Franchise Executive Honored As Diversity Award Recipient
Steve Romaniello, Managing Director at Roark Capital Group, is this year's recipient of the Ronald E. Harrison Award.

WASHINGTON, DC, February 17, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Steve Romaniello, CFE, managing director of Roark Capital Group and chairman of FOCUS Brands, was named by the International Franchise Association to receive the Ronald E. Harrison Award during the association' s 50th annual convention, conducted in San Antonio.

The Ronald E. Harrison Award recognizes organizations or individuals who have made significant contributions to minorities in franchising. Ronald E. Harrison, CFE, retired PepsiCo senior vice president, IFA past chairman and former chairman of the IFA Diversity Institute board of directors, was the first recipient of this award, which was named in his honor.

Romaniello helps lead the franchise practice for Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private-equity firm specializing in the franchise sector. Roark has acquired 15 franchise/multi-unit brands that collectively have more than 45,000 points of distribution, 2,600 franchisees, and $3.7 billion in system-wide revenues across 50 states and 36 countries.

In addition to his role at Roark, Romaniello serves as chairman of FOCUS Brands, the franchisor and operator of nearly 2,200 ice cream stores, bakeries, restaurants and cafes in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 32 foreign countries. The brands operate under the names Carvel, Cinnabon, Schlotzsky's, Moe's Southwest Grill and the franchisor of Seattle's Best Coffee on military bases and in certain international markets. Romaniello is a member of the board of directors of franchisors Fast Signs, McAlister's Corp. and Money Mailer. He is a member of IFA's Diversity Institute, the IFA board of directors and the Atlanta Franchise Alliance.

A native of Stamford, Conn. and a Tufts University graduate, Romaniello resides in Atlanta with his two sons.

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