National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Names 2026 Officers and Trustees

The National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation 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 for 2026. Jeanne Cretella, co-founder and president of by Landmark, will serve as vice chair, and Theodore "Teddy" Balestreri, executive vice president of Hospitality Operations and Community Relations for Cannery Row Company, will serve as treasurer.

The 2026 board also includes newly elected directors: 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), and Susan Nelson (Dine Brands).

For the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Carrie Leishman, president and CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, will serve as chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees for 2026. Susannah Ryan, head of sales, National Restaurants for PepsiCo Foodservice, will serve as vice chair, and Greg Cocchiarella, vice president of Industry Relations for Ecolab Inc., will serve as treasurer.

New Foundation trustees 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), and Scott Redler (Redler Hospitality, LLC).

Each officer will serve a one-year term. The appointments are effective for the 2026 term as announced by the organizations. The boards are responsible for governance and oversight of the Association and Foundation, which represent and support the restaurant and foodservice industry in the United States.