Jim Amos IFA – Franchise Hall of Fame 2012

ORLANDO, Feb. 2012 –  Former International Franchise Association Chairman Jim Amos, CFE, and Tasti D-Lite LLC chairman and chief executive officer, was named today to the IFA Hall of Fame during the association’s 52nd Annual Convention.

“Jim is one of the most strategic thinkers in franchising today and we applaud him on this well-deserved recognition,” said IFA Chairman Jack Earle, managing partner of Earle Enterprises LP and a multi-unit franchisee of McDonald’s.  “Jim’s sage advice and dedication to the franchise industry is built on solid experience as a successful industry leader and is reflected in his willingness to serve IFA in a variety of capacities.”

The Hall of Fame Award is the oldest and most prestigious award conferred by the IFA and is presented to an IFA member who exemplifies the best of franchising and has made significant contributions to the advancement of franchising and the franchising community.

Amos was chosen for his extraordinary contributions to franchising and to the franchising community.  His achievements in franchising and his contributions to the IFA as its 2001 chairman and various other leadership positions, counsel to IFA leaders and staff, his commitment to helping veterans enter franchising and mentoring emerging leaders have contributed greatly to the strength of the franchise community. 

Amos also serves as chairman of Agile Pursuits Franchising, Inc.  (a Procter & Gamble company), chairman emeritus of Mail Boxes Etc., now The UPS Store, and is an author of three bestsellers and a decorated Vietnam veteran.

Snow Phipps Group, a New York-based private-equity firm, and Amos acquired New York-based Tasti D-Lite in 2007.  Amos has assembled a world-class franchising team with the goal of opening 500 centers globally.  Tasti D-Lite acquired Planet Smoothie, which has more than 100 units in Georgia and Florida, at the end of 2011. 

Under Amos’ leadership as chairman and CEO, Mail Boxes Etc. became the world’s largest and fastest growing franchisor of retail business, communication and postal service centers.  The MBE Network has nearly 5,000 locations worldwide, with master licensing agreements in more than 80 countries. In 2001, Amos was instrumental in orchestrating the sale of MBE to United Parcel Service, which subsequently renamed the system, The UPS Store.

For eight years prior to joining MBE, he was the CEO of the Brice Group in Dallas.
A former Marine Corps captain and veteran of two combat tours in Vietnam, Amos received 12 decorations, including the Purple Heart and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Amos is the author of several books, including the best sellers The Memorial, Focus or Failure: America at the Crossroads, The Transparent Leader, Corporate Giants, Above and Beyond, You Can Do It, The Entrepreneurs’ Creed and Living An Uncommon Life.  Penguin Press published his latest work, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Franchising. 

Amos has served on or is serving on the board of directors of the National Veteran’s Administration, the Marine Military Academy, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Meineke Car Care Centers, Oreck Corporation, ZigZiglar Corporation, WSI of Canada, the University of Missouri, the HealthStore Foundation and Ken Blanchard’s Faith Walk Leadership Foundation.

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About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.