FASTSIGNS CEO Joins Effort to Talk Small Franchise Business Model on Capitol Hill
CARROLLTON, Texas—September 25, 2015—Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, will be speaking at the 2015 International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 30, to get attendees excited and ready for a day of meeting with elected officials on Capitol Hill.
“Not everyone understands the franchise business model and how legislative and regulatory decisions can greatly impact small franchised businesses,” Monson remarked. “It is critical for all of us in the franchising industry to proactively develop relationships with our Congressional Representatives and Senators in order to preserve and protect the future of our businesses.”
Monson and a group of FASTSIGNS franchisees from around the country will be joining the IFA and hundreds of franchise brands and their franchisees during the two-day event. The Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting will take place Sept. 29-30, at the JW Marriot in Washington, D.C. Held every September, this meeting gives franchisees the opportunity to meet with representatives in Congress, forge relationships with elected officials and discuss regulations that affect their businesses.
Clint Ehlers, who owns two FASTSIGNS centers in Willow Grove and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, testified before the congressional U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions last fall on the consequences of the expected National Labor Relations Board’s Joint Employer decision. He explained, “It is incredible to have a voice in front of our elected officials. ‘For the people, by the people’ still stands and it is important for us to remind them of that. Many of them are not aware of how these decisions directly impact the future and value of our businesses. We have to include our voices in the conversation to protect our independent, local businesses.”
The IFA launched the Franchise Action Network (FAN) to bring local franchisees from hundreds of franchise brands together as one voice. It is a grassroots network of franchisees, franchisors and suppliers who want to engage elected officials on legislative and regulatory issues that affect the franchise industry. The goal is to educate policymakers on the benefits of independent, locally-owned franchises that create jobs and provide tremendous value to local communities. According to the IFA, the 780,000 franchise establishments in the U.S. support more than eight million direct jobs, $890 billion in economic output and three percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
About Catherine Monson
An advocate for small business and franchising, Catherine Monson is a past recipient of the International Franchise Association’s prestigious Bonny LeVine Award and the first ever “FAN of the Year Award.” The CEO and president of FASTSIGNS International, she has more than 30 years of franchising and management experience in sales and marketing, operations, development, training and advocacy. In 2012, Catherine appeared on the two-time Emmy Award-nominated reality series, Undercover Boss, to learn new ways to further advance the FASTSIGNS brand. She serves on the board of directors of the International Franchise Association (IFA), the board of directors of the Learning Experience and the board of trustees of Pi Sigma Epsilon National Education Foundation.
About FASTSIGNS
FASTSIGNS International is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 590 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in nine countries including the U.S., Canada, England, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE).
Source: FASTSIGNS.
