WASHINGTON —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
Gilbert has been serving as interim executive vice president of products and services for NRA Solutions, an arm of the association developed to generate products and services to assist members run their businesses more efficiently. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
Mary Adolf, who left the NRA during a recent staff restructuring, had served as executive vice president of the division. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
However, Gilbert, in his expanded capacity, also will be responsible for other key areas of the association’s operations, including information technology, membership and the NRA’s annual trade show in Chicago. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
Among his initial objectives, Gilbert will work to expand the NRA’s membership by a projected 50 percent over the next five years, create a technology platform to connect the national and state restaurant organizations, and help grow ServSafe and develop new products and services for the NRA. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
Gilbert is “an operator’s operator,” said Dawn Sweeney, NRA president and chief executive. “He has a deep knowledge and understanding of the industry and will be instrumental in creating products and services that will be valuable and will help members and operators improve their profitability.” —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
Sweeney said the association had been looking for an individual with “real first-hand experience and knowledge of the challenges facing the industry.” —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
With more than 30 years of experience in the foodservice industry, Gilbert said he knew he wanted to be in the restaurant business when he was 14. Previously, he served as chief administrative officer of Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Shoney’s, and executive director of development for Applebee’s International. Early in his career he also held a number of posts with a Wendy’s franchisee that went public and eventually was acquired by Wendy’s International. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
He has a bachelor of science degree in hotel and restaurant administration from Florida State University. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
“In this challenging economic environment, we, like most companies, have taken a close look at what we do, and how we do it,” said NRA chairman Michael Kaufman. “Our changes and realignment are designed to position the NRA for growth. David’s operational knowledge, coupled with his leadership experience, makes him an ideal candidate for this position.” —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
Sweeney called Gilbert’s appointment an important step in facilitating the NRA’s recently begun “transformational” plan. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
“The NRA board adopted an aggressive five-year plan that will mark a big shift in the trajectory of growth for the association,” she said. “It requires different skill sets than we have had. As a result, we are beginning to align staff resources to support the implementation of the plan. Under this realignment, some posts are being created and some are being eliminated.” —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
Gilbert said the plan, among other things, “is focused on providing products and services to help make things better for members.” —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
“We want to provide effective solutions with regard to training, food safety, alcohol training and other areas,” he said. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
He will be based in Chicago and will report directly to Sweeney. —Officials of the National Restaurant Association say the appointment of industry veteran David Gilbert as the NRA’s chief operating officer and executive director of NRA Solutions will help the association drive growth and implement its new five-year strategic plan.
