The inaugural International Franchise Association-Allied Athlete Group Franchise Summit scored major points with the professional athletes and IFA members who attended the session which is anticipated to become an annual event.

The lunchtime panel “Making the Move into Franchising” became the highlight of the day featuring athletes’ peers including George W. Tinsley Sr.—a diversified owner who holds franchises and food-service license agreements including KFC, TGI Friday’s, Quiznos, Sbarros, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Nathan’s Famous, Jose Cuervo, Freshens Ice Cream Bar and California Pizza Kitchen—is known most notably for playing with the New York Nets and is the president of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.   Rosevelt Colvin, who began and ended his career with the New England Patriots and also played for the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans, is a franchisee of The UPS Store.  Carlos Emmons began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants and now owns a Wet Willies; and Nate Wayne, who began his career with the Denver Broncos and played with the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions is a Coldstone Creamery franchisee.

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George Tinsley (1966-69) – Two-time All-American…three-time NCAA Champion…honored with retired jersey number…two-time NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team honoree…1968 U.S. Olympic Trials participant…all-time leading rebounder with 1,115…fourth in career points with 2,014…fifth in starts with 113.

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George Tinsley ’69 and Seretha Tinsley ’71 of Winter Haven, Florida will receive honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees. George Tinsley is Chief Executive Officer of Pengeo, Inc., Tinsley Group, Inc. and Tinsley Family Concessions, and Seretha Tinsley is Chief Financial Officer of the three companies. Their holdings include 65 restaurants with various franchises and are among the fastest growing independent restaurant enterprises in the nation.

Panther legend George Tinsley led the basketball team to their first NCAA Division II National Championship in 1966, and two more titles followed in 1968 and 1969. In 2010, he was the KWC All-Century Basketball Team top vote-getter. He is President of the National Basketball Association Retired Players Board of Directors. A committed civic leader and mentor, one of Tinsley’s passions is speaking to schools and community groups.

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