Leadership

National Restaurant Association names new officers

Galatoire’s longtime chief Melvin Rodrigue will assume the chairmanship, while Louisiana Restaurant Association chief Stan Harris will take the top spot at the Association's Educational Foundation.

Galatoire’s Restaurants CEO Melvin Rodrigue has been named the next chairman of the National Restaurant Association, and fellow Louisianan Stan Harris, CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, has been selected as incoming chairman of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.  

The volunteers chosen as vice chairmen for the Association and the Educational Foundation, respectively, are Brian Casey, owner-operator of Oak Hill Tavern and Company Picnic Co. in Kingston, R.I., and Susan Adzick, EVP and COO of McLane Foodservice. Under the trade association’s usual succession process, Casey and Adzick would move up to chairmen’s spots next year.

Lance Trenary, CEO Of Golden Corral Corp., was named treasurer of the National Restaurant Association. The appointment puts Trenary in line to ultimately become chairman. 

Rodrigue succeeds Joe Essa, who started his one-year tenture as CEO of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide and shifted to president of The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group in June. 

The Association and its educational affiliate choose members of its board to serve one-year terms as chairman, vice chairman and treasurer.

The groups share a CEO. The prior holder of that dual responsibility, Dawn Sweeney, retired at the start of the year. Her permanent successor has yet to be named.  

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Investors regain their taste for Sweetgreen

The Bottom Line: The salad chain’s stock rose 34% on Friday after sales and profitability were better than expected. The company’s shares are above its IPO price for the first time in two years.

Financing

Here's a business tool to keep restaurant executives employed after a tough Q1

Reality Check: The first 3 months of 2024 weren’t easy on restaurant chains, but spin-doctoring proved to be. Indeed, there must have been a run on shovels.

Food

The Taiwanese wheel cake may just become the next cronut

Behind the Menu: Money Cake opens in New York, tempting pastry fans with the waffle-cream puff hybrid.

Trending

More from our partners