WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2016—The International Franchise Association has awarded the IFA Ronald E. Harrison Diversity Award to Ferenz Feher, founder and CEO of Feher & Feher, a consulting firm offering a range of specialized services to entrepreneurs, businesses and franchise networks. The company has over 850 clients in Mexico and around the globe.

 

The Ronald Harrison award recognizes businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to minorities in franchising either within their own franchise organization or within the franchise community. Formal presentation of this award will occur Wednesday, February 1 during the Association’s 57th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

“Ferenz Feher has demonstrated the importance of social change, not just within his company but making a difference in his country,” said IFA Chairman Aziz Hashim, CFE, founder and managing partner at NRD Capital. “Ferenz has shown all of us why it is important to develop programs that teach others the skills they need to succeed rather than just giving, and he is making a difference in his local community and across the globe.”

 

Feher began his franchising journey over 25 years ago and after learning and understanding the unique business model, he became committed to making the model available to Mexico’s entire business community. In 2002, Feher decided to launch his consulting firm and remains committed to helping people of all backgrounds become successful in business growth and development. Through his firm, Feher is responsible for the development of over 850 franchise networks in Mexico and he represents over 50 percent of the domestic brands operating as a franchise system in the country.

 

Feher’s personal philosophy as an entrepreneur and businessman is to always give back and he has demonstrated this through his involvement in many community organizations allowing him to help thousands of people. Feher has always believed that through franchising, he can truly influence and promote diversity in the industry. By positively impacting the lives of at-risk or underprivileged populations and help integrate them into the mainstream, Feher has worked to change the lives of many different and diverse groups of people. Two examples which he is most proud of are:

 

Échale a tu casa which was created in 1992 as a brick company. With the help of Feher & Feher in 2013 it was transformed into a social Franchise model which has benefited more than 20,000 homes in vulnerable communities around Mexico. MUSA, a social franchise created to promote healthy eating in Mexico, has inspired 30,00 women to become muses for a healthier lifestyle.

 

The awards he has already received speak to his professionalism. In 2001, Feher received the Juan Huerdo award, granted by the Mexican Franchise Association to the most influential personality in Mexico in the franchise industry. In 2004, he received recognition from The Mexican Chamber of Restaurants and Food Products (CANIRAC) for his efforts on promoting food and beverage franchises. Feher has also been recognized by the U.S. Embassy for his support to the U.S. Commerical Service in Franchise Sector in 2011.

Feher has taught franchise related topics for years at prestigious universities in Mexico and Latin America, educating bright and young minds on the positive aspects of franchising. He is the first consultant in Mexico to address the topics of micro-franchising and Franchising for the Social Sector, not only on a theoretical plane by publishing the sole book on social franchising in Mexico; this latter is one of five books he has published over the past 20 years expanding from franchising to entrepreneurship.

 

Feher has been a member of the IFA for nearly a decade and is a member of the Franchising in the Social Sector Task Force. He has served as the President of the Mexican Franchise Association. He has also served as Vice-Secretary of the World Franchise Council, General Secretariat for the Iberoamerican Franchise Federation (FIAF) and as Chairman of the International Franchise Consultants Network (IFCN). Feher serves on multiple boards. Ferenz is a member of the Entrepreneur Magazine board and participates in the Emerging Leader Network of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.

 

Celebrating 56 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.

 

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