Executive Director
Lynette McKee, CFE
Lynette McKee, CFE, was most recently the SVP & Chief Development Officer Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. located in Tampa, FL. She has also served in executive positions at Dunkin' Brands, Burger King and Metromedia Restaurant Group, parent company for Bennigan's Grill and Tavern, Steak and Ale, Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouse restaurant chains in Dallas, TX.
McKee brings a strong background in franchising and is a leader in diversity within the franchise community and leading organizations through long range and strategic planning. She is a frequent speaking on franchising, and was this year awarded the Bonnie LeVine Award by the IFA, given to the outstanding female in the franchise industry. She was also named the 2005 recipient of the Crystal Compass, given by the Women's Committee of the IFA to an outstanding female who exemplifies leadership within the franchise industry. Other awards include the 2007 Emerging Leader Award honored by the Women's Foodservice Forum, an honor that is presented to a female executive with outstanding leadership qualities within her company and the industry as a whole, a finalist in the 2007 National Stevie Awards for outstanding women in business, and named the 2008 Griffin Report's Woman of Influence in the Food Service Industry.
In addition to serving on the IFA/ICFE Board of Governors, Lynette is a member of the IFA Diversity Foundation. She also serves on the Women's Foodservice Forum Board of Directors. She previously served on the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Board of Trustees in 2011, and served as an Industry Representative to the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors from 2008 - 2010.
Lynette has served on the Women's Franchising Committee with the International Franchise Association (IFA) and volunteers her time to work with the IFA to promote franchising in minority colleges and women's organizations. She serves on the Strategic Advisory Board of Nova Southeastern University's International Institute for Franchise Education and has been an instructor for the Fast Track MBA program for franchise executives at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University. Past accomplishments include being a founder board member of the Women's Franchise and Distribution Forum. Lynette also serves as a founder board member of the Women's Venture program in Minneapolis, a program to assist women with a desire to enter the franchising industry as an owner of a small business.
Lynette was featured in an article in Franchise Times listing the "Top 25 Franchise Executives in the US," As well as named in the "TOP 20 to Watch" in the 2005 January issue of the Franchise Times. She holds the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation from the International Franchise Association and been a CFE instructor. Her franchise career has spanned the last 21 years in the hospitality industry. Prior to franchising, she was co-owner of McKeeCo Commercial Real Estate Services in Nashville, TN.
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