National Restaurant Association

Washington, DC · Founded 1939

Advocates for and provides resources to the U.S. restaurant and foodservice industry through research, policy, and education

Primary audience
Restaurant Industry
Work area
Trade Association
Topic
Industry Advocacy
Contact
Michelle L Korsmo
Website Contact

About Organization

The National Restaurant Association serves the $1 trillion U.S. restaurant and foodservice industry through research, advocacy, and education. Based in Washington, DC, the organization operates with 389 employees and reported $116.5 million in revenue in 2024. Founded in 1939, it works to strengthen operations, mitigate risk, develop talent, and advance business vitality through national, state, and local policy initiatives.

What They Focus On

Industry Advocacy

Protects and advances the business interests of restaurants through policy development and government relations

Operational Excellence

Strengthens restaurant operations through research, education, risk mitigation, and talent development programs

Industry Partnerships

Builds collaborative relationships between restaurants and suppliers to advance innovation, food safety, and sustainability

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2024)

$116.5M

+3.5% vs 2023

Expenses (2024)

$125.7M

+7.7% vs 2023

Assets (2024)

$200.6M

-3.1% vs 2023

Employees (2024)

389

+1.6% vs 2023

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2024 $116,506,047 $125,735,632 $200,580,613 389
2023 $112,585,728 $116,721,582 $206,935,101 383
2022 $97,254,330 $108,729,682 $208,742,142 388
2020 $72,934,969 $98,591,466 $103,034,526 369
2019 $107,985,978 $110,565,993 $244,504,432 339
2018 $289,435,917 $118,330,524 $249,880,129 326

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Research & Analysis

    Conduct comprehensive research on industry trends, challenges, and opportunities to inform strategy

  • 02

    Advocacy & Policy

    Develop and advance policy initiatives at national, state, and local levels

  • 03

    Education & Resources

    Deliver training programs, best practices, and educational content to strengthen operations

  • 04

    Partnership & Collaboration

    Foster connections between members, suppliers, and stakeholders to drive industry innovation

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by National Restaurant Association

Industry Research

Conducts research on current trends, consumer behavior, and market dynamics affecting the restaurant and foodservice sector

Policy Advocacy

Advances and protects business interests through advocacy at national, state, and local government levels

Education & Training

Provides educational programs and networking opportunities to develop talent and strengthen industry operations

Partnership Development

Connects industry partners with restaurants to advance food safety, sustainability, and supply chain innovation

Military & First Responder Support

Sponsors programs supporting military personnel and first responders through grants and industry partnerships

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind National Restaurant Association.

ML

Michelle L Korsmo

President & CEO
30 hrs/week
Compensation: $2,556,642
KA

Kevin A Steele

Chief Info. Officer (until 9/21/24)
Full-time
Compensation: $703,774
EE

Eric Ellis

CFO
30 hrs/week
Compensation: $467,334
DH

Dionne Harris

SVP, People & Culture
Full-time
Compensation: $451,237
NV

Ngocdung Vu

SVP, Mmbr./Strat. Dev. (until 3/9/24)
Full-time
Compensation: $399,829
HR

Hudson Riehle

SVP, Research & Knowledge
Full-time
Compensation: $389,365
AA

Angelo Amador

SVP, Legal Advocacy & Reg. Counsel
8 hrs/week
Compensation: $367,794
JF

James Fripp

Director - Ex-Officio
2 hrs/week
SB

Shaun Beard

Director, Ex-Officio
2 hrs/week
WD

William D Kohl

Director, Ex-Officio
2 hrs/week
SK

Sean Kennedy

EVP, Policy & Government Affairs
Full-time
Compensation: $1,460,779
MF

Marvin F Irby

CAO (until 6/15/24)
30 hrs/week
Compensation: $962,747
SL

Sherman L Brown

EVP, Business Services
Full-time
Compensation: $953,685
CR

Chris Rodgers

EVP, General Counsel & Corp. Sec.
Full-time
Compensation: $885,489
TE

Tia E Mattson

EVP, Enterprise Mktg. (until 9/21/24)
Full-time
Compensation: $686,271
DR

Daniel Roehl

VP, Federal Government Affairs
Full-time
Compensation: $347,464
MW

Matthew Walker

VP, Government Affairs
Full-time
Compensation: $345,735

Milestones

1939

Organization Founded

1939

National Restaurant Association established to serve the foodservice industry

1943

IRS Recognition

1943

Received federal tax-exempt status as a trade association

2018

Revenue Peak

2018

Achieved $289.4 million in revenue during period of industry expansion

2024

Post-Pandemic Recovery

2024

Revenue reached $116.5 million with 389 employees supporting industry recovery

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

AM
Adam Mills Director 2.00 hrs/week
AV
Aileen V Reilly Director 2.00 hrs/week
AG
Amanda Grimmer Director 2.00 hrs/week
AM
Amber Moshakos Director 2.00 hrs/week
AF
Anne Fink Director 2.00 hrs/week
AA
Anthony Anton Director 2.00 hrs/week
AM
Archna Malhotra Becker Director 2.00 hrs/week
AC
Ashley Coneff Director 2.00 hrs/week
BR
Blanca R Cabrera Director 2.00 hrs/week
BE
Brian E Casey Director 2.00 hrs/week
CJ
Camille J Lee-Johnson Director 2.00 hrs/week
CB
Carol B Dover Director 2.00 hrs/week
CK
Cathie Koch Director 2.00 hrs/week
CS
Christopher Savvides Director 2.00 hrs/week
CW
Christopher Wiken Director 2.00 hrs/week
DB
Dagmar Boggs Director 2.00 hrs/week
DR
Dan Rowe Director 2.00 hrs/week
DM
Debabrata Mazumdar Director 2.00 hrs/week
DE
Dick E Marriott Director 2.00 hrs/week
GH
GJ Hart Director 2.00 hrs/week
GF
German F Gonzalez Bernal Director 2.00 hrs/week
GS
Grace Shea Director 2.00 hrs/week
GF
Greg Flynn Director 2.00 hrs/week
GB
Gregory B Cook Director 2.00 hrs/week
HL
Heather Leed Neary Director 2.00 hrs/week
HG
Horace G Dawson Director 2.00 hrs/week
JH
James Harris Director 2.00 hrs/week
JS
Jay Stieber Director 2.00 hrs/week
JC
Jeanne Cretella Director 2.00 hrs/week
JL
Jeffrey Lobdell Chair 5.00 hrs/week
JM
Jett Mehta Director 2.00 hrs/week
JC
John Cywinski Director 2.00 hrs/week
JD
John D Tallichet Director 2.00 hrs/week
JH
John Horne Director 2.00 hrs/week
JE
Joseph Essa Director 2.00 hrs/week
JJ
Joseph J Kadow Director 2.00 hrs/week
JK
Joshua Kevin Alexander Suggs Director 2.00 hrs/week
JE
Juan E Martinez Director 2.00 hrs/week
KR
Kevin R Spratt Director 2.00 hrs/week
LT
Lance Trenary Director 2.00 hrs/week
LS
Laurie Schalow Director 2.00 hrs/week
LM
Lynn Minges Director 2.00 hrs/week
MA
Madelyn Alfano Director 2.00 hrs/week
MB
Mark Bucher Director 2.00 hrs/week
MJ
Matthew Johnson Director 2.00 hrs/week
MR
Melvin Rodrigue Director 2.00 hrs/week
MA
Michael Axiotis Treasurer 5.00 hrs/week
MG
Michael Gonda Director 2.00 hrs/week
PM
Perry Miele Director 2.00 hrs/week
PS
Peter Sclafani Director 2.00 hrs/week
PJ
Philip J Hickey Jr Director 2.00 hrs/week
RO
Ralph O Brennan Director 2.00 hrs/week
RG
Regynald G Washington Director 2.00 hrs/week
RS
Richard Schneider Vice Chair 5.00 hrs/week
RM
Rosalyn Mallet Director 2.00 hrs/week
SS
Sam Sanchez Director 2.00 hrs/week
SR
Scott Redler Immediate Past Chair 2.00 hrs/week
SK
Simon Kim Director 2.00 hrs/week
SQ
Sonia Q Riggs Director 2.00 hrs/week
SD
Steve Danon Director 2.00 hrs/week
SL
Steven L Johnson Director 2.00 hrs/week
TB
Theodore Balestreri II Director 2.00 hrs/week
TJ
Theodore J Balestreri Director 2.00 hrs/week
TD
Tiffany Derry Director 2.00 hrs/week
VG
Victoria Gutierrez Director 2.00 hrs/week
WK
William Kitsilis Director 2.00 hrs/week
XT
Xavier Teixido Director 2.00 hrs/week
BD
Billy Downs Ford's Garage
EW
Ellis Winstanley El Arroyo
EV
Erin Vranas Parthenon Gyros
HL
Hugues Labrecque Golden State Foods
JR
Jennifer Ray The Monarch
JS
Joshua Secrest Paradox
KP
Kajal Patel The Hena Group
KL
Kelly Lefferts Bloomin' Brands
KK
Kevin King Donatos Pizzeria, LLC
RT
Reade Tidwell Chick-fil-A, Inc.
RF
Richard Frank Lawry's Restaurants, Inc.
RD
Ronald DiNella Ascent Hospitality
SS
Sharlene Smith Zaxby's
SN
Susan Nelson Dine Brands

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2024)

$15.3M

Highest Paid

$3.9M

Michelle L Korsmo

Compensated Officers

14

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Michelle L Korsmo President & CEO $2,556,642 $1,301,039 $3,857,681 30
Sean Kennedy EVP, Policy & Government Affairs $1,460,779 $576,040 $2,036,819 40
Marvin F Irby CAO (Until 6/15/24) $962,747 $669,930 $1,632,677 30
Sherman L Brown EVP, Business Services $953,685 $426,359 $1,380,044 40
Chris Rodgers EVP, General Counsel & Corp. SEC. $885,489 $383,040 $1,268,529 40
Tia E Mattson EVP, Enterprise MKTG. (Until 9/21/24) $686,271 $214,099 $900,370 40
Kevin A Steele Chief Info. Officer (Until 9/21/24) $703,774 $180,729 $884,503 40
Eric Ellis CFO $467,334 $107,922 $575,256 30
Dionne Harris SVP, People & Culture $451,237 $87,273 $538,510 40
Angelo Amador SVP, Legal Advocacy & REG. Counsel $367,794 $101,870 $469,664 8
Hudson Riehle SVP, Research & Knowledge $389,365 $72,487 $461,852 40
Daniel Roehl VP, Federal Government Affairs $347,464 $99,274 $446,738 40
Matthew Walker VP, Government Affairs $345,735 $98,619 $444,354 40
Ngocdung Vu SVP, Mmbr./Strat. DEV. (Until 3/9/24) $399,829 $19,255 $419,084 40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Individual Political Donors

People from this organization who contributed to political campaigns

$58K Total Given
Other/PAC $38,390 (66%)
Republican $15,122 (26%)
Democratic $4,339 (8%)
28 Contributions
$2,066 Avg Each

Top Individual Donors

15 Individual Donors
DR
Daniel Roehl 4 contributions • $3,140 avg
$12,561
MK
Michelle Korsmo 4 contributions • $3,000 avg
$12,000
SK
Sean Kennedy 3 contributions • $3,167 avg
$9,500
MW
Matt Walker 2 contributions • $2,500 avg
$5,000
DT
Daniel T. Roehl 1 contribution • $5,000 avg
$5,000

Other Individual Contributors $13,790 combined

#6
DR

Dan Roehl

Alexandria, VA

$4,361 Total
3 Contributions
STEIL FOR WISCONSIN, NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ...
#7
GP

Gaurav Parikh

Washington, DC

$4,000 Total
2 Contributions
BACKPAC ACTBLUE
#8
TM

Tia Mattson

Chicago, IL

$3,500 Total
2 Contributions
NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ...
#9
SH

Susan Hensley Robusto

California, MD

$1,000 Total
1 Contribution
HOGAN VICTORY
#10
CR

Chris Rodgers

Washington, DC

$365 Total
1 Contribution
NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ...
#11
AP

Alyssa Prince

Arlington, VA

$250 Total
1 Contribution
ACTBLUE
#12
JW

John Whatley

Arlington, VA

$125 Total
1 Contribution
NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ...
#13
SH

Sue Hensley

Washington, DC

$100 Total
1 Contribution
NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ...
#14
JS

Jennifer Schubach

Orlando, FL

$59 Total
1 Contribution
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
#15
TG

Trey Gregory Lawrence

College Park, MD

$30 Total
1 Contribution
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT

Quick Insights

🏆
Most Active Donor Daniel Roehl with 4 contributions
💰
Highest Avg per Contribution Sean Kennedy at $3,167 each
🎯
Top Recipient NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ... — $31,890

Data from Federal Election Commission • Individual contributions only

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$30K Grants Received
$1.5M Grants Given
23 Organizations

Top Funders

2 total
BR
BJ's RESTAURANTS FOUNDATION
$20K
AG
American Gas Association
$10K

Top Grantees

21 total
SL
Save Local Restaurants San Rafael, CA
$588K
RL
Restaurant Law Center Washington, DC
$225K
CO
Council of State Restaurant Associations Washington, DC
$175K
MF
Multiculutral Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance Providence, RI
$100K
AH
American Heart Association Arlington, VA
$50K
AC
Alaska CHARR Anchorage, AK
$47K
RI
Rhode Island Hospitality Association Cranston, RI
$39K
UT
US Travel Assoication Washington, DC
$34K
WH
Washington Hospitality Association Olympia, WA
$31K
WF
Womens Foodservice Forum Dallas, TX
$30K
+11 more grantees
BJ's RESTAURANTS FOUNDATION American Gas Association Save Local Restaurants Restaurant Law Center Council of State Restaurant Associations Multiculutral Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance American Heart Association Alaska CHARR Rhode Island Hospitality Association US Travel Assoication Washington Hospitality Association Womens Foodservice Forum Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance Democratic Governors Association Hospitality Minnesota Cannery Row Company Ltd Nebraska Hospital Association Restaurant Finance Corp R Street Institute Alzheimers Association Culinary Institute of America George Washington's Mount Vernon American Society of Association Executives
BJ's RESTAURANTS FOUNDATION American Gas Association Save Local Restaurants Restaurant Law Center Council of State Restaurant Associations Multiculutral Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance American Heart Association Alaska CHARR Rhode Island Hospitality Association US Travel Assoication Washington Hospitality Association Womens Foodservice Forum Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance Democratic Governors Association Hospitality Minnesota Cannery Row Company Ltd Nebraska Hospital Association Restaurant Finance Corp R Street Institute Alzheimers Association Culinary Institute of America George Washington's Mount Vernon American Society of Association Executives

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Related Organizations

11 affiliated entities reported on IRS Form 990 Schedule R

11

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

4
Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance
Cranston, RI
Support the restaurant industry
501(c) 501(c)(3)
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
Washington, DC
See Part VII
501(c) 501(c)(3)
NRA Political Action Committee
Washington, DC
Lobbying for the NRA
501(c) 527
Restaurant Law Center
Washington, DC
Promote laws and regulations for restaraurant industry
501(c) 501(c)(6)

Disregarded Entities

4
National Restaurant Association Solutions LLC
Chicago, IL
Creation, Production and sale of training materials
DRE
Income: $81.1M Assets: $58.6M
National Registry of Food Safety Professionals Inc
Orlando, FL
Educate the food safety profession
DRE
Income: $4.2M Assets: $4.1M
NRAS Restaurant Owner LLC
Chicago, IL
Provides learning resources for independent operators
DRE
Income: $1.0M Assets: $3.1M
National Restaurant Association Winsight Investment LLC
Wilmington, DE
Single Member LLC Holding Company
DRE

Taxable Partnership

1
Pebbles Holdco LLC
Washington, DC
Investments
Taxable

Taxable Corp Trust

2
National Restaurant Association Services LLC
Chicago, IL
Marketing services
Taxable
NRAS India Private Limited
Mumbai
Marketing services
Taxable

Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule R (Related Organizations and Unrelated Partnerships)

Lobbying Activity

Lobbying Disclosure Act registrations

Self-Lobbying
6 Registrations
1 Client
Yes Self-Lobbying

Clients 1 total

National Restaurant Association
6 filings
Self

Source: Senate Office of Public Records — Lobbying Disclosure Act

Contact

Get in touch with National Restaurant Association

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(202) 331-5900

Social

Visit Website
2055 L Street NW 700 Washington, DC 200364957