Washington, DC – March 18, 2024 – The National Restaurant Association announces the expansion of its Executive Leadership Team and two key leadership roles within the organization, reinforcing its commitment to serving its members and advancing the restaurant industry.

Sue Hensley has been named Senior Vice President of Member Engagement for the Association and will be a member of the Association’s Executive Leadership Team. Dr. Chad Moutray joins the Association’s Research and Knowledge team as Vice President of Research and Knowledge. And Christopher Kenny will serve as Vice President of Marketing for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

“Our association is strong when our work is driven by the challenges and opportunities our members face in the restaurant industry,” said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Each of these leaders fortifies our organization’s ability to fulfill our mission as a membership trade association. Sue has tremendous passion for people who work in the restaurant industry and is a proven association executive. Chad is an exceptional economist who finds valuable insight on industry-specific implications of the larger economic landscape. And Chris brings the skills of business and association brand building necessary to tell the stories of the industry, its people, and its positive impact.”

Sue Hensley, Senior Vice President of Member Engagement

Sue Hensley returns to the Association as Senior Vice President of Member Engagement. In this pivotal role, Sue will lead the newly established Member Engagement department focused on strengthening the Association’s connections with its members and ensuring their needs remain at the forefront of its programs, products, and initiatives. She brings a wealth of knowledge, a genuine passion for fostering meaningful connections within the restaurant industry, and dedication to member engagement and industry advancement.

For more than a decade, Hensley led the Association’s Public Affairs and Communications teams, overseeing the development of signature programs like Kids LiveWellSM and the Dine for America fundraiser. She most recently was Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for the American Trucking Associations where, among her responsibilities, she guided the award-winning publication “Transport Topics.”

Dr. Chad Moutray, Vice President of Research and Knowledge

Dr. Chad Moutray joins the Association’s Research and Knowledge team. He has extensive experience and expertise in business economics and will expand the scope of the Association’s research offerings, providing valuable data and insights on the evolving needs of the restaurant industry to restaurant owners, operators, and stakeholders. Moutray was most recently chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, where his analysis was essential to the organization’s economic perspective.

Christopher Kenny, Vice President of Marketing, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)

Chris Kenny will lead the marketing strategy for the NRAEF’s work, including ProStart, Restaurant Ready, Hospitality Opportunities for People (Re)Entering Society (HOPES), Military, the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center, and scholarships, as well as NRAEF events. Kenny most recently led global diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives at Spotify, and prior to that, was the director of Brand for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), where he launched national advertising campaigns, large in-market brand stunts, and determined where and how the SHRM brand appeared.

On the importance of these hires, Korsmo concluded, “The key to our success is ensuring an unwavering focus on creating an exceptional experience for our members. We are excited to enhance our team with outstanding leaders in member engagement, research, and marketing as we continue to build a vibrant association.”

About the National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises nearly 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 14.5 million employees. Together with 52 State Associations, we are a network of professional organizations dedicated to serving every restaurant through advocacy, education, and food safety. We sponsor the industry’s largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF’s ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready/HOPES – Partnering with community-based organizations to provide people with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

CONTACT:

Vanessa Sink
National Restaurant Association
vsink@restaurant.org