IFA Spotlight: Judith Thorman

By GREG AVDOIAN Growing up in Illinois in a family of local politicians, Judith Thorman knew she had a passion for politics – it was in her DNA. She made her way out to Washington D.C. at a young age, where she attended college at American University. After receiving her degree, she started her career working on Capitol Hill for Illinois Senator Charles Percy, as well as back in her home state for Illinois governors including Jim Thompson. Thorman soon began to specialize in food programs. As the go-to expert for policy regarding that industry, she worked with many companies whose success or failure could be attributed to certain regulations and legislation. She learned during her time working with government and with businesses how little both sectors, public and private, knew about what the other needed to flourish. Today, Thorman is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the International Franchise Association (IFA), the trade organization for the franchise industry. In this role, she is charged with promoting and protesting issues impacting the franchise industry on local, state and national levels. Her goal is to help politicians understand the franchising community, how politicians’ choices directly impact small business decisions on the local level and why support of IFA initiatives creates economic stability. Thorman says her biggest challenge this year has been the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, due to the financial burden it will cause on small business owners throughout the country. Another big issue facing the franchise industry has been the lack of sufficient tax rates. According to Thorman, having set tax rates gives business owners the stability needed to make decisions, plan for the current year and forecast for the future. With a full plate of issues to be shared with policy makers in Washington, Thorman works diligently on public policy letters and other written communication to share with Congressional members. In most cases, she hand delivers her organization’s key issue points when she meets with ten members of Congress each week, along with U.S. Agencies including the Department of Labor. “Some legislators need to understand that deadlocks need to end and the era of bipartisanship should be replaced with an era of economic stability,” she says. As November 6 approaches, Thorman remains optimistic her efforts made an impact. In the race for president, she hopes whoever wins understands franchisors are not big corporations but main street small businesses that ultimately provide a better way of life for many American workers – salaried and hourly workers alike. “I always want the wind at my back when I talk to Congress. It is my job and personal charge to be at the forefront of solutions.”