Patrick Galleher, Chairman and Managing Partner of Boxwood Partners, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association (IFA), where he will begin a three-year term at the IFA's 2027 Annual Convention in February.
Galleher's credentials span all three sides of the franchise equation — franchisor, franchisee, and M&A advisor — a rare combination that gives him direct insight into how franchise systems scale, transact, and sustain value. His election comes as the IFA continues to grow its policy and advocacy footprint on behalf of an industry the association says supports nearly 9 million jobs and generates more than $900 billion in U.S. economic output.
From Operator to Advisor
Galleher's hands-on franchise career began with a minority investment in sweetFrog Franchising in 2012, when he simultaneously took on the roles of Chairman and CEO. During his tenure through September 2018, the frozen yogurt brand expanded from 15 locations to 384 across 41 states, landing on the Inc. 500 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. Following sweetFrog's sale to Kahala Brands, Galleher retained a direct stake in the business and continues to own and operate 10 sweetFrog locations — keeping him grounded in the day-to-day realities of franchise operations.
On the advisory side, Galleher leads Boxwood Partners' sell-side M&A practice, having completed more than 70 sell-side engagements over his career. The firm focuses primarily on businesses with enterprise values between $50 million and $500 million. Since 2011, Boxwood Partners has closed more than 50 franchisor sell-side transactions. Recent deals include Tint World's majority sale to Susquehanna Growth Equity in October 2025 and United Franchise Group's divestiture of Vast Coworking Group to New State Capital Partners. The firm was also named to the 2026 Axial Advisor 100.
What It Means for the Industry
For operators and franchise executives tracking the M&A landscape, Galleher's board seat signals continued alignment between the IFA's advocacy mission and the transactional realities shaping today's franchise market. Private equity has become a dominant force in foodservice and hospitality franchising, and advisors who understand both the operational and capital-markets dimensions of franchise systems are increasingly influential in shaping industry standards and policy.
"Franchising creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to build businesses, invest in their communities, and create lasting value," Galleher said. "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."
Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO, noted that Galleher's multi-role experience gives him a practical understanding of how franchising supports local business ownership and job creation domestically and globally.
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 scaling strategies and contributes regularly to industry publications and podcasts on franchise M&A and valuation topics — areas of growing relevance to operators navigating restaurant and hospitality franchise transactions and the broader foodservice investment environment.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
