Page 4 - ORA A La Carte Issue 2

DEPARTMENT
à la carte (ISSN 1524-5411) is published annually by the Ohio Restaurant Association,
100 E. Campus View Blvd.,
Ste. 150, Columbus, OH 43235
phone 614.442.3535 fax 614.442.3550
website ohiorestaurant.org e-mail communications
@ohiorestaurant.org
The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of the ORA. The subscription rate for members is $8, which is included in their dues. Editorial contributions in any area of association or managment are welcome. Ariticles accepted for publication are subject to editing by the ORA. Advertising is accepted on a space availability basis. Contact Burgie Media Fusion for further advertising information.
staff JOHN BARKER
President & CEO
MAUREEN O’ROURKE
Managing Director of Marketing & Communications
ora board members
SHEILA TRAUTNER
GARY CALLICOAT
MIKE HAUNERT
ADRIAN ADORNETTO
SAM LINDSLEY
ROY GETZ
JULIUS DORSEY
PRAKASH KARAMCHANDANI
KERRY BOYLE ROBERT ABRUZZI (EMERITUS) PAUL D. BELLE DOUG FAHRENHOLZ MICHAEL S. SHORT MICHAEL P. LAMARCA JOHNATHAN LANNI EVAN ANDREWS RYAN ROSE GUS MANCY DAN YOUNG (EMERITUS) BRITNEY RUBY MILLER JEFFREY HUNDT VINCE STASIULEWICZ BRODY DANNER JEFF FIX NICK KOSTIS (EMERITUS)
MICHAEL SYLVESTER ROBERT BLUM BLAIRE LUCIANO WAYNE SCHICK GARY RODRIGUEZ RICK CASSARA (EMERITUS) RON JORDAN CHRIS SHAFFERY ANN REICHLE (EMERITUS)
Taste Hospitality Group
Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern Sysco Cincinnati, LLC
Adornetto’s Selected Italian Foods Michael Symon Restaurants
Top Notch Restaurant Group Dorsey & Company
Balance Pan-Asian Grille
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants Bob Abruzzi Consulting, LLC Firehouse Subs
The Wasserstrom Company Royalwood Caterers
Master Pizza Franchise Group Thunderdome Restaurant Group Montgomery Inn
Romeo’s Pizza
Mancy Restaurant Group
Young’s Jersey Dairy
Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment
Ecolab
Hylant
Submarine House
RDP Foodservice
Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Club
Hide-A-Way Buffalo Grill Dunkin’
Wendy’s Company
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants El Rancho Grande
Pickwick & Frolic
Jordan Hospitality Group White Castle
Angelina’s Pizza
Publishing Information
JOHN BARKER
President & CEO, ORA
Leadership
Food for
Thought
If there’s anything we’ve learned in the last year and a half, it’s that Ohio’s restaurant, foodservice & hospitality industry is essential, invaluable, strong and resilient. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, business-restricting health orders, mandates
and guidelines, protests, political disagreements, food price hikes and workforce shortages, together we’ve faced many trials that have challenged us and required
everyone to raise the level of their game. At the same time, elected officials, customers and thousands of businesses that support our industry learned how vital restaurants and foodservice are to Ohio. We represent 51% of all the food dollars in the U.S. and we’re the second-largest private sector employer in the nation.
While there is a long road to recovery ahead, the Ohio Restaurant Association is stronger than ever, working hard on behalf of our members. We’ve been aggressively enhancing our membership benefits & educational opportunities for members
so that you have the tools you need to be successful, even amidst a storm.
One of those benefits is the incredible Vendor Program. Rebuilt in 2020, it is now a larger, more comprehensive program for the participating preferred vendors and for our members who utilize their products & services. This provides vendors
the opportunity to promote their businesses, products and services, and offers our restaurant members more options to streamline their businesses for sales growth and profitability.
In addition, we’re thrilled to be moving forward with our Virtual 2021 Mid-America Restaurant Expo and Conference on October 31 and November 1 & 2.
This one-of-a-kind virtual experience will bring together industry leaders and restaurant operators to discuss and learn about the latest trends and topics impacting the restaurant and foodservice industry. In this issue of á la carte, we highlight
our innovation sessions, featured speakers, and much more. We’re thrilled to be
able to come together to celebrate the greatest industry, and you can still register at midamericarestaurantexpo.com. I would also like to personally invite you to learn more about our new Vendor Program by visiting our website at ohiorestaurant.org
and clicking on the MEMBER SAVINGS and the VENDOR PROGRAM tabs.
Our entire ORA team looks forward to the timely thought leadership of our Virtual Expo and sharing the experience with you. As always, your membership is valued, and you are our #1 priority. It has been our greatest honor serving you for the last 101 years. Then, now and always.
John Barker President & CEO
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