Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Salome on Main hosted a significant gathering in the heart of McAllen, Texas, the prestigious President’s Dinner for the Texas Restaurant Association’s (TRA) Legislative Wins. The event, carefully curated by culinary maestros Chef Larry Delgado and his wife Jessica, aimed to showcase the state of the South Texas restaurant industry and foster a sense of unity and growth within the association.
The President’s Dinner served as a platform for reflecting on industry achievements, discussing prevailing trends, and strategizing on enhancing association membership. The core idea revolved around unity and collective strength, with a clear message — joining the organization and possibly stepping into a board member role is a way forward for those wishing to express their concerns and impact the industry.
During the event, I had the opportunity to interact with Madison Gessner, Executive Director for the Central South Region for TRA. Gessner’s role is central, involving coordination with the boards across diverse areas such as Waco Temple, Austin, Victoria Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley. She highlighted the importance of creating a robust network of resources to support restaurateurs, encompassing local government affairs, advocacy, membership, and fundraising.
Joseph Monastero, Chief Operating Officer of TRA, marked the evening with an enlightening State of the Industry address. The discussion covered a spectrum of topics, including labor market trends, advocacy wins, and an overview of the restaurant industry in Texas. The most recent legislative session brought forth several wins, evidence to the association’s efforts in fostering a conducive environment for restaurant operators.
One of the focal points of the discussion was the achievement of regulatory consistency across different government levels. Gessner provided insights into how the association collaborated with elected officials to streamline regulations affecting the economy, specifically restaurants—the initiative aimed to establish state-set standards, ensuring uniformity of regulations for operators across municipalities.
Membership diversification stands as a cornerstone of TRA’s strategy. Recognizing the strength in diversity, the association endeavors to represent various cuisines and operation types within its membership. The President’s Dinner served as a venue to invite members and non-members to learn about TRA’s advocacy work and the benefits of joining the association.
The Texas Restaurant Association’s President’s Dinner celebrated legislative wins and a step towards building a stronger, more diversified association. Through insightful discussions, the sharing of industry developments, and a focus on membership growth, the event highlighted the TRA’s commitment to supporting the restaurant industry in Texas and showcased the promising path ahead.
