"The franchise industry will be better positioned for the future by the extensive experience these six franchise professionals bring to the industry and IFA," says IFA Chairman Jon Luther, chairman of Dunkin' Brands and Arby's Restaurants. "They, along with the rest of the board of directors, will enable the advancement of the association's government relations and public policy, media relations, and professional development programs to continue to protect, enhance, and promote franchising."

 

Bailey was elected during the 13th Annual Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., and will assume her new position on February 20, 2013, at the conclusion of the IFA’s 53rd Annual Convention in Las Vegas. A Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), Bailey is the first business leader to be appointed to this position from a company that specializes in franchise consulting, which illustrates FranNet’s respect within the franchising community. 

“I am truly honored and excited to be joining this board of successful and hard-working peers within the franchise world,” says Bailey. “At FranNet, we are constantly working at growing the franchise industry with educated and well-informed small business owners, and it is my pleasure to be able to help contribute to the franchising community as a whole by being a member of the IFA Board.”

 

Bailey has more than 25 years of experience in the banking and franchise industries. Joining FranNet in 2006 as president and COO, one of her first actions was to convert the company to a franchise model. Since joining FranNet, Bailey has established national relationships with the Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE, America's Small Business Development Center Network, and numerous other national outplacement firms. The SBA relationship resulted in the company's "Franchising Basics" video being utilized as a training program on the SBA website. Under Bailey's leadership, FranNet has more than doubled the number of consultants across the country and has seen revenues increase nearly 900 percent. As a result, FranNet has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing small businesses in the U.S. for three years running. 

 

Bailey has been involved in the IFA for several years as a member of the IFA Membership Committee, Supplier Advisory Board, Franchise Congress, and the Women's Franchise Committee. She has been honored as a Woman of Achievement by the St. Matthews Business and Professional Women's Organization in 1998, Louisville Business First "Forty under Forty" Outstanding Business Leaders in 1997, and with the Bell Award for "Outstanding Volunteerism in the Workplace" in 1995.