Greater Midwest KFC Franchise Association

President, Chris King

Welcome to the Greater Midwest KFC Franchisee Association website. Our association is founded on the heritage of the Colonel, and the culture of franchisees helping each other to develop and grow.

Our association provides a wonderful forum, whether it is developing and recognizing our restaurant leaders at our Spring RGM meetings, or the learning, fellowship, sharing and fun at our fall franchisee business meetings. We are committed to bringing independent thinking, learning opportunities and the wisdom of the entire franchisee system to our members, as well as providing a forum for discussions with our vendors and corporate partners.

As we all work hard to provide our customers with the standards of food quality, service and cleanliness that the Colonel was famous for, we are thankful for the legacy he left us, which has led to our success.

Chris King, President

Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees

The Greater Midwest Region is one of six domestic regions that make up the Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees, Inc. (AKFCF). The AKFCF was formed in 1974 and has a colorful history.

When Colonel Sanders sold Kentucky Fried Chicken, he feared his franchisees would lose control of their own businesses and the future that they were working toward and in which they had invested. So he encouraged them to unite to protect the franchisees that he considered part of his own “family” and to give the franchisees a voice in the future development of a concept which would prove to be far greater than was envisioned at the time. This brought about several small meetings with early franchisees and in 1965 the Southeastern Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisee Association was formed and formally organized in Atlanta, Georgia. Ten years later, the AKFCF (our national association) was incorporated in the same city.

The AKFCF is unique with the “family” spirit of its membership and firmly rooted in the values of Colonel Sanders. Its purpose is clearly stated with its Mission Statement, adopted September 12, 1993, in Washington, DC: “The Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees, Inc. is united to protect, promote and advance the mutual interests of all member franchisees and the Kentucky Fried Chicken system”.  This mission statement was updated effective May, 2000, to reflect a worldwide focus.

The AKFCF remains focused on protecting and promoting its members’ investments in a healthy KFC organization.

Events

2026 Franchise Forum, Intercontinental Buckhead, GA, October 25^th – 28^th

AKFCF Convention, January 31- February 3, 2027. Gaylord Pacific San Diego, CA.

Greater Midwest Spring RGM meeting – April 19-21, 2027 at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, OH.

Super Regional – October 3^rd through 6^th, 2027 at the Gila River Resort and Casino in Chandler, AZ (Phoenix)

leadership directory

Greater Midwest KFC Franchisee Association

Executive Committee

Chris King, President
Vijay Patel, Immediate Past President
Heather Bowling, 1st Vice President
Nanette Walker, Chief Reminder Officer
Kevin Schlutz, Secretary & AKFCF Secretary
Noah Hommerding, Treasurer

AKFCF Past Presidents

From the Greater Midwest Region

Justin Stewart

Jim McKenzie

Joe Hall

Keith Chambers

Jack Richards

Fred Bauer

Joan Bowling

Bryan Robinson

Dale Black

Chuck Weaver

Kevin Schlutz

Bill Allen

Bob Schlutz

Don Nicholson

Joe Zimmerman

Board of Directors

Vijay Patel, Immediate Past President
Chris King, President
Heather Bowling, 1st Vice President
Noah Hommerding, Treasurer, Past President, NPC
Kevin Schlutz, Secretary
Nanette Walker, Chief Reminder Officer
Bryan Robinson, NCAC
Mike Kulp, NCAC
Jim McKenzie, NCAC
Joan Bowling, NCAC
Bryan Robinson, NPC
Ron Coulter, Director
Aaron Humphreys, Director
Justin Stewart, PP
Tony Lambos, GAC
Michelle Hunt, AKFCF Admin/Assistant Secretary

Contact us

Greater Midwest KFC Franchisee Association