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NASHVILLE, TN | NOVEMBER 16-18

“

The Emerging Franchisor Conference is an invaluable opportunity for young brands to network with their peers and learn from seasoned franchise executives.” - Jania Bailey, CFE, CEO, FranNet, LLC

“

I love the Emerging Conference... you are going to find that person who understands the challenges you have and helps you solve them too.” - Larissa Walega CFE, Chief Growth Officer, Ziebart.

ABOUT THE EMERGING FRANCHISOR CONFERENCE With so many decisions to make when growing a franchise, how do you ensure you are steering your business toward success? Designed to help you navigate each stage of franchise growth, the IFA26 Emerging is the best place to develop a roadmap tailored to your current needs. Our primary mission at IFA26 Emerging is to help emerging franchisors in today’s real world to grow, protect and evolve a franchise brand to the next stage of sustainability. As an emerging franchisor, there is nothing more important than understanding, and embracing, the key strategic pillars to sustainable growth. IFA26 Emerging located in Nashville, TN will feature dedicated breakout session pathways based on your number of units, and Conference speakers who look forward to giving back to today’s emerging franchisor leaders, just as they were helped to prosper in their businesses. Get unique direction and guidance specific to YOUR current stage of growth and learn from others within your vertical who have done it before, hear proven solutions to challenges you are facing, and don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach with your franchise business. Whether you have 5 units or 50, this is where you find your route to success.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND & WHY? FOUNDERS-ONLY SESSION: Hear from founders who are in different stages of growth and resources they tapped into to scale their brand.

• CEOs • COOs • Presidents • Franchise Development Executives • Franchise Operations Executives • Franchise Marketing Experts • Franchise Relations Specialists • Anyone looking to grow their business!

CONFERENCE COACHES AND IFA BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENTS: Be a part of an interactive learning atmosphere where attendees are engaged with some of franchising’s most successful and experienced executives.

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26%

43%

Attendance by Industry

#IFA26EMERGING

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31%

0-25 Units

101+ Units

59% 29% 12%

22%

C-level

20%

Director/VP Manager

Attendance by Title

58%

26-101 Units

Attendance by Unit Size

NASHVILLE, TN Nashville, Tennessee, known as “Music City,” is famous for its vibrant music scene, particularly country music. Top attractions include the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry, where live performances continue to draw fans. Visitors can also explore Broadway, lined with honky-tonk bars, restaurants, and live music venues. The Parthenon in Centennial Park offers a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek structure. For history buffs, the Johnny Cash Museum is a must-see. Nashville also features a growing food scene, outdoor parks, and art galleries.

THANK YOU CONFERENCE PLANNING MEMBERS: 2026 Founder Advisory Group

Sam Ballas, CFE, President & CEO, East Coast Wings + Grill Shelly Sun Berkowitz, Founder, BrightStar Care, Founder & CEO, Founder 2 Founder and Next Phase Capital Dustin Hansen, CFE, President & Global Board Member, Back Nine Golf

HOTEL INFORMATION

IFA26 Emerging will take place at the Embassy

Tom Wood, President & CEO, Floor Coverings International

Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown. IFA has a room

2026 Task Force Amanda Corrigan, Chief Operations Officer, Home Helpers Home Care Stephanie Coppedge, CEO, Gideon Math and Reading Genevieve Custer Weeks, Founder & CEO, Tutu School Kim Collier, CDO, Ducklings Early Learning Centers Kyla Dufresne, Founder/CEO, Foxy Box Laser + Wax Bars Matt Knapp, VP of IT and Product Strategy, College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving Jake Lindsey, CFO, Back Nine Golf Tanashe’ Martin, Director of Franchise Development Marketing, PuroClean Kaneallia Parsons, Brand President, Kitchen Guard Kris Stuart, CEO, Bloomin Blinds Erica Tarnowski, Vice President of Franchise Development, Pet Wants Stacey Vogler, CMO, Floor Coverings International

the IFA room block is now open and will close on

block available at a discounted rate. Booking within October 14, 2026, or when the room block is full — whichever comes first! Complimentary breakfast at the hotel is included in your stay when booking within the IFA room block!

REGISTRATION

To register online, please visit franchise.org/. Registration is limited to franchisors and franchisees. Supplier companies are only permitted to attend if sponsoring the event. Please contact Lynette James at ljames@franchise.org or 202-662-0782 for more information. REGISTRATION FEES: • IFA Franchisor/Franchisee Member: $649 • 2nd+ Attendee Member Franchisor or Franchisee: $549 • Franchisor/Franchisee Non-Member: $999 Franchisor/franchisee registration fee includes event access to all meetings, sessions, and meals (breaks, lunch, receptions and Dine Around dinner), course instruction and material during the IFA Emerging Franchisor Conference. See website for cancellation policy.

CFE Credits IFA26 Emerging qualifies for CFE LIVE Learning Credits, based on the sessions you attend. • Up to 9.5 CFE LIVE Credits are available for participation in the interactive problem-solving roundtables and sessions. An online form link will be sent in the post event email to complete so you can receive CFE credit.

EVENT SCHEDULE As of 10.19.2026

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16 8:00 am – 3:00 pm CFE Session * IFA Fran-Guard Facilitated by: Leslie Curran, Partner, Plave Koch PLC Rob Lauer, Partner, Haynes and Boone, LLP Brian Schnell, Partner, Faegre Drinker Alexander Tuneski, Partner, DLA Piper 8:00 am – 12:00 pm CFE Session * Sustainable Growth Requires Sustainable Support Facilitated by: Michael Seid, Managing Director, MSA Worldwide; Andrew Seid, Senior Consultant, MSA Worldwide; Kay Ainsley, CFE, Managing Director, MSA Worldwide 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm CFE Special Session * Pressure-Test Your Brand Growth Story Facilitated by: Jerry Akers, Franchisor, Author & CEO · ZDynamix *Learn more about these sessions here. CONFERENCE BEGINS 2:45 pm – 3:30 pm Pre-Event Networking Break with Table-top Exhibitors 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Opening General Session 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm Welcome Emcee: Dustin Hansen, CFE, President, Back Nine International 4:00 pm – 4:05 pm IFA Update Speaker: Matt Haller, President & CEO, IFA 4:05 pm – 5:00 pm Town Hall: Lessons in Leadership Join IFA member seasoned leaders, for an informative town hall about growing and protecting your emerging brand. Each of these executives will share their words of wisdom from decades in franchising, touching on what they would do again as well as what they would do differently if starting their brand over today. This session will include a town hall style question and answer opportunity for attendees, so come ready with your questions for the speakers! Moderator: Matt Haller, President & CEO, IFA

#IFA26EMERGING

Speakers: Sam Ballas, CFE, CEO & Co-Founder, East Coast Wings + Grill / Sammy’s Sliders; Chair, IFA Board of Directors; Emma Dickison, CFE, CEO & President, Home Helpers Home Care; Al Rodriguez, Team Leader, Sports Clips; Tom Wood, President & CEO, Floor Coverings International 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm Grow Smart, Risk Less: One Founder’s Hard Truths Behind Building a Franchise System That Works Scaling a franchise isn’t just about adding units—it’s about building the right foundation. In this candid session, a successful founder shares the lessons learned of the trade-offs and important decisions to get through the cash drain stage to the sustainably profitable stage, including key growth milestones, common mistakes to avoid, and the key decisions they would make again. Walk away with practical insights to help your brand grow smarter and with less risk. Speaker: Shelly Sun Berkowitz, Founder, BrightStar Care; Founder & CEO, Founder 2 Founder & Next Phase Capital

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Honky-Tonk Handshakes Happy Hour

Enjoy an evening of music, networking and camaraderie with your fellow attendees and meet other members of the IFA team. Location: NashHouse Southern Spoon & Saloon

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 7:30 am – 5:00 pm Registration Desk Open 7:30 am – 8:00 am Networking Coffee with Table-Top Sponsors 8:00 am – 9:00 am General Session 8:00 am – 8:10 am Emerging Franchisor Award Recognition 8:10 am – 8:40 am The Bravest Man in Franchising: Rebuilding Trust and Transforming School of Rock When Rob Price became CEO of School of Rock in 2017, he inherited a franchise system facing significant franchisee dissatisfaction and organizational challenges. In this keynote, Price shares how he rebuilt trust, strengthened franchisor-franchisee relationships, and led a remarkable turnaround that positioned the brand for long-term success. Attendees will gain practical lessons on leadership, transparency, and the power of franchise relations in driving sustainable growth. Speaker: Rob Price, CEO, Youth Enrichment Brands (Former CEO, School of Rock)

8:40 am – 9:00 am The Answers Are in the Room Your biggest growth challenge may have already been solved by someone sitting in the room. Before the conference, attendees will identify the issues they’re facing most. During this fast-paced session, emerging franchisors who have successfully navigated those same challenges will take the stage for a series of threeminute stories sharing what worked, what they would do differently, and the practical advice they wish they’d had sooner. It’s peer-to-peer learning designed to spark ideas, build connections, and give you actionable strategies you can put to work immediately. Moderator: Dustin Hansen, CFE, President, Back Nine International Speakers: Carolyn Thurston, CFE, Founder/CEO, Wisdom Senior Care; TBA Attendee Speakers

9:00 am – 9:30 am Networking Break with Table-Top Sponsors 9:30 am – 10:30 am Concurrent Sessions by Stage of Growth & 1:1 IFA Board Member Meetings Tech Stack Triage: What to Implement at 10, 50, and 100 Units – (Stages 1 & 2) The wrong technology decision can be costly to undo— but waiting too long can be just as damaging. This session breaks down which systems matter most at 10, 50, and 100 units, from CRM and franchise management systems to reporting, operations, and communication tools. Through real-world examples from growing franchise brands, speakers will share what they implemented, why it worked (or didn’t), and the lessons they learned along the way. Walk away with a practical roadmap for building a scalable tech stack, knowing what can wait, and avoiding the common pitfalls that lead to expensive migrations, duplicate systems, and frustrated franchisees. Moderator & Speaker: Matt Knapp, VP of IT and Product Strategy, College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving Speakers: Greg Cory, CTO, IFA; Kristen Pechacek, CFE, President & CEO, Massage Luxe Unit Economics & Returns: Essential to Validation & Sustainability – (All Stages) Validation lives or dies on franchisee profitability and the numbers behind it. In this session, you’ll learn which unit economics every emerging franchisor should measure, why each metric matters, and how those results shape both your Item 19 Financial Performance Representation and the Item 20 information prospective franchisees rely on during validation. Gain practical insights into tracking, interpreting, and communicating financial performance to build credibility, support sustainable growth, and strengthen franchisee confidence. Moderator & Speaker: Jake Lindsey, CFO, Back Nine Golf Speakers: Dan Claps, CFE, CEO, VODA Cleaning and Restoration; Sarah Davies, General Counsel, IFA

Beyond Founder Marketing: Creating a Brand Franchisees Can Grow – (Stages 1 & 2) Many emerging franchisors are still marketing like a single business. This workshop explores the critical shift to franchise marketing—building brand standards, enabling local execution, driving franchisee adoption, managing marketing budgets, and creating simple, repeatable tools that support system-wide growth. Speakers: Jill Sullivan, Director of Marketing, My Salon Suite; Stacey Vogler, CMO, Floor Coverings International

10:40 am – 11:40 am Roundtable Topic Discussions

Sponsor facilitators to lead 2 rounds of 25-minute topic discussions

11:50 am – 12:50 pm Concurrent Sessions by Stage of Growth FOUNDER’S ONLY | The Founder Ceiling — When Your Greatest Strength Becomes Your Biggest Risk – (All Stages) This session addresses one of the least-discussed but most consequential transitions in early franchising: the moment a founder’s instincts, which built the brand, start to limit its growth. The conversation will cover hiring people better than yourself (and being willing to lose latitude to bring them on board), the emotional shift from operator to franchisor, and what it actually means to build a team rather than a following. The honest question worth putting to the room: are you hiring people you’d be nervous to lose to a competitor? Moderator & Speaker: Kyla Dufresne, Founder/CEO, Foxy Box Foxy Box Laser + Wax Bars Speakers: Whitney White, Co-Founder, Wise Coatings Franchise & VP of Development-Wise Coatings, Premium Service Brands; Tony Zaccario, President & CEO, Stretch Zone Franchising, LLC Don’t Just Plant Flags, Build Markets: Where to Grow, When to Invest, and Why it Matters – (Stages 2-4) Emerging franchisors often confuse selling franchises with building a strategic geographic footprint. This session will show leaders how to move from opportunistic “dot-on-the-map” growth to a disciplined market expansion strategy. Panelists will break down how to identify priority markets, determine when a brand is operationally ready to enter them, and choose the right development approach—whether through infill, clustering, multi-unit agreements, or strategic new-market entry. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for balancing franchise demand, whitespace, operational support, real estate, supply chain, marketing efficiency, and the risk of expanding too far, too fast. Moderator: Erica Tarnowski, Vice President of Franchise Development, Pet Wants Speakers: John Dobelbower, SVP of Growth, EverSmith Brands; James Young, Operating Executive, Franchise Home Service

1:00 pm – 2:20 pm C-Suite “FRANHACK” Problem Solving Roundtables with Lunch

This is a group activity that adds value to every attendee by connecting them with seasoned franchising and operations experts (“mentors”) in a problem-solving setting. Come prepared with a specific problem in your field you would like to find an innovative solution for. After a brief introduction, the mentor asks participants what their specific problem is and other attendees at the table can offer relevant feedback and ideas based on experience.

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Concurrent Sessions by Stage of Growth & 1:1 IFA Board Member Meetings Build Culture Before It Builds Itself – (All Stages) Culture is exponentially harder to fix than to create intentionally. Early investment in culture pays dividends in franchisee engagement, brand consistency, and longterm scalability, making it both a growth strategy and your best defense as you expand. Speakers: Genevieve Custer Weeks, Founder & CEO, Tutu School; Stacey Ryan, President, School of Rock Right Role, Right Window: Reading Your Org Before You Hire – (Stages 1 & 2) Every emerging franchisor hits a moment when a growing need can either be covered by outside expertise or handed to a full-time hire, and the choice made in that window compounds. Get it right and you’ve built a foundation that scales with you. Get it wrong in either direction and it becomes a costly correction down the line. Too early and you’ve drained runway on a role that hasn’t been proven yet. Too late and you’ve bottlenecked growth waiting on a decision you already knew you needed to make. This session breaks down the signals that actually indicate a role has crossed from useful to have on tap to needs a full-time owner: repeatability of the need, frequency of the decisions required, and the risk of losing institutional knowledge when a consultant’s engagement ends. It also names the false signals founders tend to chase instead, revenue milestones, unit count, or simple headcount envy. Attendees leave with a practical framework for evaluating their next key hire, whether that’s operations, marketing, or franchise development. Moderator & Speaker: Amanda Corrigan, COO, Home Helpers Home Care Speakers: Courtney Allison, Chief Franchise Officer and Integrator, Hounds Town USA; Matt Kunz, President & CEO, Fastest Lab

#IFA26EMERGING

Financial Infrastructure / Benchmarking / KPI’s – (Stage 1) Standard chart of accounts across the system. Using online tools like Xero online and having access to it. Setting up royalties to be pulled automatically instead of billing and waiting. When should you pull royalties weekly / monthly? What KPI’s to track and how to share them system wide and use them as a tool to drive performance. Moderator: Kris Stuart, CEO, Bloomin Blinds Speakers: Craig Denlinger, Partner, Artesian CPA; Rob Flanagan, CEO, Hounds Town, Inc.; Joe Honkala, CFO, Head to Toe

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm Networking Break with Table-Top Sponsors 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Business Solution Roundtable Discussions (Sponsor facilitators to lead 1 round of a 20-minute business pitch)

Another key to business growth is creating successful supplier partnerships. This session will give the opportunity for attendees to learn of possible service solutions within a small group roundtable discussion led by an exhibitor sponsor facilitator.

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm General Session The AI-Powered Franchisor: Inside Their Playbook Every franchisor is being told AI will change how they grow. Very few get to see what that looks like inside a real franchise system. WSI’s leadership team will open their own playbook and share common challenges every franchisor runs into in franchise development, franchisee support and marketing, and how AI is helping solve them. These problems show up whether you have five units or fifty. Learn from their experience so you can get ahead of these common challenges sooner and leave with a kit of tools you can implement in your brand. Speakers: Cheryl Baldwin, CFE, Director of Marketing & Communications, WSI; Valerie Brown-Dufour, President, WSI; Michael Monaghan, CFE, VP of Field Operations, WSI

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Reception with Table-Top Sponsors 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Sponsored Dine Around

Stress-free networking – Need help taking the first step in forging new business relationships? New this year, the dinner will be at one location! Walk over with your existing friends but be sure to join a small group of new franchisors you haven’t met yet. Get a taste of Nashville while creating bonds with your fellow attendees. (Included in registration fee.) Location: The Finch

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Registration Desk Open 8:00 am – 9:00 am Concurrent Sessions by Stage of Growth FBC’s - The Make or Break Position in Emerging Franchises – (All Stages) The Franchise Business Consultant (FBC) role is one of the most critical positions in an emerging franchise system because they are the bridge between brand strategy, communication and training, and franchisee execution. This topic will explore how to better define, train, and support FBCs so they can drive accountability, trust, and performance in the field. Moderator & Speaker: Kaneallia Parsons, Brand President, Kitchen Guard Speakers: Michael O’Driscoll, CFE, Board Member, HomeFront Brands; Kieran Scott,Chief Franchise Operations Officer, PIRTEK USA Franchise Recruiting Without the Shortcuts – (Stage 1) Why adding more steps to your discovery process could produce better candidates and faster decisions. This working breakout session examines how a more rigorous curriculum-driven process actually accelerates decisions. Attendees will map their own discovery processes realtime (or bring), identify where depth is missing, where qualification is left to chance, and where candidates opt out before reaching Discovery Day.

FranDev Marketing on a Limited Budget – (Stages 1 & 2) Learn how to make marketing channels, local presence and your first franchisees your lead generators. Moderator & Speaker: Tanashe’ Martin, Director of Franchise Development Marketing, PuroClean Speakers: Cheryl Baldwin, CFE, Director of Marketing & Communications, WSI; Marci Kleinsasser, CFE, Vice President, Franchise Development Marketing, HOTWORX Franchising, LLC

11:00 am – 12:00 pm Closing General Session: Two Paths to Success: Choosing the Right Growth Story for Your Brand Every founder defines success differently. Join Dave Mortensen and Sam Ballas as they share their own distinct paths to building a successful franchise brand—one scaling to a successful exit and the other intentionally growing and leading a thriving regional business. Following their individual presentations, they’ll come together for a facilitated discussion and live audience Q&A, offering practical insights to help you define the right growth strategy for your own franchise journey. Speakers: Sam Ballas, CFE, CEO & Co-Founder, East Coast Wings + Grill / Sammy’s Sliders; Chair, IFA Board of Directors; Dave Mortensen, Board Member, Purpose Brands & Co-founder, Anytime Fitness; 2nd Vice Chair, IFA Board of Directors

Moderator & Speaker: Stephanie Coppedge, CEO, Gideon Math and Reading Speakers: Don Allen, COO, Zoom Room; Heather Harris, CEO, Franchise Fastlane; Jenny Young, Founder/CEO, Brooklyn Robot Foundry

9:00 am – 9:45 am Networking Break with Table-Top Exhibitors 9:45 am – 10:45 am Concurrent Sessions by Stage of Growth & 1:1 IFA Board Member Meetings Why the Best Franchisors Don’t Award Every Franchise – (All Stages) The strongest franchise systems are built not only by selecting the right franchisees, but also by having the discipline to say no to the wrong ones. This session explores how ethical franchise development, realistic expectations, and thoughtful candidate selection protect franchisee profitability, strengthen validation, and create sustainable long-term growth. Moderator & Speaker: Kim Collier, CDO, Ducklings Early Learning Centers Speakers: Tim Courtney, CFE, Chief Development Officer, All Dry; Christina Russell, CFE, Board Member, Scenthound

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at IFA26 Emerging, please contact Lynette James at ljames@franchise.org.

View Sponsorship Opportunities Here