The Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) is delighted to announce Jamie Durrence, managing partner of Daniel Reed Hospitality, as the 2020 chair of the GRA Board of Directors. A restaurateur for over 20 years with a tenured work history in some of Savannah’s favorite venues, Durrence is noted for his ambitious entrepreneurial spirit and brings a vast amount of expertise and functional creativity to his concepts. Durrence was raised on a working farm in Glennville, GA and has been a resident of downtown Savannah since 1998. He has served on the GRA board since 2014. Daniel Reed Hospitality concepts include Savannah restaurants Local11ten, The Public Kitchen & Bar, Soho South, Artillery and Agency Socialthèque in Atlanta at Phipps Plaza.

"After 20 years of service to the restaurant industry I am still profoundly in love with all its uniqueness and challenges,” said Durrence. “Working in hospitality has given me the opportunity for immense growth, personally and professionally, and I am thrilled that I can use my knowledge to help further the Georgia Restaurant Association's mission in making Georgia a better place to do business for all of our restaurants and their employees."
 
As chairman, Durrence will act as the chief spokesperson for the industry and lead the GRA Board of Directors and staff in their efforts to protect operator needs and interests. Durrence will also partake in several GRA signature events throughout his term including Taste of Georgia on February 19, Barbecues & Brews on April 8, GRA Golf Tournament on April 28 and the organization’s annual industry awards show, the GRACE Awards Gala, on August 16.
 
The GRA also welcomes nine new board members for 2020: Tal Baum, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Oliva Restaurant Group; Tray Doster, CFE, Director of Franchise Sales at Zaxby’s; Thomas Hallford, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of TSC Associates LLC; Matt Hene, Managing Partner at IRONWOOD; Joseph Hsiao, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Owner of H Restaurant Group; Sean Hyslop, President of Sysco Atlanta; Brian Renshaw, Partner at Moore Colson CPAs and Advisors; Hav Usry, Vice President of Operations & Executive Chef at Fat Man's Hospitality; and Katelin Yates, Director of Company & Community Relations at The Moonhanger Group.
 
“We are thrilled to have Jamie leading us in 2020. He brings a profound enthusiasm for hospitality and innovation that I strongly believe will take the GRA’s industry impact to new heights. With Jamie as chair, our new board members and current board roster, we will continue to carry out the mission of the Georgia Restaurant Association to protect and promote Georgia’s second-largest private sector employer,” said Karen Bremer, CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association.