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International Association To Honor Franchise Leaders

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Feb. 25, 2006 —The International Franchise Association will bestow its highest honors this week during its 46th annual convention at the Palm Springs Convention Center. IFA is the world's largest trade group representing the franchising sector, which is comprised of more than 760,000 businesses that generate an economic output of more than $1.53 trillion and employ more than 18 million people in the United States alone.

Named to the association's Hall of Fame will be RE/MAX International Inc. co-founders David Liniger and Gail Liniger, who serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. They established the company in Denver in 1973. Today the franchise system oversees a network of more than 114,000 agents in more than 60 countries.

IFA Entrepreneur of the Year recipient John Hewitt began his career as a tax preparer with H&R Block and rose to become the company's youngest regional director. Then he created Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, sold it in 1997 and established Liberty Tax Service which today has more than 2,000 offices in the United States and Canada.

Joyce Mazero, a partner with Dallas law firm Haynes and Boone, will be honored with the IFA Bonny LeVine Award, which recognizes women who have mentored and promoted women in franchising. Mazero has served on the IFA board of directors, Education Committee, and the IFA Council of Franchise Suppliers where she was the first chairman. She was honored with the 2003 IFA Women's Franchise Committee Crystal Compass.

Marriott International Inc. will be the recipient of the Ronald E. Harrison award, which recognizes significant contributions to minorities in franchising. The company's Diversity Ownership Initiative assists minorities and women who have significant business experience with an interest in developing hotels or taking equity positions in hotels under development. It provides them additional operations support, as well as flexible application and royalty fee terms, credit enhancement, or other funds used to support the deal or prepare a hotel for opening. Today, minorities and women own 15 percent of Marriott's franchise units.

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