You need only look to the IFA Annual Convention program book to know what issues are front and center with today's franchise professionals. As we continue to struggle with a sluggish economic recovery and uncertainty in the regulatory arena, the IFA Convention is the perfect forum for proactively tackling the critical issues and finding solutions to prepare franchise professionals for future growth.
At this year's IFA Convention, attendees will hear from leading global thinkers and industry leaders about how to manage the challenges of the current economic, regulatory and public policy environment that has been complicated by the ongoing difficulty of accessing the credit franchise businesses need to grow.
With the health care law's employer mandates becoming closer to reality for many franchise businesses, the IFA Convention will feature leading health care industry experts who will examine what the law means to the future of your business and how to navigate the costs and mandates for employers and employees that were passed with health reform. While the IFA is committed to repealing or significantly replacing these onerous and harmful portions of the law, the reality for many franchise businesses is that many of the provisions are likely to be implemented in the next one to two years, so now is the time to plan for the potential impact to your business.
Beyond the legislative and regulatory arena, IFA Convention sessions are planned that will help franchise executives evaluate changing consumer demographics and trends and what these developments mean for your company's products and services. Opportunities for veterans in franchising and IFA's expanded VetFran initiatives will also be a major component of the Panel of the Pros session, as well as the first-ever VetFran Pavilion in the IFA Exhibit Hall.
Our opening Keynote Speaker Bill O'Reilly's extensive media experience and unique perspectives will provide attendees with valuable insights on today's business climate and trends that will shape the future. Our Technology Summit on Sunday will offer in-depth explorations of social media tools, search engine optimization, mobile technology, local searches and lead generation, and will feature expertise from Google and Facebook.
Monday's Super Session will feature David Novak, Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc., the world's largest restaurant company, who will share why he devotes much of his time to personally train leadership skills to the company's management and franchisees through his trademarked 'Taking People With You' program. With the ever-changing communications landscape of today's digital world, Closing General Session Speaker Guy Kawasaki will share his high-tech industry, marketing and business management savvy to round out the program with tips on successful marketing with today's social media tools and how these tools can help your franchise boost same store sales, increase brand recognition and target and identify prospective franchisees in your business development efforts.
An exciting new highlight in store for 2012 is IFA's inaugural "Franchising Gives Back" community service event, which will give attendees a chance to demonstrate the generosity and impact the franchise industry has on local communities. A voluntary day of teamwork and service in support of the Orlando Health & Rehabilitation Center, a large nursing facility in Orlando; a place where 50 veterans call home, will take place Friday, February 10, followed by an evening reception. The Franchising Gives Back event was the brainchild of Steve Romaniello and Roark Capital, and IFA wishes to thank Steve and his team for their leadership of this groundbreaking event to galvanize the franchise community.
I congratulate the 2012 Convention Committee members for preparing such a robust and relevant agenda for this year's annual convention that meets the needs of the franchise community today, while preparing us for tomorrow. IFA members consistently describe the Annual Convention as a not-to-be-missed opportunity and I look forward to visiting with many of you throughout the franchise industry's marquee event of the year.
