National Restaurant Association Names 2026 Board Leadership with Focus on Industry Growth
Event summary
- Mike Axiotis, CEO of Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands, named chair of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors.
- Carrie Leishman, CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, appointed chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees.
- Newly elected directors include representatives from Ford's Garage, El Arroyo, and Chick-fil-A, among others.
- Board members bring diverse industry experience, including fine dining, boutique hotels, and large-scale restaurant operations.
- Each officer serves a one-year term, with a focus on advancing the restaurant industry as an economic leader.
The big picture
The National Restaurant Association's 2026 board appointments reflect a strategic emphasis on leveraging diverse industry experience to drive growth and advocacy. With over 1 million restaurant outlets and 15.7 million employees, the Association's leadership changes come at a critical time for an industry navigating economic pressures and workforce challenges. The new board members bring expertise in fine dining, boutique hospitality, and large-scale operations, positioning the Association to address both immediate and long-term industry needs.
What we're watching
- Industry Advocacy
- How the new leadership will prioritize advocacy for the restaurant industry in the face of economic challenges.
- Workforce Development
- Whether the Foundation's initiatives will effectively address the ongoing labor shortages in the restaurant sector.
- Strategic Diversification
- The pace at which the Association will promote diversification strategies among its members to enhance resilience.