(Washington, DC) Demonstrating the commitment of the National Restaurant Association to build on its success in industry-image enhancement and in communicating the value of the Association's brand, Association President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson announced today that Christopher P. Krese has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing and communications. Krese previously served as vice president of marketing and communications. He will continue to report directly to Anderson.

"When Chris joined the National Restaurant Association in November 1999, I indicated he would make immediate contributions as a strategic thinker and an aggressive tactician. With a 'can-do' and cooperative spirit, he and his team have worked with the Association's leadership and staff to package within the Cornerstone Initiative decades of ideas about how the Association can tell the positive and accurate story of the restaurant industry. Now, the Cornerstone Initiative theme is part of everything we do," Anderson said. The Cornerstone Initiative advances and promotes the restaurant-and-foodservice industry's image as the cornerstone of the economy, careers and community involvement.

"He is helping to implement the Board of Directors' vision for other priorities as well, including effective promotion of the essential role of travel and tourism, positioning the restaurant industry accurately and favorably on policy issues, and launching a diversity outreach program. The Marketing and Communications Division team also is communicating and contributing to the value of the Association's brand with great effectiveness through its award-winning Web site - www.restaurant.org - publications and periodicals."

The Marketing and Communications Division includes five departments with responsibility for the Association's community relations program, product development and marketing, Web site, editorial function, and member communications.

Prior to joining the National Restaurant Association, Krese was vice president of communications for the American Frozen Food Institute. Previously, he served as press secretary to former Rep. William F. Clinger (R-PA) and as a staff member of the former U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee. Krese is active in the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and serves on the ASAE Political Action Committee (A-PAC) and ASAE's Advance America Committee. A graduate of Georgetown University and a native of Cleveland, OH, Krese lives in Alexandria, VA, with his wife, Jennifer S. Krese.

The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 844,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 11.3 million employees. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at www.restaurant.org.

Kristin Nolt
202-331-5964
National Restaurant Association