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The International Franchise Association (IFA) announced the election of 14 new franchise professionals to serve on its board of directors. They were selected to lead the top organization representing franchise businesses worldwide. The new directors—comprised of franchisor, franchisee, and supplier members—will assume their positions at the 2026 IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Feb. 23–25.
"These accomplished leaders represent the best of franchising—business owners and executives who understand the power of franchising to grow brands and support local ownership in the U.S. and around the world," said Matt Haller, IFA president and CEO. "I'm grateful for their volunteer service in support of the IFA mission to strengthen the franchise business model and ensure the success of our members across all sectors."
"Serving on the IFA Board of Directors is one of the highest honors a member of the franchise community can have to advance the franchise business model and the opportunities it creates," said Mary Kennedy Thompson, chair of the IFA Board of Directors and CEO of BNI. "This group brings a wealth of experience from across franchising's diverse ecosystem. Their insight and leadership will help IFA continue to advocate for franchising and expand opportunity in the U.S. and around the world."
The 2026 IFA Board of Directors includes representation across industries and business lines, reflecting the diversity of the franchise business model and the breadth of IFA's membership. According to IFA data, in 2024, there were 831,000 franchise businesses in the U.S. employing 9 million people and generating more than $900 billion in economic output.
The incoming 2026 IFA Board Members include:
The new directors will serve an initial three-year term beginning in February 2026.
In addition to the new directors, IFA announces the succession of its 2026 officers, including the appointment of Dave Mortensen, co-founder of Anytime Fitness and board member for Purpose Brands, as the incoming second vice chair of the board.
Leading the IFA Board of Directors, the 2026 IFA officers are:
The 2026 IFA Board of Directors will also include representatives from the Diversity Institute Board, the Women's Franchise Committee, and each of the IFA's three forums (Franchisee Forum, Franchisor Forum, and Supplier Forum Advisory Board). The following representatives will serve on the Board while serving in their respective roles:
The directors' full bios are available here.