CT Restaurant Association Finalizes Multi-Year Leadership Plan

Press release from the CRA:

Oct. 24, 2021

The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) announced today that its Board of Trustees has finalized a new, multi-year contract with current Executive Director Scott Dolch, who has led the CRA since 2018. Under the three-year agreement, Dolch will be promoted to a new role of President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association.

“In a time of crisis for our industry, Scott Dolch has been a steady hand and guiding voice for Connecticut restaurants, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead the CRA in this new role,” said Marvin Irby, Interim President & CEO for the National Restaurant Association. “It’s vitally important that as our industry continues to rebound and rebuild from the pandemic, that we have leaders like Scott to serve as partners and ambassadors with state and local elected officials.”

“Scott has been a tremendous leader for Connecticut restaurants, building on the great work of his predecessors to make the association even more dynamic and valuable to our members – I’m thrilled that he will continue to lead us in the years ahead,” said Dan Meiser, Chairman of the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s Board of Directors. “In this new role, Scott will build upon our existing work to offer new tools for members, continue to establish our brand with stakeholders and the public, and share news every day that is critical to our industry.”

“So many Connecticut restaurants are small, family-owned businesses, and having now served in my current role for over three years I am extremely proud to be a part of their collective family, and to help our industry speak with one voice,” said Dolch. “The years ahead will continue to be difficult for our members, who are still struggling despite Connecticut’s continued economic recovery. I’m humbled to be given the opportunity to continue representing an industry that is so vital to Connecticut’s economic future, and to do so at such a critical moment in our history.”

Key successes for the CRA under Dolch’s leadership include:

Increasing association membership from 400 to now more than 2,100 members from across the state;

Providing more than $560,000 in local restaurants grants through the newly established CT Restaurant Relief Fund;

Establishing a $165,000 CT Hospitality Employee Relief Fund to provide stipends to hospitality employees throughout Connecticut;

Creating the first COVID-19 operating guidance for all restaurants & launching the “Connecticut Restaurant Promise,” which provided best practices and guidance to help individual restaurants navigate state guidelines, so they can provide a safe environment for their employees and customers;

Expanding outdoor dining to allow all restaurants the opportunity to use unique outdoor spaces for additional dining options; Increasing consumer confidence in on-premises dining with a national TV and local #saveCTrestaurants campaign.

Additional information can be found at ctrestaurant.org.

This press release was produced by the CRA. The views expressed here are the author's own.