News

McDonald’s franchisee named IFA chairman

February 16, 2011

John “Jack” Earle, managing partner of Earle Enterprises LP and franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, has been named as the 2011 chairman of the International Franchise Association (IFA).

Earle assumed the chairmanship at the conclusion of the IFA 51st Annual Convention after serving several years in the leadership chairs at the IFA, including most recently as first vice chairman.

He has been a strong advocate for franchising since joining the McDonald’s system in 1983, and has served the association in various leadership positions including as a member of the IFA Board of Directors since 2004 and the IFA Executive Committee since 2006.

Earle also has served as chairman of IFA’s Franchisee Forum, IFA FranPAC chairman, IFA Convention Committee chairman and chairman of the IFA Educational Foundation Board of Directors. He continues to serve as an active member of the IFA Legislative Action Group, and has been a past member of the IFA Marketing and Public Relations Committee. 

Earle currently is a board member of the McDonald’s Political Action Committee and a member of McDonald’s Regional Leadership Council for the Philadelphia Region. Previously, he served as secretary-treasurer, and partner brands chairman for the National Leadership Council at McDonald’s, as well as vice president of the region’s advertising cooperative. Earle has been a treasurer and board member of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House and a board member of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Prior to joining McDonald’s, Earle was vice president, national lending division head of Fidelity Bank in Philadelphia.

Veteran Dunkin’ Donuts franchise consultant honored

Also at the IFA's annual convention, Leonard Swartz, a senior advisor for iFranchise Group and career franchise executive, was awarded this year’s William Rosenberg Distinguished Service Award.

Throughout the course of Swartz's career of more than 47 years in franchising, he has done work or lived in more than 45 countries, including the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. He has been the president of six different firms and a senior executive at four more, including prominent franchisors such as Dunkin' Donuts, Snelling & Snelling, ADECCO (Adia Services), Dunhill Personnel, Postal Instant Press (PIP Printing), Chicken Delight and a division of ITT.

During his tenure at Dunkin' Donuts, Swartz worked closely with William Rosenberg, who founded the Dunkin' Donuts concept in 1950, and who also co-founded the IFA in 1960.

Swartz, a Boston native and graduate of Northeastern University, has provided franchise consulting services to dozens of Fortune 2000 businesses, as well as to hundreds of smaller franchisors. He is a CPA and a Certified Franchise Executive, and is a noted authority on franchising, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Swartz has authored numerous articles on both international franchising and franchising in general. His specialty at the iFranchise Group, a Chicago-based franchise consulting firm, is in strategic planning and international development.

The William Rosenberg Distinguished Service Award was established by the IFA Foundation through a donation from the Rosenberg Family Foundation. The award, presented annually at the IFA Annual Convention, is granted to a single individual who has made significant contributions to franchise education, through research, teaching, fund raising, or other activities or service.  around the world."