International Franchise Association Names Franchisee of the Year - Nik Bhakta
                     International Franchise Association
 Names Franchisee of the Year Reci
pients
Recognizes 57 individuals for being an outstanding owner-
operator, exemplifying excellence in community, 
workforce, diversity, and veterans
SAN DIEGO – The International Franchise Association 
(IFA) today announced 57 recipients of its Franchisee of 
the Year Awards, representing companies across all 
industries from communities around the country. 
Honored at IFA’s 62nd Annual Convention in San Diego, 
Calif., the award recognizes outstanding franchise 
establishment owner-operators. 
“Franchisee of the Year Awards are the highest honors 
presented to individual franchisees,” said Matthew Haller, 
President and CEO of the International Franchise 
Association.
“These local business owners represent some of the 
best entrepreneurs in the country, and we are proud to 
recognize their contributions to their communities, 
their employees, and all those they serve.” 
The Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by IFA’s 
partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchisees who 
exemplify at least one of IFA’s “Open for Opportunity” 
core pillars: Community, Workforce, Diversity, Equity, 
and Inclusion, and Veterans.
A recent IFA study showed that franchising helped lead 
U.S. economic recovery in 2021, with exceptional job 
and business growth across all franchising sectors. 
The industry on average provides higher wages, better 
benefits, and more leave than non-franchised 
businesses, as well as greater opportunities to 
underserved communities and aspiring entrepreneurs, 
according to Oxford Economics research.
 Haller continued, “Franchising has led our nation’s 
economic recovery over the past year, and these 
entrepreneurs have played a tremendous role in the 
growth we have seen in the business model and all it 
has done for the individuals it supports. The future of 
franchising is bright, largely in thanks to hardworking 
entrepreneurs like those we are recognizing today.”
The full list of recipients is listed below: 
Franchisee Name Franchisee Company Parent Company 
Name Name
Al Bhakta, CMG Companies Multi-Unit, Multi-
Nik Bhakta and Brand Owners
Ron Parikh
Alex Tyler Goldfish Swim School Goldfish Swim 
of St. Charles & Glen School Franchising, 
Ellyn LLC
Amy Strozier Goldfish Swim School Goldfish Swim 
- Dayton School Franchising, 
LLC

About the International Franchise 
Association:
Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and 
advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) 
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 
approximately 775,000 franchise establishments that 
support nearly 8.2 million direct jobs, $787.7 billion of 
economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 
percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Reference Links
Genghis Grill - Wikipedia
Nick Bhakta - Best Western International Inc., Angleton,
 Texas
Nik Bhakta - Principal - CMG Companies | ZoomInfo.co
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Nik Bhakta - President, DM Inc