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Executive Director

Barb Sido, CAE

Barb Sido
Executive Director

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Barb Sido, CAE, is an association executive with more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of non-profit management, specializing in organizational transformation. She is the Executive Director of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), the philanthropic foundation of the restaurant and foodservice industry's leading trade association. At the helm of the NRAEF, she is focused on helping the organization fulfill its commitment to enhancing the restaurant industry's service to the public through education, community engagement and promotion of career opportunities.

Prior to joining the NRAEF, she was Vice President of the Knowledge and Professional Practice at the American Institute of Architects. In that role, she provided strategic oversight to a $28 million annual budget and 50 staff, leading in areas such as resource and new product development, branded events and programs, educational program development and delivery, scholarships and research.

Previously, she was Chief Knowledge Officer and Foundation Director at the American School Food Service Association/School Food Service Foundation, where she raised more than $3 million to support a public education and outreach campaign about the value of school-based nutrition programs. Barb's earlier non-profit work includes executive director of the National Republican Coalition for Choice, deputy executive director (and acting executive director) of Business and Professional Women/USA, deputy executive director of the National Republican Party Platform Committee, and editor of the Republic National Committee's monthly magazine. She is a recognized leader about the role of knowledge in organizations, and is the author of the knowledge management chapter in the American Society of Association Executive's (ASAE) book, Key Competencies in Association Professional Development. She is also a frequent speaker on the topic. She is a Certified Association Executive, and serves on ASAE's Research Committee.

Barb holds a Master's degree from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, and a bachelor's degree in magazine journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.