New CFA Chair to Lead Franchisees at Capitol Hill Event

Washington, D.C. – The Coalition of Franchisee Associations has announced the recent election of its new chairman Dave Glodowski, a veteran leader from the Independent Hardee’s Franchisee Association and franchise owner in Minnesota. Glodowski has been a member of the CFA since its inception and previously served as chairman of the CFA Membership Committee.

In his new position, he will direct the CFA in its third year of empowering franchisees to join together as a unified group. Currently, the Coalition is comprised of 12 franchisee associations with more than 14,000 franchisee members employing over 1.2 million individuals in the United States. To date, the CFA has functioned with a chairman and a board of directors, not with an executive director.

As his first order of business, Glodowski will be ensuring the success of the 2010 CFA Day Forum to be held in Washington, D.C., February 3 - 5.  The three-day event brings franchisees across many different brands and their vendor business partners together to network, discuss business tactics and best practices, and to actively participate in government relations through meetings with members of Congress.

Glodowski said he is honored to step into the chairman role and because of the economic and political pressures facing small business owners it is an ideal time for the CFA. “We speak with one voice for franchising across the country. The CFA will be working together with associations to strengthen franchising as a whole, as well as your local franchised business,” said Glodowski.

Previous chairman Frank Capaldo, who also serves as executive director/CEO of the National Franchisee Association, representing Burger King franchisees, said he is stepping down from the position to stay true to his belief in term limits for volunteer organizations. It was through Capaldo’s vision that the organization, the first of its kind, was originally founded in 2007. He said, “I have accomplished what I set out to do and while there is much more to do, it is time to allow new leadership to move the organization to the next level and Dave will do a great job.”

A CFA spokesperson said that during Capaldo’s tenure as chair the ground-breaking association achieved many accomplishments. The CFA formed a political action committee and maintained a strong government relations department. The organization took a position on issues affecting all of franchising by supporting the Credit Card Fair Fee Act and the Arbitration Fairness Act, while working to protect small business owners in opposing the Employee Free Choice Act, “Cap and Trade” proposals and employer mandates in health care reform. The government affairs office closely monitors all state and federal legislation that could impact the franchising industry. The CFA has become a repository for research on franchise agreements and fair franchising laws and educates through communications regarding best practices.