoned experts but also welcomes voices from emerging franchise businesses.