FEATURED AFFILIATES Wisconsin Restaurant Association As restaurants were struggling to survive in 1931 (during the Great Depression), Herman Lehman, the owner of Milwaukee’s Boston Lunch, and Walter Mase, director of the Hotel and Restaurant Division of the Wisconsin Board of Health, arranged the first meeting of what was to become the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA). “As an association today, we’re 100% focused on giving our members the tools they need to succeed, and aim to be the champion on issues that make a difference in the world of restaurants, bars and other hospitality businesses,” says Kristine Hillmer, president and CEO of the WRA. Through the association, WRA members gain access to information, services and resources to help them better run and promote their businesses. “Restaurant operators are busy getting pulled in a lot of different directions with the day-today management of running their businesses, which doesn’t make it easy to stay on top of the constant changes,” says Hillmer. “It’s the WRA’s job to protect their businesses and get them the info they need when they need it.” It is important for the WRA to work with other groups — like the Tavern League — that have similar interests in order to make a greater impact. “The WRA has joined forces with the TLW on many occasions, particularly on legislative issues that affect both restaurants and taverns,” says Hillmer. “Being based in Madison allows our lobbyists to be there immediately whenever issues arise at the State Capitol that affect restaurant and hospitality businesses.”
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To support the education, training and charitable work of the association, the WRA Education Foundation was created in 1987. “Whether it’s helping high school students discover their passion for hospitality through the ProStart Program, awarding scholarships to students pursuing a culinary or hospitality degree, or providing ServSafe Certification trainings for current employees, the foundation offers essential programs to meet the needs of an evolving industry,” says Hillmer.
“The Wisconsin Restaurant Association has joined forces with the TLW on many occasions, particularly on legislative issues that affect both restaurants and taverns.” — Kristine Hillmer, Wisconsin Restaurant Association Last year, the WRA additionally pivoted to providing valuable virtual training and education through the Restaurant Insights Summit and Foodie Virtual Hub food demo series, as well as webinars on timely issues like tax credits and the WRA’s member rebate program. Many inperson events will be starting up again as well. “Restaurant and bar operators are some of the most amazing people you will ever meet,” says Hillmer. “Even through the extremely difficult past year, they are resilient and strong and ever-focused on taking care of their employees and their customers. We are proud to be able to help Wisconsin’s unique and wonderful restaurant businesses survive and thrive.” WISCONSIN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION 2801 Fish Hatchery Rd., Madison, WI 53713 (800) 589-3211 | wirestaurant.org
www.tlw.org
