The brainchild of seven founding members--Robert Kopka, Ian Matthes, Jeff Vernis, Brian Cafritz, Michael Amaro, Joe Hassinger, and Jacqueline Canter—NRRDA began with a series of conference calls discussing the need for an industry-centered organization focused on the defense of retail and restaurant businesses. The founding members soon formed an advisory board and invited their clients to join, including JC Penney, U.S. Foods, Home Depot, and Ruby Tuesday. Their goal was to assemble a group of attorneys, claims professionals, and industry representatives into an organization in which the industry clients themselves are primary. With that goal in mind, the founding members wrote into the By Laws certain restrictions on the number of attorneys who can join. Today, the percentages of membership are roughly 50% industry representatives, 40% attorneys, and 10% vendors. NRRDA’s first national conference was in Dallas, Texas, and it has grown in attendance each year. NRRDA remains committed to providing an open, inclusive forum for the advancement and legal protection of the retail and restaurant industries. To review NRRDA's bylaws, click here.
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Kurt Leisure - President
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated 26901 Malibu Hills Road Calabasas Hills, CA 91301 |
John Kemppainen - President-elect
Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion 500 North Broadway, Suite 1550 St. Louis, MO 63102 |
Brian M. Chance - Immediate Past President
Stephens Insurance, LLC. 111 Center Street, Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72201 |
Dena C. Abdallah - Secretary
Marsh USA Inc. 540 W. Madison Street Chicago, IL 60661 |
Joe Hassinger, Jr. - General Counsel
Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith 701 Poydras St., 40th Floor New Orleans, LA 70139 |
Anandhi S. Rajan - Treasurer
Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP 1355 Peachtree St NE Atlanta, GA 30309 |
Miriam Rich
Quality Dining, Inc. 4220 Edison Lakes Pkwy, Mishawaka, IN 46545
Mony B.P. Yin Perez Morris Hyde LLC 17 Squadron Blvd, Suite 410 New York, NY 10956 |
Britt Roarx, CP-FS
Texas Roadhouse 6040 Dutchmans Lane Louisville, KY 40205 |
Douglas J. Stipanovich
Dicks Sporting Goods 345 Court Street Coraopolis, PA 15108 |