---
title: "Wolfgang Puck CEO Joe Essa Named Chairman of National Restaurant Association"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/82190e64-e0a6-47a8-93d9-52cfd3391b76
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/wolfgang-puck-ceo-joe-essa-named-chairman-of-national-restaurant-association-2709050
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2019-02-01T15:10:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:31:03.131Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/8ceae759b3e79412bd63bd774aae621b1588.jpg
---

# Wolfgang Puck CEO Joe Essa Named Chairman of National Restaurant Association

**TL;DR:** Wolfgang Puck Worldwide CEO Joe Essa has been named chairman of the National Restaurant Association, while Geoff Hill, managing director of Roark Capital, will chair the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2019-02-01. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/wolfgang-puck-ceo-joe-essa-named-chairman-of-national-restaurant-association-2709050).*

## Story

The National Restaurant Association has announced its 2019 board officers, with Wolfgang Puck Worldwide CEO Joe Essa serving as chairman.

Additionally, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation selected Geoff Hill, managing director of Sonic Drive-In and Buffalo Wild Wings parent company Roark Capital, as its chairman.

Each of the officers will serve out a one-year term, Restaurant Business noted.

“This year’s chairs, Joe Essa and Geoff Hill, bring years of experience and passion for our industry to their new roles,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of both the National Restaurant Association and the Educational Foundation. “Their first-hand knowledge and dedication will provide valuable insights that will help the Association and Foundation navigate the challenges our industry faces.”

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- leadership change (topic)
- Buffalo Wild Wings (company)
- National Restaurant Association (company)
- Sonic Drive-In (company)
- board appointment (topic)
- restaurant association (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/wolfgang-puck-ceo-joe-essa-named-chairman-of-national-restaurant-association-2709050). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/82190e64-e0a6-47a8-93d9-52cfd3391b76).