The Chairman and Managing Partner Brings Decades of Franchising, Business Leadership, and M&A Advisory Experience to the Industry's Leading Trade Association

JUPITER, Fla., Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Boxwood Partners, a middle-market investment bank specializing in M&A advisory, announced today that Patrick Galleher, Chairman and Managing Partner, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association (IFA). Galleher will officially begin his three-year term at the IFA's 2027 Annual Convention in February.

Galleher brings a unique perspective to the IFA Board, shaped by decades of experience across the franchise industry as a franchisor, franchisee, and M&A advisor. Since 2011, Boxwood Partners has completed more than 50 franchisor sell-side transactions, helping founder-owned and private equity-backed franchise systems identify strategic and private equity partners to support their next stages of growth.

"Franchising creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to build businesses, invest in their communities, and create lasting value," said Galleher. "Having worked in the industry as a franchisor, franchisee and advisor, I've seen firsthand what makes the franchise model work and how important it is to support the people behind these businesses. I'm honored to join the IFA Board and look forward to contributing to the association's continued work on behalf of the franchise community."

Galleher's experience as a franchise operator began with a minority investment in sweetFrog Franchising in 2012, when he also became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure through September 2018, sweetFrog expanded from 15 locations to 384 across 41 states, earning recognition on the Inc. 500 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. Following the brand's sale to Kahala Brands, Galleher remained involved as a franchisee and continues to own and operate 10 sweetFrog locations.

At Boxwood Partners, Galleher leads the firm's sell-side M&A advisory practice, having led more than 70 sell-side engagements throughout his career, primarily involving businesses with enterprise values between $50 million and $500 million. Recent franchise transactions include Tint World's majority sale to Susquehanna Growth Equity in October 2025 and United Franchise Group's sale of Vast Coworking Group to New State Capital Partners. Boxwood Partners was also named to the 2026 Axial Advisor 100.

"Patrick brings invaluable experience to the IFA Board of Directors with a firsthand understanding of how franchising helps build thriving brands and supports local business ownership and jobs across the country and around the world," said Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO. "I am grateful for his commitment to IFA's mission to strengthen the franchise model at a time when the organization continues to grow and evolve."

Galleher has been an IFA member since 2012 and has participated in the association's Franchisor Forum, annual conventions and board meetings. He has also spoken at the IFA Annual Convention on strategies for scaling and growing a business and regularly contributes insights on franchise M&A and valuation to industry publications and podcasts.

The IFA is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. According to IFA data, franchising encompasses more than 832,000 businesses in the United States, supporting nearly 9 million jobs and generating more than $900 billion in economic output.

To learn more about Galleher and Boxwood Partners, please visit www.boxwoodpartners.com.

About Boxwood Partners

Boxwood Partners, LLC is a boutique investment bank based in Jupiter, Florida with offices in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Boxwood Partners combines a unique blend of senior-level transaction advisory, business operating experience, and proven process execution skills to give its clients a distinct advantage in the market. The firm's extensive relationships within the global capital and buyer communities (including U.S. and international private equity groups, corporations, and lenders) and other important transaction-related service providers such as consultants, attorneys, and accountants, ensure that the firm's clients receive the attention, service, and results they deserve. For more information about Boxwood Partners, please visit www.boxwoodpartners.com.

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 more than 832,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $907.3 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.

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SOURCE Boxwood Partners LLC