The National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation today announced their 2026 board officers, directors, and trustees. Mike Axiotis, CEO and president of Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands, will serve as chair of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors, and Carrie Leishman, president and CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, will serve as chair of the NRAEF Board of Trustees.
In addition, Jeanne Cretella, co-founder and president of by Landmark, and Theodore “Teddy” Balestreri, executive vice president of hospitality operations and community relations for Cannery Row Company, will serve as the association’s vice chair and treasurer, respectively.
Other NRAEF officers include Susannah Ryan, head of sales, national restaurants for PepsiCo Foodservice and Greg Cocchiarella, vice president of industry relations for Ecolab Inc., who will serve as vice chair and treasurer, respectively.
Newly elected association directors include:
- William Downs, Ford's Garage
- Ellis Winstanley, El Arroyo
- Erin Vranas, Parthenon Gyros
- Harshraj Ghai, Ghai Management Services
- Hugues Labrecque, Golden State Foods
- Jennifer Ray, The Monarch
- Joshua Secrest, Paradox
- Kajal Patel, The Hena Group
- Kelly Lefferts, Bloomin' Brands
- Kevin King, Donatos Pizzeria, LLC
- Marquis Heilig, Lazy Dog Restaurants
- Jane Tidwell, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
- Richard Frank, Lawry's Restaurants, Inc.
- Ronald DiNella, Swensons Drive In Restaurants
- Sharlene Smith, Zaxby's
- Susan Nelson, Dine Brands
New trustees for the NRAEF include:
- Angela Melton-Fray, Dat Jerk Caribbean Chargrill
- Carlos Bernal, Areas USA, Inc.
- Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., Texas Restaurant Association
- Jason Wallace, Hospitality Concepts, LLC
- John Horne, Oysters Rock Hospitality
- Melvin Rodrigue, Galatoire’s Restaurants
- Sara Quinteros, Cowbell Seafood & Oyster
- Scott Redler, Redler Hospitality, LLC
