Celebree School CEO Creating Connections to Foster Momentum for the American Franchise Act

Richard Huffman speaks on IFA Advocacy Summit panel to discuss winning bipartisan support

BALTIMORE, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebree School Founder, President, and CEO, Richard Huffman joined U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski and an owner of a local Chick-fil-A, on a featured panel at the 2026 International Franchise Association (IFA) Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Haider Murtaza, IFA's Senior Director of Federal Government Relations, the panel explored how personal relationships are what ultimately move legislation like the American Franchise Act across the finish line.

The Summit drew a record-setting crowd of more than 500 franchise executives, owners, and Franchisees of the Year to the nation's capital. Attendees spent the week making the case directly to lawmakers for passage of the American Franchise Act, bipartisan legislation designed to establish a single, permanent federal joint-employer standard for the franchise industry after a decade of shifting rules.

A Panel Built on Common Ground
Huffman focused less on the legislative text and more on the relationship-building that gets a bill like the AFA taken seriously on Capitol Hill.

"You don't win a lawmaker over with a fact sheet. How you make progress is by showing up, listening, and finding the goal you already share," said Huffman.

That shared goal is protecting franchise small businesses and the jobs they support. This is a mission that resonates on both sides of the aisle regardless of political affiliation. Huffman pointed to his own experience building Celebree from a single Ellicott City preschool in 1994 into a multi-state early childhood education franchise as proof that the franchise model is, at its core, a small business and workforce story that elected officials of any party can rally around.

Momentum for the American Franchise Act 
The bill has advanced through the House Education and Workforce Committee with broad bipartisan support and companion Senate legislation. Momentum grew further during the Summit when a Whit House official announced the Trump Administration's full support for the Act, a moment IFA leadership called a powerful signal that the industry's push for certainty is within reach.

Relationships Over Rhetoric
For Huffman, the Summit reinforced a philosophy he's carried since founding Celebree that advocacy is a long game built on trust, not a single ask. He encouraged fellow franchise leaders in the room to treat every meeting with a member of Congress as the start of an ongoing relationship rather than a transaction.

"Lawmakers remember the people who come back, who follow up, who are honest about what's working and what isn't," added Huffman. "That's how you build the kind of trust that turns into a vote."

Huffman's appearance also builds on his growing record of public service and advocacy. He was recently appointed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to a five-year term on the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Celebree has also been recognized by the IFA for its commitment to responsible franchising, most notably as the inaugural recipient of the organization's Emerging Franchisor Award.

Looking Ahead
With the American Franchise Act now awaiting a full House floor vote, Huffman and other franchise leaders left Washington with a clear next step to keep the relationships they built at the Summit alive. As Huffman told fellow attendees, the work of advocacy doesn't end when the Summit does. It continues every time a franchise owner picks up the phone, sends a follow-up note, or invites a member of Congress to visit their business back home.

For more information about Celebree School franchise opportunities, please visit https://franchise.celebree.com/.

About Celebree School
Founded in 1994, Celebree School is a leader in early childhood education that provides infant and toddler care, preschool, and summer camp programs. With a mission to Grow People Big and Small™, Celebree School believes success in early childhood development is equal parts curriculum and connection. Each school employs a customized program that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of children and follows applicable state guidelines. In 2019, Celebree School launched its franchise offering. In 2024, Celebree School's founder, Richard Huffman, launched a new parent company called Huffman Family Brands, merging Celebree affiliated concepts under one multi-brand company structure. Learn more about how we grow confident children who are prepared for school and life at Celebree.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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