Every coach and leader knows you win with great people. That’s why we’re re-organizing our team to address the evolution of the restaurant industry, and improve our products and services for members. It’s why we’re building our board of directors with an array of talent.
Over the past year, the ORA added top-notch directors, and we’ve frequently shared updates with you about them. See your current board here.
These directors bring an array of restaurant and foodservice industry backgrounds, diversity and management expertise to the ORA, plus impressive skills in management, foodservice operations, culinary, franchising, catering, equipment, distribution, finance, technology, government affairs, communications and much more.
They promote our industry. They help each other and provide mentorship. They teach and encourage young people to enter the foodservice business. And, they each serve on several committees – Executive, Nominating, Technology, ProStart, Government Affairs, Mid-America Restaurant Expo and Human Resources – to continually advance the ORA through commitment, drive and innovation.
Just last week at our Board of Directors meeting on Dec. 6, several industry stars joined our team and were voted in for three-year terms. They are outstanding people with first-rate talent, and we’re excited to share them with you here:
Evan Andrews of the Montgomery Inn
John Lanni of the Thunderdome Restaurant Group
Ryan Rose of Romeo’s Pizza
Heidi Schauer of the Wendy’s Company
Wayne Schick of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
Also at the meeting, we accepted the resignation of David Frissora, who is leaving Wendy’s to join the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. David is a superb person who brought tremendous skill and well-developed relationships in the political arena to the ORA. Once he gets settled into his new role, we’ll continue to connect with him as we protect and promote the hospitality industry.
Perhaps the most memorable moment from our board meeting was when we honored long-term director Nick Kostis with an emeritus role. Nick is an ORA Lifetime Achievement winner, and one of the stalwarts of Northeast Ohio’s surging restaurant scene. Many of you know he resurrected the 4th Street restaurant area in Cleveland with his iconic Pickwick & Frolic entertainment center and restaurant.
Nick champions our industry and represents all of us with passion, humor and humility. We’re so proud to continue our friendship with Nick as an emeritus member of the ORA board.
