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The International Franchise Association Educational Foundation's highest honor, the William Rosenberg Leadership Award, was presented to Michael J. Roman, CFE, a 35-year industry veteran, during the group's Annual Convention, Feb. 11-14, in Orlando.
The award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to franchise education, and to the IFA Educational Foundation, through research, teaching, fundraising or other activities or service.
For the past 35 years, Roman, public and government affairs advisor in ExxonMobil's Washington office, has served the intertwined industries of energy and franchising, as an executive and government affairs advisor. He is a past chairman of the IFA Educational Foundation and former member of the IFA Board of Directors. He has also served as an active member of IFA's Legislative Action Group, the Franchisor Forum and the Institute of Certified Franchise Executive's Board of Governors.
As Educational Foundation Chairman, Roman spearheaded efforts to secure financial support for the Diversity Institute, including generous donations from the ExxonMobil Corporation and other IFA members. Over the years, he has continued to work with the Diversity Institute to sponsor MinorityFran seminars and outreach programs to educate women, minorities and veterans about career opportunities in franchising. This year, the ExxonMobil Corporation sponsored research reports on veteran ownership of franchise businesses, and women and minority ownership of franchise businesses.
"Mike Roman has made enormous contributions of his time, talents and energy to the franchising world and we are much better for it," said IFA Past Chairman Mike Isakson, president and CEO of the ServiceMaster Company, who served with Roman on the foundation and IFA boards. "He has been a bridge-builder who has championed outreach to many diverse communities, in both the franchise and energy industries," he added.
In his current role, Roman manages education, communication and advocacy initiatives for energy-related issues affecting the full range of ExxonMobil's domestic and global business operations. He works closely with the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, providing ExxonMobil's perspective on energy-related operational, legislative and regulatory issues. He is a member of the National Association for Business Economics, the National Economics Club of Washington, D.C., the Delta Epsilon Sigma Academic Society, and has been named to "Who's Who in Finance and Industry."
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS of the foundation's leadership award are:
2011--Leonard Swartz, CFE
2010--Ran Harrison, CFE
200g--lrl Marshall (posthumously)
2008--Dick Rennick, CFE
2007--Sidney J. Feltenstein
2006--Russell J. Frith, CFE
2005--Kathryn Boe Morgan, CFE
2004--Lewis G. Rudnick
2003--Eugene Getchell, CFE
2002--William Cherkasky, CFE
2001--Arthur Karp
