CHICAGO - The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) today announced three new officers have been elected by the NRAEF’s Board of Trustees for the 2008-2009 term.  At the recent Board of Trustees meeting held during the 89th Annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago, Linda Bacin became the Board’s new chairman, Bill Hyde assumed the post of vice chairman, and Carlton Curtis was elected to the position of treasurer.

"I am extraordinarily pleased to welcome Linda, Bill and Carlton to the NRAEF Board of Directors, and look forward to working with them as we align our organizations to best support the restaurant industry and serve the public good," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "The NRAEF will benefit greatly from their leadership as we continue to reward the workforce of tomorrow – and today – with the Foundation's extensive scholarship program."

“As outgoing Chairman I am very proud of the accomplishments of the NRAEF this past year and am pleased to announce the new officers of the NRAEF Board of Trustees that will continue to grow and build the Foundation moving forward” stated Ruben Villavicencio, immediate past Chairman of the NRAEF.  “Their tireless dedication to the NRAEF, the dining public and the restaurant and foodservice industry is a testament to the invaluable contributions they make to advancing the state of education across our great industry.  Under their experienced leadership the NRAEF will continue to enhance the prominence of the restaurant industry through public service, education and community engagement.” 

Ms. Linda L. Bacin was elected to serve as chairman of the NRAEF Board of Trustees.  Ms. Bacin is the vice president of bella! Bacinos, an Italian trattoria concept developed, as well as owned and operated, by Bacin and husband Dan in the Chicago metropolitan area.  Ms. Bacin has been a longtime supporter of community and civic activism.  The Chicago Mayor’s Office of Special Events appointed her to the Taste of Chicago Committee, the City of Chicago’s Sister Cities program and just recently to the advisory board of the Mayor’s Office of Business Affairs.  Ms. Bacin’s credentials include service on many boards including: the Chicago Convention and Tourism Board; the American Heart Association - Chicago Chapter; the National Association of Women Business Owners and the March of Dimes.  Ms. Bacin is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier and, in 1991, was named Pizza Person of the Year by the National Association of Pizza Operators.  In addition to her civic activism, Ms. Bacin has testified before Congressional and Regulatory agency oversight committees on behalf of the restaurant industry.  Ms. Bacin was also recently elected to the NRAEF’s Certification Governing Board.

William L. Hyde, Jr. was elected to serve as vice chairman of the NRAEF Board of Trustees.  Mr. Hyde has managed privately and publicly held restaurant companies since 1982 and is a distinguished 30-year veteran of the national restaurant scene.  He was a partner of Ruth Fertel and CEO of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Inc until his retirement in 2003. Mr. Hyde formed Briarwood West Investments, LLC in 2005 with a focus on restaurant investments as a means to enhance the consumers’ dining experience. The company’s first investment was in ZEA Restaurants, a casual dining concept featuring an eclectic menu with rotisserie meats and a wood-burning grill for steaks and seafood.  In 2006 he acquired Abacus/Jasper’s Restaurant Group, along with celebrity chef, Kent Rathbun.  Abacus is a five star fine dining restaurant in Dallas, TX, and Jasper’s is a high-end casual restaurant featuring gourmet backyard cuisine.   He has served on various industry and charitable boards, including the National Restaurant Association, Goodwill Industries, American Institute of Wine and Food, American Beverage Institute and Distinguished Restaurants of North America.

Carlton Curtis was elected to serve as treasurer of the NRAEF Board of Trustees.  Mr. Curtis is the vice president of industry affairs for the Foodservice and Hospitality Division of Coca-Cola North America.  He joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1972 in public relations, where he served in a variety of positions including vice president of corporate communications and corporate public relations.  He was appointed vice president and director of Worldwide Educational Marketing in 1994.  In 1997, he was appointed vice president and executive assistant to the president of Coca-Cola USA, and in 2000, he was elected vice president and executive assistant to the president of The Coca-Cola Company.  He was appointed to his current position in September 2003.  Curtis is an emeritus trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation and is the past president of the University of Georgia’s Alumni Association.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National 4-H Council and the Board of Directors of the Elliott Leadership Institute.

To download photos of the new officers, please click on the following link: http://www.nraef.org/headline/board_photos_may_2008.asp

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling the educational mission of the National Restaurant Association. As the nation's second largest private sector employer, the restaurant and foodservice industry is the cornerstone of the American economy, of career-and-employment opportunities, and of local communities. Revenues from all NRAEF products and services benefit the industry by supporting the NRAEF's educational initiatives.  For more information on the NRAEF, visit http://www.nraef.org/.