GET TO KNOW THE 2023 NCRLA BOARD

NCRLA members gathered on Jan. 30 at the NCRLA headquarters in Raleigh for our annual member and board of director’s meeting. Approximately 50 people attended the annual meeting in person, where Greensboro restaurateur Burney Jennings was elected to serve as chair for a one-year term.

Jennings was sworn in by the board of directors along with a new slate of officers, including Tom Pashley from Pinehurst Resort as Vice Chair; Jason Smith from 18 Restaurant Group as Treasurer; Sheri Erhart from CMC Hotels as Secretary;

Jim Beley from The Umstead Hotel and Spa as the Travel & Tourism Board Liaison; and Lance Trenary from the Golden Corral Corporation as the National Restaurant Association Liaison. Outgoing board chair Amber Moshakos from LM Restaurants will continue to serve on the executive committee as immediate past chair.

In addition to the executive committee, the board also welcomed three new members: Kelly Harrill from the Koury Hospitality Group, Cheetie Kumar, formerly of Garland, and Jim Gratton from the Charlotte Marriott SouthPark.

2023 Ncrla Board

Executive Committee

Burney Jennings, Chair, Biscuitville Fresh Southern

Tom Pashley, Vice Chair, Pinehurst Resort

Jason Smith, Treasurer, 18 Restaurant Group

Sheri Erhart, Secretary, CMC Hotels

Jim Beley, Travel & Tourism Board Liaison, The Umstead Hotel & Spa

Lance Trenary, NRA Liaison, Golden Corral Corporation

Amber Moshakos, Immediate Past Chair, LM Restaurants

Lynn Minges, NCRLA President & CEO

Frank Gray, General Counsel

Members

Patrick Aiello, Ecolab

Andy Clark, US Foods

Phil Friedman, Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina

Tim Goss, Firehouse Subs

Jim Gratton, Charlotte Marriott SouthPark

Kelly Harrill, Koury Hospitality Group

Doris Huebner, F & D Huebner, LLC

Russ Jones, Davidson & Jones

Cheetie Kumar, Restaurant Owner and Chef

Scott Maitland, Top of the Hill Restaurant, Brewery & Distillery

Nishith “Nish” Patel, Beacon IMG, Inc.

Pinkesh Patel, AAHOA Liaison

Shaunak Patel, Parks Hospitality Group

Vinay Patel, SREE Hotels, LLC

Gonza Salamanca, Gonza Tacos Y Tequila

Ian Sauer, Summit Hospitality Group, LTD

Billy Sewell, Platinum Corral, LLC

Doug Stafford, Griffin Stafford Hospitality, LLC

Steve Thanhauser, Angus Barn Ltd.

2023 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CO-CHAIRS DRAFT

Vinay Patel, SREE Hotels, LLC

Jason Smith, 18 Restaurant Group

MEET BURNEY JENNINGS, CHAIR

Burney Jennings has served on the NCRLA Board since 2017. He has also led his family-owned business Biscuitville FRESH SOUTHERN for more than two decades.

Jennings is a second-generation leader of his family’s business, founded by his father Maurice more than 50 years ago. He started working in the family restaurants as a teen. During his tenure as CEO and now Executive Chair at Biscuitville FRESH SOUTHERN, Jennings oversaw the transition of the company’s branding to “Fresh Southern,” which highlights the business’s locally produced ingredients.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Elon University and has served on the university’s Board of Trustees since 2000 Jennings received Elon’s Young Alumnus of the Year Award in 1997 and in 2016 was recognized as one of the Triad’s Most Admired CEOs by Triad Business Journal