The Texas Restaurant Association recently unveiled multiple new additions to its team of leading executives.
"With more than 50,000 entities representing 1.3 million people and sales of more than $70 billion prior to the pandemic, this is a critical time for our industry as we continue to navigate the disruption created by COVID-19,” Dr. Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, said. “We must tackle the challenges before us while positioning the industry to recover and rebuild.”
The organization welcomes owner of El Paso’s L&J Café Leo Duran, who will serve as Chairman of the Board of the Texas Restaurant Association. Duran will work alongside Vice Chair Jonathan Horowitz, who is the founder of Convive Hospitality Consulting in Houston, Treasurer Skeeter Miller, Owner/President, Countyline BBQ and Immediate Past Chair Gary Johnson, Director of Operations, Frontier Enterprises/Jim's Restaurants in San Antonio.
Each of the newly appointed directors will serve a two-year term beginning in January 2022, with the opportunity to add a second, two-year term, a related press release reports. In total, the board consists of 65 voting directors, each of which represent a position of the 23 TRA chapters, which includes all independent businesses, as well as the top 100 chain franchises and key industry vendors.
The group of leaders will prioritize their efforts to promote diversity and protect, advance, educate and ultimately strengthen the food service industry in Texas, the release notes.
“Our officers and directors, who represent every region of the state and every part of our evolving industry, will bring their unique expertise to guide the association through the days ahead. Adding these powerful and diverse voices will ensure we have the strength to advocate for our members and to build on the association's record of success."