The CFA Voice: February 2026 Issue

The CFA VOICE is the monthly newsletter for Coalition of Franchisee Associations member franchisees. Representing OVER 46,000 franchisees owning over 122,000 franchises and employing over 2.7 million people, CFA is the Voice of the Franchisee.

CLICK HERE to view the February 2026 issue!

The CFA Voice: January 2026 Issue

CLICK HERE to view the January 2026 issue!

Coalition of Franchisee Associations Welcomes New Executive Director Dave Glodowski

Kennesaw, GA — December 5, 2025 — The Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA), the largest franchisee-only trade association in the country, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dave Glodowski as its new executive director, effective January 2026.

Glodowski brings more than three decades of hands-on franchise and entrepreneurial experience to the role. As a seasoned business owner, he successfully owned and operated multiple restaurants for over 30 years, giving him a deep understanding of the day-to-day realities and long-term challenges facing franchisees and small-business owners across the country.

Previously, Glodowski served as the executive vice president of operations for StarCorp, a major franchisee of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. There, he led large-scale operational strategies, team development initiatives and performance improvements across a multi-state footprint. His background also includes extensive work within franchise associations, as well as expertise in financing growth, supporting franchise expansion and guiding succession planning for small-business owners.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dave as the new executive director of the CFA,” said Bill Mathis, chairman of the Coalition of Franchisee Associations. “His operational knowledge, franchisee-centered leadership style, and commitment to strengthening the franchising model make him an invaluable addition to our organization. Dave understands firsthand the unique pressures and opportunities franchisees face, and we look forward to his leadership as CFA continues to advocate for and empower franchise owners nationwide.”

In his new role, Glodowski will lead the CFA’s strategic initiatives, legislative advocacy, member engagement and partnership development efforts. He will work closely with the CFA Board and association leadership across all member brands to advance policies that strengthen and protect the franchise business model.

“I am honored to join the CFA and to serve franchisees across the country,” Glodowski said. “Having spent my career in franchising as an operator, a leader and an advocate, I’m passionate about supporting the entrepreneurs who drive this industry. I look forward to working with our members, partners and policymakers to champion the issues that matter most to franchisees.”

The CFA represents more than 71,000 franchised locations and millions of employees across numerous brands. With Glodowski at the helm, the organization enters 2026 with renewed focus on protecting the independence, equity and long-term success of America’s franchisees.

About the Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA)
The CFA is the largest franchisee-only trade association in the United States. Its mission is to unite franchisee associations, strengthen the franchise business model, and advocate for policies that protect the rights, equity and independence of franchise owners and acts as The Voice of Franchisees^®. For more information, visit www.thecfainc.com.

Small Business Groups, Franchisee Associations, Diversity Chambers Hail American Franchise Act

Dear CFA Members,

We want to make you aware of an important development in Washington impacting all franchised small businesses. Yesterday, more than 100 business, advocacy, and diversity organizations from nearly every state released a joint letter urging Congress to support the American Franchise Act (AFA), H.R. 5267.

This bipartisan legislation would finally bring long-term clarity to the joint employer standard, an issue that has created uncertainty for franchise owners for more than a decade. The bill now has 51 cosponsors in the U.S. House and continues to build momentum.

The Coalition of Franchisee Associations is proud to stand alongside fellow franchisee groups, business coalitions and national diversity organizations in supporting this critical legislation. We encourage all members to stay engaged as the AFA advances.

You will find the full press release below for your reference.

PRESS RELEASE

Small Business Groups, Franchisee Associations, Diversity Chambers Hail American Franchise Act
A new letter from local business, advocacy and diversity organizations in nearly every state calls for certainty for franchised small businesses through this new commonsense legislative approach to the joint employer issue, highlighting the “clear, bipartisan support” for America’s local franchise businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today [Dec. 3], over 100 business, advocacy, and diversity organizations called on Congress to support the American Franchise Act (AFA), H.R. 5267, which is a new bipartisan legislative approach that would provide long-term certainty to America’s nearly 850,000 franchised small businesses after a decade of changes to the joint employer standard. The legislation is now up to 51 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The letter, which is available here, stresses the AFA’s “common-sense approach to the joint employer issue, which has mired franchise businesses in uncertainty for a decade. By codifying a clear, permanent standard for franchising, the AFA will help ensure that this critical business model– which generates around $900 billion in annual U.S. economic output and employs 8.8 million workers in every state and district—continues to grow and support local communities.”

“The bipartisan support for the American Franchise Act continues to grow in all corners of the country,” said Erica Farage, spokesperson for the Coalition to Save Local Businesses (CSLB), an organization led by the International Franchise Association (IFA) comprised of dozens of trade associations and franchisee groups. “This legislation is essential to franchise owners who need certainty to keep their doors open, continue creating meaningful jobs, and give back to their communities. We call on Congress to prioritize supporting the small businesses in their states and districts by passing the American Franchise Act.”

Signers of the letter feature 69 state associations and 33 national organizations, including diversity groups like U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., National ACE and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and franchisee associations like the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees, Coalition of Franchisee Associations, Dunkin’ Donuts Independent Franchise Owners, Franchise Business Services, National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers, National Association of Spa Franchises, National Franchisee Association, and North American Association of Subway Franchisees.
The letter was addressed to bill authors U.S. Reps. Kevin Hern (R-OK) and Don Davis (D-NC). Hern, a former McDonald’s franchisee, recently spoke before the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee on the need to pass the legislation, and Davis spoke on the House floor in September calling on Congress to pass the measure.

Introduced on September 10, the AFA comes after a decade of four changes to the joint employer standard and would lock in a clear, franchise-specific joint-employer standard to end years of regulatory whiplash that has raised costs, legal risk, and harmed growth for brands, local owners, and their employees. Most recently, the NLRB’s 2023 joint employer rule sought to expand the definition of joint employer to an ambiguous and overly broad standard that threatened the viability of the entire franchise model.

The full legislation can be viewed HERE. For more details on the AFA, click HERE.

About the Coalition to Save Local Businesses
The Coalition to Save Local Businesses is an initiative of the National Franchisee Association, EPCON Communities, Family Enterprise USA, Family Business Coalition, National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators, and Developers, American Hotel and Lodging Association, American Pizza Community, the Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees, CHRO Association, Health and Fitness Association, Home Care Association of America, The International Franchise Association, International Salon/Spa Business Network, International Spa Association, National Federation of Independent Business, National Restaurant Association, NATSO (National Association of Truckstop Operators), Professional Beauty Association, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers, and the U.S. Travel Association. Together, they are united in support of a transparent joint employer standard that reaffirms the independence of local franchise owners. Learn more at savelocalbusinesses.com.

The CFA Voice: November 2025 Issue

CLICK HERE to view the November 2025 issue!

The CFA Voice: October 2025 Issue

CLICK HERE to view the October 2025 issue!

Misty Chally & John Motta: Small tax credit with big effect on hiring is worth saving

NEW HAMPSHIRE faces an alarming labor crisis. In areas including construction, nursing, and law enforcement, job vacancies are mounting while job seekers remain scarce.

According to the U.S. Chamber’s Worker Shortage Index, New Hampshire has just 0.69 available workers for every 1.00 job opening — meaning only 69 workers are available for each 100 vacancies. With roughly 34,000 open jobs and just 23,471 unemployed workers, the math reveals a simple truth: there just aren’t enough jobseekers to meet demand.

The consequences are visible in every corner of the state. Hospitals and health centers are struggling to fill shifts. Construction firms report constant difficulty hiring skilled trades, delaying housing projects and infrastructure upgrades. Even law enforcement agencies, already stretched thin, are competing fiercely for recruits.

Click here to read the full article.