The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MF&HA) has named Erika Carr, a seasoned hand at helping nonprofit groups and corporate employers promote diversity and opportunity, as its new chief.
She fills the vacancy that was left by the retirement last year of MF&HA founder and longtime leader Gerry Fernandez.
Carr, a self-described “change leader,” was most recently working as a business consultant to small and medium-sized organizations seeking to improve their operations. She describes her duties as CEO of Cospy Concepts as analyzing a client’s strengths and opportunities and then crafting programs that build off the assessment. Cospy is Carr’s maiden name, and she often goes by Erika Cospy Carr.
Earlier, she served as chief impact and growth officer for the National Association of Black Accountants. During her 16 months there, she reversed a decline in membership into a 280% increase, with attendance of the group’s national convention rising nine-fold.
She holds a bachelor of arts degree in business administration, management and operations from Bennett College, and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.
“An innovative and passionate communicator, Erika is uniquely positioned to lead MFHA’s work to drive opportunity and change across the restaurant and hospitality industry,” Rob Gifford, president of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), said in announcing Carr’s selection. “She shares our belief that diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our industry and is dedicated to driving value and growth through new products, services, and strategies in the years to come.”
The MF&HA is part of the NRAEF, which in turn is under the umbrella of the National Restaurant Association.
The group Carr heads is a leader in the industry’s efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the leadership ranks of restaurants, hotels and their suppliers. It provides such informational tools as workforce research and best practices for promoting opportunity.
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