NMRA News: 

During the Annual Meeting Sept. 19, the New Mexico Restaurant Association (NMRA) installed a new president, chairperson and executive committee of the NMRA Board of Directors.

NMRA’s board consists of restaurant owners, operators and vendors who share a love of the industry and a commitment to its future.

The 2024-2025 Executive Committee is: 

• Chairperson: Laura Leal – Leal’s Mexican Food (Clovis) 
• President: George Gundrey – Tomasita’s (Albuquerque & Santa Fe) ·Treasurer: Michael Calhoun – Red River Brewing Company (Red River) ·Secretary: Chris Zalesiak – Burger 21 & Melting Pot (Albuquerque) ·Associate Vice President – Kristina Elias, US Foods (Statewide) 

The 2024-2025 Board of Directors: 

Albuquerque:  

• Jorge Brasil – Laguna Development Corp;  
• Marie Coleman – Church Street Café; 
• Randy Kenna – Rudy’s Country Store & Bar B Q;  
• Rick Pedram – Crowne Plaza Hotel; and 
• Yashoda Naidoo – Annapurna’s. 

Carlsbad:  

• Janie Balzano – Trinity Hotel & Restaurant.  

Chimayo:  

• Florence Jaramillo – Rancho de Chimayo. 

Clovis: 

• Tom Martin – Taco Box.  

Española:  

• Javier Sanchez – La Cocina.  

Las Cruces:  

• Ed Linderman – Butter Smith Kitchen/Corner Bakery Cafe. 

Maxwell: 

• Shelly Quartieri – Colfax Tavern & Diner. 

Mesilla:  

• Jerry Harrell – Double Eagle de Mesilla; and
• Russell Hernandez – Salud! de Mesilla. 

San Antonio:  

• Janice Argabright – Owl Bar & Café.  

Santa Fe:  

• Al Lucero – Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; and  
• Fernando Olea – Sazon Restaurant  

Statewide:  

• Gene Baca – Bueno Foods;  
• Todd Hickam – Ben E Keith Foods;  
• Jay Larsen – Shamrock Foods; and  
• Jeremy Padilla – Sysco.  

Ex-Officio:  

• Lansing Adams – NM Tourism Department; 
• Jean Hertzman – NMSU Hotel & Rest Mgt Program; and  
• Tana Lucero-Ranke – FISIF.  

About the New Mexico Restaurant Association:  

The New Mexico Restaurant Association’s mission is to empower the food and beverage industry by promoting and protecting common values and interests. It has more than 1,500 members in 111 cities all over New Mexico, who join together for meetings, seminars, and the hospitality industry awards to honor the industry’s top achievers. It has actively represented and promoted the food service industry in New Mexico since 1946. For more information on NMRA, visit www.nmrestaurants.org.