On March 20, Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc., testified on behalf of the International Franchise Association (IFA) before the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions at a congressional hearing titled, “Expanding Affordable Health Care Options: Examining the Department of Labor’s Proposed Rule on Association Health Plans.”
For nearly 20 years, Monson has been advocating for Association Health Plans to make it easier and more affordable for local business owners and franchisees to provide quality, affordable health insurance coverage to their employees. Today, there are more than 733,000 franchised establishments employing 7.6 million workers in the United States. Monson states that the structure of the franchise model makes it uniquely suited to implement and manage quality Association Health Plans.
"With more than 30 years in franchising, I’ve seen first-hand how small businesses and franchisees are challenged in offering competitive health benefits,” Monson said. “If the same principles are used that have allowed franchising to provide economic opportunity to millions of Americans, we can also provide greater opportunities for quality, affordable health insurance coverage and health care through Association Health Plans."
Catherine Monson poses with Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), chairman of the Subcommittee hearing on “Expanding Affordable Health Care Options: Examining the Department of Labor’s Proposed Rule on Association Health Plans.”
More information about the hearing is available here: http://bit.ly/2FF6Ybg
A recorded video of the hearing is available here: https://youtu.be/TWcuzwm2kYQ.
About Catherine Monson
Catherine Monson is the CEO and President of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. She joined FASTSIGNS® in 2008 and has more than 30 years of franchising and management experience in sales and marketing, operations, development, training and advocacy. Monson is a past recipient of the International Franchise Association’s prestigious Bonny LeVine Award. She has been recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the top 25 Women Industry Leaders and an Innovator and an Influencer by Sign and Digital Graphics magazine. In 2012, Catherine appeared on the two-time Emmy Award-nominated reality series, Undercover Boss, to learn new ways to further advance the FASTSIGNS brand. In 2015, she received the inaugural Franchise Action Network FAN of the Year award for her advocacy work in the franchising community. In 2016, she was selected as a Soderstrom Society Inductee for her contributions to the printing and graphic communications industry and was also honored with the 2016 Leadership Award from the Women That Soar organization. In 2017, she received the Distinguished Women Award presented by Northwood University and also selected as the 2018 Ambassador of Free Enterprise by Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI), joining the Sales & Marketing Hall of Fame in the SMEI Academy of Achievement. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the IFA and acts as Secretary. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for two franchise companies – The Learning Experience® and Brain Balance – and one other industry association, Idealliance.
About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 675 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS® centers in eight countries including the U.S., Canada, England, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®).
FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive sign and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including décor, events, wearables and marketing materials. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on Twitter @FASTSIGNS, Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS or on LinkedIn. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or call 214.346.5679).