N
MRA is all about
EDUCATION
.
We educate our members on safe
ways to serve food and alcohol.
We educate our potential workforce on
opportunities in restaurant management
and the culinary field. Most importantly,
we educate state lawmakers on how our
industry works or doesn’t depending on the
laws they are passing.
On Call:
If you have a question or concern,
we are here to answer your call. Don’t
hesitate to call us for any question you
might have. Consider us your personal
assistant. Call when you have a question
that stumps you.
Food Safety:
Our association is the only
place one can go to get ServSafe training in
the classroom on a regular basis. ServSafe
is one of the only food safety certifications
the Albuquerque Environment Department
recognizes under their new food code.
While anyone can take a class, we provide
this educational service to our members at
a big discount.
Alcohol Server Certification (ASC):
The
NMRA has been providing ASC classes for
years throughout the state. We now have
a convenient, online, state approved class
available at ServSafe.com/NMServerPermit.
For a 20% discount, use the code NMOnline.
Workforce Training:
ProStart, our industry-
based curriculum, is in 56 NM High Schools.
It’s possibly in a high school near you. This
Restaurant Professional Start program
serves over 1,500 students in the state. You
would be impressed with the breadth of
knowledge these young students display
during our invitational at the Ben E. Keith
executive forum
show every year. They are educated in a
rigorous curriculum including restaurant
management and culinary arts. Get
connected with a ProStart school and get
connected to some of the best young folks
in our field today.
Scholarships:
NMRA members give
upwards of $30,000 in scholarships
annually. Every dollar given by our members
is matched with a scholarship from the
National Restaurant Association. Students
receiving these generous scholarships have
to be pursuing a degree in restaurant,
culinary, tourism or hotel management
in order to qualify. Qualify they do!
Many of them go on to pursue a career in
the industry.
Advocacy:
Most importantly, NMRA
educates lawmakers on our industry. The
recent debate over Right-to-Work legislation
was eye opening in the way that it showed
the disadvantage businesses have over
unions in this state. Unions take union dues
from every member and nonmember on a
monthly basis (as much as $50 a month).
Would you be willing to pay that much for
NMRA to exclusively represent you? We are
not against unions, but they are coming
after the restaurant industry with their
support of high minimum and server wages.
They are using their members' money to
fight these issues, and we just don’t have
the ability to assess our nonmembers in the
same way.
NMRA is the only entity looking out for
your business interests. Other associations
may be looking out for general business
interests, but we look out specifically
for you. If there is legislation that affects
restaurants, we make sure legislators and
city councilors hear your side. Sometimes
we win, and sometimes we lose. More often,
the legislation is dropped or tabled because
the legislator just hadn’t thought of the
unintended consequences on your business.
Education is the key. Educate yourself
today on the many ways NMRA is in
your corner.
NEWMEMBERS
NMRA STAFF
Carol Wight –
Chief Executive Officer
Mary Brown –
Director of Member Services
Celina Collier –
Administrative Assistant/Events
Brianna Dennis –
Alcohol Server
ServSafe Instructor
Russell Garcia –
Alcohol Server Instructor
Allison Kuper Smith –
Government Affairs Director
Victor Martinez –
Education Director
Cynthia Ploen –
Director of Finance
& Administration
Scott Sharot –
Alcohol Server Instructor
Dionne Wright-Bower –
Communications Director
REGULAR (RESTAURANT) MEMBERS
The Clubhouse at Del Rio,
Elephant Butte
A Bite of Belgium,
Las Cruces
Nob Hill Bar & Grill,
Albuquerque
Bee Hive Homes,
Portales
Best Choice Inn,
Albuquerque
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center,
Albuquerque
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Electronic Money Company,
Albuquerque
Santa Fe Liquor License (SFLL), Inc.,
Santa Fe
From December 2014 – February 2015
Not yet amember of NMRA?
Restaurant Associationmembers experience
key benefits of membership, including:
• Education and training discounts
• Online newsletter and industry alerts
• Dual Membership with the National
Restaurant Association
• Sponsorship and
networking opportunities
• Alcohol server and food
safety certification classes
• Special negotiated rates and discounts on
programs and services needed for their
restaurants—from payroll and health insurance
to plumbing and exhaust cleaning services, to
workers’ compensation and so much more…
Associate memberships and monthly dues payments
are available. Membership Matters!
Contact Mary Brown at
or 505-343-9848.
by Carol Wight,
Chief Executive Officer
6 New Mexico Restaurant Association
