Geared Up Issue 1 2017 | Page 4

the president I 2 would like to start by saying thank you to all of the fran- chisees who have contacted the PFIFA over the last several weeks in support of the direction of the organiza- tion. I would also like to welcome the new members to our family. I make it a point to personally respond to each inquiry, regard- less of whether it’s a single-unit operator or multi-unit group. I am humbled to be heading up the organization, which represents over 83 percent of franchised units today. I want to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, Trey Owen, and his Executive Committee for their hard work and commitment to the association. Our organization grew tremendously under their leadership, and I am grateful for their continued involvement. As a franchisee, my decision to be actively involved with our association is driven by a desire to give back to the system that afforded me such a remarkable opportunity. I owe much of the credit for my success to my mentors. When I first started with PF® back in 2007, there were always franchisees willing to help, listen and give great advice – guys like Joe Pepe, Kyle Nagel and Tim Kelleher, Jeff and James Innocenti, and Brian Kablik and his team. I consider some of these operators my very dear friends; I never forgot how instrumental their support was in as