The KFC Northeast Franchisee Association was founded in 1977 by Don Hines. Don Hines was at one point a Vice President of KFCC. He was asked once what he was Vice President of and his answer was "everything". He became a franchisee with a KFC in Hartford, Connecticut. Don was a man of vision. Don established a Northeast Regional Association. Don and Bobby Helms were instrumental in establishing associations for the other regions along with developing a national association.

In 1977 Darlene Pfeiffer became involved in the association. The meeting that year was held in Bermuda. There were 4-7 franchisees that participated (mostly golfers). In 1978 the meeting was held at Logan Airport and 1979 at LaGuardia Airport. At the meeting in LaGuardia there were 6 vendors and a few franchisees that participated. This is the meeting that Darlene was elected Vice President.

Darlene and her husband Wally began looking for more exciting locations for the meetings. The next meeting was held at the Concord in the Catskills. This was the first time a meeting was held at a resort. The fall meeting that year was held in Sarasota, Florida.

The meeting in Florida is where the first board of directors was established. It was about 5-6 years after the association’s inception that this board was created.

The meetings took a turn from being just a social event to one that was also intellectual. There was now learning and instruction along with time for social interaction at the meetings.

It was difficult in the early years to get the association organized and to get volunteers to help run it. Paul Kokalis was very instrumental in helping Darlene in her early years with the association.

There have been many volunteers that have given their time and energy to growing the association to where it is today. And to them we take our hats off and say thank you for all you’ve done.

The association has come a long way in a short time. We have grown as an organization and have created a great "family" that continues to grow.

This web was last updated on 09-08-08

E-mail contact kfc.nefa@gmail.com