Franchise Legends, Fresh Talent

Gary Gardner is Chairman and Co-Founder of Franchise Update Media, a multi-media company that delivers unmatched reach and scale across multiple platforms. Since 1988, Gary and his wife and partner Therese Thilgen, have influenced and motivated the largest audience of franchise professionals through their content, magazines, and conferences. He has extensive strategic and tactical experience in franchise development, sales, marketing, and media. Under his tenure, he has been directly involved in the development of several franchise development and educational products including Franchise Update Magazine, Multi-Unit Franchising Magazine, Franchise Leadership & Development Conference, Franchise Consumer Marketing Conference, Multi-Unit Franchising Conference, European Master & Multi-Unit Conference, Franchising dot com and several digital newsletters.

Tom Portesy is a principal of Business Show Media, which produces a number of events including The International Franchise Show in London, as well as the Business Shows taking place in London, Los Angeles, Miami and Singapore. Prior to that, Tom served as President and CEO of MFV Expositions for over 20 years. During his time at MFV Expositions, he oversaw and adapted to the ever-changing marketplace. Tom remains exceptionally active in the franchise industry and is a Board Member of the International Franchise Association.

Scott Lehr: Scott has served the franchise community for 29 years in numerous positions with the International Franchise Association related to membership, marketing, advertising, international and conferences. In his most recent role as Executive Vice President, Development, Marketing & Conferences, he was responsible for the recruitment and retention of franchisor, franchisee, and supplier members of the IFA. He also oversaw the Membership, Advertising, Marketing, Conferences, and International departments of the IFA. 

Sean Falk: Multi-unit operator across 12 brands, former IFA Franchisee of the Year, now President and Chief Operating Officer of Careertopia. A proud Marine Corps veteran and a University of Michigan alum. His dedication to the franchise community has seen him actively engage with the International Franchise Association, contributing to numerous committees and boards.

Kim Falk: With a career spanning multiple industries, Kim’s diverse skill set and exceptional communication prowess have been instrumental in her remarkable journey. Her 16 years in franchise sales and development, combined with her current role as a supplier, underscore her expertise and passion for driving success in the franchise industry.