Texas Restaurant Association Adds Leading Voices to 2022 Board of Directors
The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) is proud to announce its officers and new directors. With this group of leaders, the TRA will continue to leverage the full strength and diversity of our industry as we work to protect, advance, and educate the restaurant and foodservice industry across Texas.
Leo Duran, Owner, L&J Café (El Paso), will serve as Chairman of the Board of the Texas Restaurant Association, supported by Vice Chair Jonathan Horowitz, Founder, Convive Hospitality Consulting (Houston); Treasurer Skeeter Miller, Owner/President, County Line BBQ (Austin); and Immediate Past Chair Gary Johnson, Director of Operations, Frontier Enterprises/Jim’s Restaurants (San Antonio).
“With more than 50,000 foodservice operations employing more than 1.3 million people and driving sales of more than $70 billion just prior to the pandemic, this is a critical time for our industry as we continue to navigate the disruption created by COVID-19,” said Dr. Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., President & CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. “We must tackle the challenges before us while positioning the industry to recover and rebuild. 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 ensures we have the strength to advocate for our industry and build on the Association’s strong record of success.”
In addition to naming the new officers, the TRA added the following newly elected directors, each of whom will serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2022, with the opportunity to add a second, two-year term:
Blanca Aldaco, Founder & Owner, Aldaco’s Mexican Cuisine
Amanda Case, General Manager, Pelican’s
Alex Eagle, Chief Executive Officer, Freebirds World Burrito
Steve Garcia, Owner, Calico Country
Debbie Glenn, Owner, Red Brick Tavern
Edgar Guevara, President & Chief Executive Officer, MCrowd Restaurant Group
Julie Keith, Owner, Vitek’s Market
Mark McDougal, Chief Executive Officer, McDougal Companies
Vanessa Miller, Director of Special Events, County Line BBQ
James Moore, Managing Partner & Executive Chef, Full Belly Café & Bar
Michael Ramirez, Owner, 10 Sports Bar & Grill
Harlan Scott, Owner, Industry
Holly Scott, Owner & General Manager, Megg’s Café
Tommy Van Wolfe, Vice President of Company Restaurants, Raising Cane’s
Alicia Voltmer, Of Counsel, Greenberg Traurig LLP
The TRA Board of Directors is comprised of 65 voting directors, representing each of the 23 chapters that make up the TRA, as well as the various sectors of the industry the Association represents, including independent single/multi-unit operations, top 100 chain franchisees, top 100 chain companies, and key industry vendors. The Board provides governance and strategic guidance to the Association as it seeks to serve the needs of the Texas foodservice industry.
Along with the Texas Restaurant Foundation, the workforce development arm of the TRA, the Association proudly continues to protect, advance, and educate a growing industry as the TRA enters its 85th anniversary year.
