The National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation announced the election of officers to its Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, respectively. Jeff Davis, chairman of the largest Arby’s franchise group, will serve as Chair of the NRA board, and Greg Hamer, owner of a Taco Bell franchise group, will serve as Chair of the NRAEF board.
“This is an important time for the restaurant industry, and the proven leadership of our newly-elected Board of Directors will be critical to ensuring that restaurants continue to be a place of opportunity for millions of Americans,” says Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “This year, our boards will benefit from the vast experience brought by Chairs Jeff Davis and Greg Hamer to their roles. Their insight, especially when it comes to the unique challenges facing franchisees and restaurant owners across the country, will be valuable as our industry looks to the future.”
The NRA board consists of roughly 72 voting directors, representing every facet of the restaurant and foodservice industry across the nation. These leaders provide strategic guidance to the NRA in its efforts to advance and protect the restaurant and foodservice industry. The officers, who serve one-year terms, led their first board meeting this week in Santa Barbara, Calif.
National Restaurant Association’s 2017 Board Officers
Chair: Jeff Davis is chairman of United States Beef Corporation (U.S. Beef), headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. U.S. Beef is the largest franchisee of Atlanta based Arby’s Restaurant Group, now operating more than 340 Arby’s restaurants in eight states. U.S. Beef also owns six Taco Bueno restaurants in northwest Arkansas.
Vice Chair: Jay Stieber is executive vice president and general counsel of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc., headquartered in Chicago. The company operates more than 40 different concepts in over 100 locations. Stieber is a past chair of the Illinois Restaurant Association and continues to serve on its executive committee. He also serves on the board of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the board of the chamber’s PAC.
Treasurer: Joe Essa is President and CEO of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide where he leads the company’s initiatives to grow its casual restaurant and consumer products businesses. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Operations at TOSCORP, a Manhattan-based fine dining Italian restaurant group. Essa also founded restaurants in North Carolina and Connecticut. Essa graduated from Boston College with a bachelor of science in accounting and finance, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
In addition, the NRA has added new members to its board. The newly elected directors are:
Horace Dawson, Executive Vice President, External Relations & General Counsel, Red Lobster
Jeff Geller, Executive Vice President, Palo Alto Inc.
Perry Miele, President, Nestlé Professional North America
Larry Oberkfell, President & CEO, International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA)
Richard Schneider, COO, Delaware North Sportservice
Beth Scott, Vice President, Food & Beverage Experience Planning & Integration, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Rick Silva, President & CEO, Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, Inc.
Lance Trenary, President & CEO, Golden Corral Corporation
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s 2017 Board Officers
Chair: Greg Hamer Sr., FMP, owner of B&G Food Enterprises Inc., operates 94 Taco Bell, Taco Bell/KFC, and Taco Bell/Long John Silver franchise restaurants in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The business employs a workforce of more than 2,400. Hamer is a member of the Knights of Columbus and Legatus International and a board member for the Mardi Gras Krewe of Hepheastus. He also serves on the Taco Bell Foundation Board and is chair of the Community Foundation of Acadiana’s St. Mary Affiliate.
Vice Chair: Sam Facchini is co-founder/ co-owner of Las Vegas’ eight-unit Metro Pizza chain. He is dedicated to the education, growth and success of future restaurateurs and has worked for years on local high-school scholarships and University of Las Vegas hospitality scholarship programs. Facchini also serves on the board of the Nevada Restaurant Association.
Treasurer: Geoff Hill is Principal of Roark Capital Group, which owns 19 restaurant brands covering 16,000 locations worldwide. He is responsible for leading sourcing activity for franchise and multi-unit acquisitions as well as Portfolio Management for several of Roark Capital Group’s investments. Previously, Hill was the president of Cinnabon, a Roark-owned company. He started his hospitality career at Bristol Hotel Company and attended the Hotel and Restaurant School at Cornell University.
In addition, the NRAEF has added new members to its board. The newly elected trustees are:
Doug Allison, Industry Relations, PepsiCo Foodservice
Shaun Beard, Senior Vice President, SAVOR/Premier
Jessica Dunker, President/CEO, Iowa Restaurant Association
John Eastman, Co-Chair of Auto-Chlor Services LLC
Marilou Halvorsen, President & CEO, New Jersey Restaurant Association and Hospitality Association
