Ground Round President And Ceo Jack Crawford Named National Restaurant Association's New 2012 Convention Chair

The National Restaurant Association has selected Jack Crawford, President and CEO of Ground Round Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC (IOC), to serve as its Convention Chair for NRA Show 2012. In this capacity, Crawford will advise the Association as it steers the restaurant and foodservice industry's largest and most comprehensive event to new heights. The 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will be held May 5-8 at Chicago's McCormick Place.



"We are continually reinventing the NRA Show to meet the needs of our evolving industry," said David Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer of the National Restaurant Association. "Jack Crawford's unique perspective and insights from the operator community will guide the Show experience toward products, services and programming that address and solve the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry's toughest challenges."



The Ground Round IOC cooperative represents a group of independent owners, who purchased the Ground Round Franchise Rights and Trademarks in 2004. Since the brand acquisition, the group is now debt free, has five new units under development, and presents a unique franchise model whereby franchisees can own their own restaurant and have an ownership/membership stake in the overall future and growth of the brand. The IOC presently operates more than 24 restaurants in 12 U.S. states, with system-wide sales of $40 million. Crawford was elected by the group to serve as President and CEO due to his vast background and experience of more than 25 years with the Ground Round system and brand.

Crawford held various positions in the Ground Round system, including Director of Franchising and as a brand Franchisee serving as President and CEO of Maine Course Hospitality Group (MCHG), which owned and operated multiple restaurants and hotels in the Northeast.



Crawford has been a member of the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association since 2003.



The annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals. NRA Show 2012 will be held May 5-8, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The event attracts 58,000+ attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries, and showcases the latest products, services, innovative ideas, up-to-the-minute information about trends and issues and other growth opportunities than any other industry event. For more information, visit the Show Web site at www.restaurant.org/show.