DRA adds industry leaders to Board of Directors

NEWARK — The Delaware Restaurant Association announced a new slate of Executive Committee officers leading the Board of Directors led by new Chairman Carl Georigi; the DRA will also welcome three new directors to their 2022 Board. Inductees were chosen during a selection process and were be sworn in during a bi-annual board meeting on Jan. 19. Board members serve a three-year term, and the slate of Executive Officers advances each year, ascending from Treasurer to Vice-Chair and Chairman of the Board.

“The restaurant industry remains hardest-hit by the pandemic. It was important to us to add key perspectives from industry leaders around the state as we enter a transitional year and support our restaurants in every aspect of financial, community and workforce recovery,” said Carrie Leishman, president & CEO, Delaware Restaurant Association

The DRA Board of Directors is comprised of restaurant operators from business locations throughout  the state, as well as industry supplier representatives. Board members are chosen to represent their industry and workforce, upholding the mission and vision of the association and it’s philanthropic educational foundation - to educate, advocate and promote the restaurant industry in Delaware, while also developing ongoing training, educational and workforce development initiatives.

This year will prove pivotal for industry leaders and the Delaware Restaurant Association, as the industry struggles to regain footing lost during the recent pandemic variants and renewed mask mandate in Delaware. The DRA Board of Directors provide leadership, guidance and insight on industry needs and the direction of workforce development needed to combat a growing labor crisis (the DE leisure and hospitality sector remains down 4,800 jobs from a 2019 pre-pandemic levels, according to BLS.gov data). In 2022, the DRA will focus on a continuation of the ‘Forward Delaware’ rapid industry training (fueled by American Rescue Plan funding), as well as expanded entry and re-entry opportunities, including apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship training, for those looking to enter and advance in the hospitality industry.

2022 Executive Committee Officers:

Chairman of the Board: Carl Georigi, Platinum Dining Group

Founder & CEO of Platinum Dining Group - a privately-owned, full-service hospitality company that owns and operates six multi-concept restaurants, a full service special events/catering company and specialty retail markets in northern Delaware since 1996 and employs 410 hospitality professionals. Recognized by the Delaware Restaurant Association as Restaurateur of the Year in 2009, Mr. Georgi has served on the Sandford School Board of Trustees, the Lantana Merchant’s Association, Meals on Wheels, Downtown Newark Partnership and supports the following charities - Kind to Kids, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Ronald McDonald House, Ministry of Caring, Wilmington Flower Market, PanCan, Delaware Special Olympics, Delaware Community Foundation, Salvation Army, Cancer Support Community, and the Wilmington Challenge Program.

Vice-Chairman: Gianmarco Martuscelli, Martuscelli Restaurant Group

Mr. Martuscelli graduated from Salesianum High School and St. Joseph’s University and went on to open and operate the Chesapeake Inn Restaurant & Marina in Chesapeake City. In 2017 he became the President of the Martuscelli Restaurant Group which also owns and operates La Casa Pasta Restaurant and Klondike Kate’s Restaurants in Newark Delaware. He serves as president of the Chesapeake City Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as the DRA’s Cornerstone Award winner in 2019. The Martuscelli Group also founded the BJ Harris scholarship fund, donating yearly to students pursuing their dreams while working in the hospitality industry.

Treasurer: Jeff Gosnear, Grotto Pizza

Current Vice President of Grotto Pizza, a 23-unit restaurant company based in Rehoboth Beach. During his career, Mr. Gosnear has held key executive roles with restaurants groups in New Jersey. and Maryland and has developed and owned several independent restaurants in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Mr. Gosnear is an active Board Member/former Board Chairman of Easterseals Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, former Treasurer of Rehoboth Beach Country Club and in 2021 was named by one of the “People to Watch” by the Delaware Business Times.

Immediate Past Chair: Scott Kammerer, SoDel Concepts

Mr. Kammerer is president and CEO of SoDel Concepts, which owns 20 business operations: 16 coastal Delaware restaurants including two brewpubs, three sports concessions and a wedding-and-events venue. Mr. Kammerer has received the Marvin S. Gilman Superstar in Business Award by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Best Business Leader in Delaware by the Delaware News Journal, the DRA Cornerstone Award, Best Family-Owned Business by the Delaware Business Times and is among the most influential restaurant executives in the nation by Nation’s Restaurant News. After leading the hospitality industry through the pandemic as Chairman of the Delaware Restaurant Association, Mr. Kammerer was bestowed a board member seat with the National Restaurant Association. In 2015 he founded SoDel Cares, a charity that raises funds for causes that benefit children, at-risk youth, adults reentering society from the prison system and the elderly who need assistance. Beneficiaries include the Rehoboth Beach Boys & Girls Club, The Harry K. Foundation and Pathways to Success. To date SoDel Concepts has given out more than $850,000 in grants to local charities.

New DRA Board Members:

• Hope Lopez, El Azteca Group
• Holly Monaco, Big Fish Restaurant Group
• Parthiban Jayaraman (PJ), Pusan Group (The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grill)