Delaware Restaurant Leader Leishman to Chair National Foundation

Carrie Leishman elected as chair of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation board.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Carrie Leishman, the president and CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association (DRA), has been elected as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). Leishman is the first state restaurant association CEO in more than a decade to serve in this role, which will allow her to shape national workforce development strategies for the restaurant industry.

Why it matters

Leishman's appointment to lead the NRAEF board is significant as it gives Delaware a prominent voice in shaping the national agenda for the restaurant industry, particularly around workforce development and career pathways. As a model state for programs like ProStart that connect high school students to culinary and hospitality careers, Delaware's approach will now have greater influence on the national stage.

The details

Leishman has championed Delaware's restaurant and hospitality industry for decades as the president and CEO of the DRA. Her election as NRAEF chair comes after five years on the board and roles such as treasurer and committee chair. In her new position, Leishman will be at the helm of the industry's response to critical workforce challenges, working to modernize education pathways and promote credentials that meet the evolving needs of the restaurant industry.

  • In January 2026, Leishman was elected as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the NRAEF.

The players

Carrie Leishman

The president and CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association (DRA) who has been elected as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

Delaware Restaurant Association (DRA)

The state restaurant association that Leishman has championed for decades as its president and CEO.

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)

An influential national body focused on education, workforce development and career pathways in the restaurant industry, which Leishman will now chair.

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What they’re saying

“It's really because of the work we do in Delaware. We are actively engaged, especially through the foundation, with all of the workforce programs of the National Restaurant Association and it's been so good for Delaware because we've been able to access national programs and bring them to Delaware.”

— Carrie Leishman, President and CEO, Delaware Restaurant Association (Delaware Business Times)

“I'm not the only state who's engaged in ProStart. All of our states are engaged. We just are a model because we penetrate so deeply.”

— Carrie Leishman, President and CEO, Delaware Restaurant Association (Delaware Business Times)

“It's a big deal for Delaware. It allows me to take national perspective and data and bring it to life here in Delaware. I do think that that this role also goes a long way for me, too. It helps inform our state in general as we look at workforce development and the value of the hospitality industry as an economic engine.”

— Carrie Leishman, President and CEO, Delaware Restaurant Association (Delaware Business Times)

What’s next

Leishman's leadership at NRAEF will place her at the helm of the industry's response to critical workforce challenges as they work to modernize education pathways and promote credentials that meet the evolving needs of the restaurant industry.

The takeaway

Leishman's appointment as chair of the NRAEF board gives Delaware a prominent voice in shaping the national agenda for the restaurant industry, particularly around workforce development and career pathways. As a model state for programs like ProStart, Delaware's approach will now have greater influence on the national stage.