The AAFD Announces Program Co-Chairs: David Alexander, Michael Garner, Reed Morgan, and Richard Rosen

As we prepare for our 25^th Anniversary Franchisee Leadership Summit and Annual Meeting in May of 2017, the AAFD has been fortunate to recruit distinguished talent to design and chair our program. We are proud to announce that the programming co-chairs are:

• David Alexander, franchisee of BNI and bestselling author of Networking Like a Pro
• Michael Garner, Partner of Garner & Ginsburg, P.A. Law Offices
• Reed Morgan, franchisee of BNI
• Richard Rosen, Founding Member of The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm, PLLC

These four men possess more than a combined 100 years of experience working within the franchising industry, and each individual brings a thoughtful and nuanced perspective to the task of developing the conference program. Together, our co-chairs will plan and design educational, interactive, and thought-provoking sessions that will enlighten, empower, and help our attendees better navigate the franchising industry.

“In celebration of the AAFD’s silver anniversary, the 2017 summit’s theme is Twenty-five Years of Total Quality Franchising: Past, Present and Future,” said AAFD Chairman, Robert Purvin. “The ideas presented at our leadership summit will not only explore the current state of franchising but will also help define the future of Total Quality Franchising.”

Stay tuned for future announcements of specific meeting programs as we progress closer to the meeting itself. Tickets to the meeting are not yet available, but you can Click Here to learn more about the event. If you haven’t yet, please make sure you Save the Date for May 1 – 3, 2017.

About Our Program Co-Chairs

David Alexander

David Alexander has been a franchisee of BNI (Business Network International) for almost 20 years and was recently instrumental in establishing an AAFD Franchisee Association for the BNI organization. He is also the President of High Achievers and possesses a passion for teaching others how to create success. He has taught thousands of business people and companies how to “Network Like a Pro,” and is the bestselling co-author of Networking Like a Pro: Turning Contacts into Connections.

W. Michael Garner

Michael Garner is a partner at Garner & Ginsburg, P.A. Law Offices in Minneapolis and New York and has practiced franchise and distribution law for over 30 years. He is regarded as one of the country’s preeminent thought leaders in the realm of franchise law. Michael has successfully represented hundreds of franchisees and established many legal precedents to expand the rights of franchisees. He is the author of the three-volume legal treatise Franchise and Distribution Law and Practice, which can be found on the bookshelf of almost every franchise attorney. Michael has also served as editor-in chief of the American Bar Association’s Franchise Law Journal and is the editor of the Franchise Desk Book, a leading reference work for franchise lawyers published by the ABA. In 2004, he received the AAFD’s Chairman Award.

Reed Morgan

Reed Morgan, along with David Alexander, led in the establishment of the BNI Franchisee Association as an AAFD Franchisee Chapter and continues to help that organization grow and organize at a rapid pace. Reed has been a BNI (Business Network International) franchisee based in Nashville for 21 years and operates franchises in three states. He also has been a sales representative for Jostens for 43 years. He is a contributing author of Masters of Networking. Reed’s passion is helping BNI members to learn and practice the power of building relationships which generate referrals and increased profits for their businesses.

Richard Rosen

As the founding member of The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm, PLLC, Richard has practiced franchise law in New York City for over 35 years. He has represented the interests of franchisees, franchisee associations, and franchisors in nearly every aspect of franchise law and possesses an incredibly deep knowledge of the current state of the industry. He previously served as the Chairman of the Fair Franchising Standards Committee for nine years and is a member of the AAFD’s Board of Directors. In 2008, he received the AAFD’s Total Quality Franchising Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the field of franchising. He is the immediate past Chair of the Franchise, Distribution and Licensing Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and a “Charter Member” of the Franchise Times Hall of Fame of Franchise Attorneys. His firm has earned Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and integrity, and Richard himself is rated among Martindale-Hubbell’s list of pre-eminent attorneys.