Boxwood Partners, a leading M&A advisory firm in the franchising space, will be front and center at the 2025 Springboard Conference, taking place from October 15th to 17th in Philadelphia. Managing Partner J. Patrick Galleher and Managing Director Brian Alas will each appear on high-profile panels aimed at helping franchisors and executives navigate an evolving M&A market.
Galleher and Alas bring decades of experience guiding franchise systems through successful transactions. With Boxwood having advised on more than 50 franchise deals over the past five years, their insights are expected to deliver high-value guidance to growth-minded founders.
A Hard-Hitting Look at Deal Reality
On Wednesday, October 15th, Brian Alas will speak during a breakout session titled “Everyone Has a Plan ‘Til They Get Punched in the Purchase Agreement — The Hard-Hitting Truth of Selling Your Franchise System.” This panel will offer attendees a candid look into the due diligence process; how buyers assess risk; and how seemingly minor issues can affect valuation, structure, and deal success.
“Selling a franchise system can be one of the most rewarding and most challenging moments for a founder,” said Alas. “I’m excited to join my fellow panelists focusing on the realities of that process, including what buyers are really looking for and how franchisors can prepare today to protect their valuation tomorrow.”
Private Equity in Focus
Galleher will join a panel of leading private equity and advisory executives for “A Private Equity Update: A Championship Lunch” on Thursday, October 16th, from 12:30–1:30 p.m. ET. This panel will spotlight the rebound in franchise deal activity during 2025 and offer insights on valuations, growth strategies, and capital deployment in today’s shifting economy.
“Springboard is one of the most important gatherings in the franchising community, and I’m honored to share the stage with such a distinguished group of leaders,” said Galleher. “The M&A market is shifting quickly, and our goal is to provide founders and franchise executives with actionable insights they can apply to strengthen their brands and position for long-term success.”
What Is the Springboard Conference?
The Springboard Conference, founded by Fisher Zucker LLC and Fishman PR, has become a must-attend gathering for emerging and mid-sized franchisors, private equity firms, legal experts, and operational leaders. Designed to bridge the gap between scaling ambitions and capital strategy, Springboard offers high‑density, fast‑paced sessions that foster candid conversations around growth, M&A, valuations, and brand acceleration.
For 2025, the event runs October 15th‑17th at Philadelphia’s Loews Hotel. The schedule features a robust blend of legal deep dives, educational tracks, roundtable exchanges, and keynote presentations. Franchise Springboard Evenings are enlivened by social programming: on Wednesday night, attendees have the City Winery Welcome Reception; Friday night’s “Springboard Bash” will culminate with a live performance by the Sugar Hill Gang, lending a celebratory and energetic close to the conference. Franchise Springboard Throughout the three days, programming also includes “boxing match” style debates, interactive sessions, leadership roundtables, and strategy-focused lunch panels.
With this mix of content rigour and engaging social events, Springboard is uniquely positioned to immerse attendees in both high-value insights and relationship-building opportunities across the franchise ecosystem.
Boxwood Partners: A Trusted Franchise M&A Advisor
Boxwood Partners has become one of the most active M&A advisory firms in the franchising sector, especially in verticals such as home services, wellness, and senior care. The firm specializes in representing founders through both buy-side and sell-side transactions, helping brands unlock enterprise value while preserving the core identity that made them successful.
To learn more, visit www.boxwoodpartners.com.
