The International Franchise Association (IFA) today named Matias Puga Hamilton, master franchisee of School of Rock in Latin America, as a 2023 Franchisee of the Year. He currently owns four schools in Latin America: Los Dominicos in Chile, Santiago in Chile, Polanco in Mexico, and Bogotá in Colombia (Colombia). Hamilton was honored at the 63rd IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator.
"We are absolutely thrilled to see Matias Puga Hamilton being awarded Franchisee of the Year by the IFA. Matias' unwavering commitment, tireless efforts, and unparalleled dedication to excellence in every aspect of our business have earned him this well-deserved recognition," said Rob Price, CEO of School of Rock. "We are incredibly proud to have Matias as a part of our franchise system, and this award serves as a shining example of what can be achieved with hard work and a relentless pursuit of success. Matias' achievement is a true inspiration to our entire franchise community, and we are confident that it will motivate everyone to aim even higher and push the boundaries of what is possible."
The Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by IFA's partner, Paychex, recognizes leading franchise owners from IFA member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.
"Franchisee of the Year recipients represent the best in franchising," said Matthew Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association. "This is the highest honor IFA awards to individual franchisees, and local business owners like Hamilton exemplify the power of franchising and its positive contributions to communities around the world."
There are approximately 800,000 franchised businesses across the U.S., providing over 8.4 million direct jobs and generating over $800 billion in economic output. According to Oxford Economics, franchising on average provides higher wages and better benefits than non-franchised businesses, as well as greater entrepreneurial opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, and other underrepresented communities.
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 790,492 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.4 million direct jobs, $825.4 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 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.