Source: IFA
Recognized by the International Franchise Association with the Bonny LeVine Award for her leadership and professional accomplishments in franchising, mentorship to other women, and commitment to serving others
The International Franchise Association (IFA) today announced it will award the 2024 Bonny LeVine Award to Dawn Kane, co-founder and CEO of Hot Dish Advertising, a Minnesota-based full-service advertising agency serving the franchise community. The Bonny LeVine Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by IFA, recognizing women for their business and professional accomplishments within franchising and service to others. The Award will be presented at the 65th IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas.
“Dawn’s leadership and commitment to the franchise model are inspiring not only to other women, but to the entire sector,” said IFA President and CEO Matt Haller. “A pioneer in starting her own business, Dawn has helped hundreds of franchise brands achieve their growth goals and consistently strived to create pathways for women and emerging leaders to thrive in franchising, in addition to her dedication to giving back in countless ways as a volunteer leader within IFA on multiple committees.”
Dawn is the co-founder and CEO of Hot Dish Advertising, a full-service strategic marketing and advertising agency serving the franchise community. She and her team have helped over 500 franchise brands drive their growth goals over more than two decades and are consistently rated as a Top Franchise Supplier in Marketing by Entrepreneur Magazine. Dawn is a long-time supporter of the Women’s Franchise Network in the Twin Cities and currently serves as its co-chair. Dawn is an active member of IFA, a past chair of the Supplier Forum Advisory Board, and has served on a number of IFA committees throughout her time in the association.
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the IFA with the Bonny LeVine Award and to join the esteemed group of trailblazing women who have received this distinction before me,” said Kane. “Over the past 25 years, my career has been dedicated to the growth and advancement of the franchise industry—a community that goes beyond business. It is a collective of passionate individuals united in protecting, enhancing, and promoting the power of franchising. Mentorship and volunteering were instilled in me at a young age by my parents, and they are values I hold deeply. These principles have been instrumental in my growth and success, and I am committed to paying them forward within this incredible industry.”
The Bonny LeVine Award recognizes the importance of mentorship in the franchising sector, designed to recognize women leaders who have placed an intentional focus on growing and mentoring future leaders. The honoree is a franchisor, franchisee, or supplier and a proven role model who gives back to the franchising community, builds pathways to opportunity for others, and effectively uses IFA and independent platforms and programs to connect and inspire others.
The Bonny LeVine Award will be given at the 2025 IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Feb. 10-13. Past recipients of the award can be found here.
