The International Franchise Association (IFA) recently announced that Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect, will join its prestigious Board of Directors starting in February 2025. Wong, who has led FranConnect’s growth and innovation since 2018, will be among fifteen other new appointees. Together, they will bring a broad range of expertise and insights to support IFA’s mission to advance the franchising sector globally.
“IFA’s volunteer leadership is integral in driving the association and our mission forward at a pivotal time for franchising,” stated Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO.
“Gabby’s expertise and experience in franchising will help take the association to new levels so we can further support our members and the opportunities they create in local communities. These new directors bring unique contributions and perspectives, and we look forward to the leadership they will provide to the entire franchise community and the millions of people it serves in the years ahead.”
Transforming FranConnect and the Franchising Landscape
Wong’s journey with FranConnect began in 2016 as Executive Vice President of Operations, leading her to assume the role of CEO in 2018. Since then, she has grown the company’s revenue fivefold, driven successful mergers and acquisitions, and solidified FranConnect’s status as a leading software and SaaS provider for franchise and multi-location businesses. With a team of over 300 employees in the U.S., Canada, India, and Australia, FranConnect now serves nearly 1,500 brands and 1 million locations globally.
“I am honored to join the IFA Board of Directors,” shared Wong. “For over two decades, FranConnect has been committed to helping brands achieve operational excellence, growth, and success. I am thrilled to work alongside such a distinguished group of franchise leaders as we continue to address the industry’s most significant opportunities and challenges.”
Wong brings a robust background in strategic leadership from her roles at Primavera Systems, Trusted Computer Solutions, Vovici, and Clarabridge. You might know these now as Oracle, EverFox/ForcePoint, Verint Systems, and Qualtrics. Her depth of experience in scaling private equity-backed technology businesses makes her a powerful advocate for innovation within franchising.
IFA’s Board of Directors Poised for the Future of Franchising
The 2025 IFA Board of Directors will reflect a diverse cross-section of franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers from a wide array of industries. These members will bring invaluable perspectives to guide the IFA as it works to advance franchising’s role in communities across the United States and beyond.
“Serving on the IFA Board is one of the greatest ways to contribute to the future of franchising,” said Steve Hockett, Chair of the IFA Board of Directors and CEO of Great Clips.
“This is a remarkable group who have shown their dedication to the franchise business model and its incredible reach into nearly every community in the U.S. Their leadership will undoubtedly continue to drive the success of franchising worldwide for generations to come.”
This slate of new directors, including Wong, will begin their three-year terms following the IFA Annual Convention in 2025.
About the International Franchise Association
Founded over 60 years ago, the International Franchise Association is the leading global organization for franchising. They focus on advocating for over 806,270 franchise establishments that drive nearly 3 percent of the U.S. GDP. Through government relations, educational programs, and media outreach, IFA promotes economic growth and job creation within franchising. This supports an estimated 8.7 million direct jobs and $858.5 billion in economic output nationwide.
Chise News is the place for franchise industry news. Want more? Sign up for our e-newsletter or visit our Franchise News section for more articles.
