NRA, NRAEF Elect New Officers And Board Members

The National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation have unveiled the roster of new officers elected to one-year terms on their board of directors and board of trustees, respectively. Additionally, several industry leaders have joined the two separate boards.

The NRA board has about 100 voting directors, representing every segment of the industry and state in the nation. The 2015 officers are:

Chair: Jack Crawford, president/CEO-Ground Round Independent Owners Cooperative, Freeport, Maine

Vice Chair: Joseph Kadow, executive v.p./chief legal officer-Bloomin’ Brands Inc., Tampa, Fla.

Treasurer: Jeff Davis, chairman-United States Beef Corp., Tulsa, Okla.

The NRA also has elected Susan Senecal, chief marketing officer-A&W Food Services of Canada, North Vancouver, British Columbia, as its new international ambassador.

The NRAEF is the NRA’s philanthropic foundation that works to enhance the industry’s service to the public through education, promotion of career opportunities and community engagement. Its 2015 officers are:

Chair: Michael A. Hickey, executive v.p./president-Global Institutional, Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, Minn.

Vice Chair: Lorna Donatone, president/COO-Sodexo Education, Gaithersburg, Md.

Treasurer: Greg Hamer Sr., FMP, managing member-B & G Food Enterprises LLC, Morgan City, La.

Additionally, the NRA has added seven new members to its board:

• Vic Allred, owner-Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, Lubbock, Texas 
• Karen Bremer, executive director-Georgia Restaurant Association, Atlanta
• Miguel Fernandez, president/COO-Groupe LeDuff, Latin America div., Dallas
• Melvin Rodrigue, president/CEO-Galatoire’s Restaurants, New Orleans
• Chris Savvides, owner-Black Angus Restaurant, Virginia Beach, Va.
• Mary Schell, senior v.p.-external & government relations-The Wendy’s Co., Dublin, Ohio
• Kent Walrack, president/COO-Lyons Magnus, Fresno, Calif.

The three newly elected NRAEF trustees are:

• Bob Ashby, president/owner-Ashby Hospitality Group, Newark, Del.
• Stephanie Chadwick, v.p./g.m.-American Express, New York, N.Y.
• Emily Williams Knight, president-Kendall College, Chicago.