The International Franchise Association’s 2016 Convention takes place in San Antonio starting this weekend.

Nearly 3,000 franchise professionals, including hundreds of CEOs, presidents, and EVPs, are making their way to San Antonio in the upcoming days to get vital information to help protect their brands as well as dig deeper into topics such as marketing, finance, and franchise development.

 Association:  International Franchise Association

Conference:  2016 IFA Convention

Venue: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

Location: San Antonio, TX

The 2016 IFA Convention kicks off with an opening general session on Sunday afternoon. Keynoter General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and former leader of Joint Special Operations Command, will share his lessons in leadership and team building—hitting on topics like culture, communication, and strong relationships. Also worth pointing out:

Hive mind. The year will mark the debut of The Buzz, IFA’s opening night networking reception. Attendees will not only have the chance to get together for the first time and make new acquaintances, but they’ll do so while also enjoying live entertainment, great food, cigar rolling, and tasting bars with sommeliers sharing their knowledge.

Community service. This year’s Franchising Gives Back volunteer activity will take place at the Warrior and Family Support Center, which is part of the Brook Army Medical Center.  Volunteers will help maintain and beautify the grounds surrounding the facility.

First-hand knowledge. The meeting’s Business Solution Roundtables allow attendees to sit at a table with 10 to 12 of their peers and ask questions of some of franchising’s most accomplished professionals. Discussion topics may include franchise sales, credit and lending, operations, legal issues, branding, and technology.

Want to know more about the meeting? Follow along on Facebook and Twitter (#IFA2016).

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