NRAEF names Lynette McKee executive directorNRAEF names Lynette McKee executive director

Paul Frumkin

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has named foodservice veteran Lynette McKee to the post of executive director.

The appointment is effective July 5.

In her new capacity, McKee will oversee the foundation and help guide it in its mission of improving the foodservice industry’s service to the public through education, community engagement and career opportunity promotion, the NRA said.

McKee has more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. Previously, she held posts such as senior vice president and chief development officer for Tampa, Fla.-based Checkers and vice president of franchising for Dunkin’ Brands in Canton, Mass.

Prior to that, she held executive positions at Burger King, Metromedia Restaurant Group and Denny’s.

In 2007 the Women’s Foodservice Forum honored her with its Emerging Leader Award.

“Lynette’s two decades of experience and her outstanding reputation in the restaurant industry will be of great benefit as she leads our Educational Foundation in expanding our reach and impact,” Dawn Sweeney, president and chief executive of the NRA and NRAEF, said in a statement.

“Lynette is joining our Educational Foundation at an exciting time as we seek to strengthen our ProStart program’s efforts to educate high school students in culinary and restaurant management skills, and in growing our supporting scholarship programs for higher education in foodservice,” Sweeney added.

Also commenting on McKee’s appointment, NRAEF board chair Charlton Curtis said: “Lynette’s qualifications are extraordinary and her commitment to the future of our industry is inspirational. All of us are tremendously excited about her taking on this great leadership role for our industry.”

Contact Paul Frumkin at [email protected].