3
Winter 2014 Issue
CHAIRMAN OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Roy Getz – Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Geoff Hetrick
EDITOR AND DIRECTOR
OF COMMUNICATIONS
Natalie Walston
ORA BOARD MEMBERS
Robert Abruzzi – Bob Abruzzi Consulting, LLC
John Allison – Ecolab
Paul Belle – Firehouse Subs
Lynn Brown – Outback Steakhouse
Jerry Cagle – Gordon Food Service
Gary Callicoat – Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern
Brody Danner – The Submarine House
Joe Eulberg – Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
Doug Fahrenholz – Wasserstrom Company
Jeff Fix – Avalon Foodservice, Inc.
David Frissora – Wendy’s Co.
Roy Getz – Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
Mike Haunert – Sysco Cincinnati, LLC
Nick Kostis – Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant & Club
Sam Lindsley – Michael Symon Restaurants
Mario Parisi – Green Nature Marketing/I-Supply Company
Roger Parker – The Toledo Club
Ed Pickens – Ed Pickens’ Cafe on Main
Ann Reichle – Angelina’s Pizza
Jamie Richardson – White Castle
Michael Short – Royalwood Caterers
Mike Sopko – OSI Restaurant Partners
Michael Sylvester – Hide-A-Way Buffalo Grill
Sheila Trautner – Taste Hospitality Group
Ohio Restaurant Association à la Carte (ISSN 1524-5411) is
published 4 times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) by the
Ohio Restaurant Association, 1525 Bethel Road, Suite #201,
Columbus, OH 43220-2054.
Subscription $8 per year for association members only. Periodical
Class Postage paid at Columbus, OH and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Ohio Restaurant
Association, à la Carte, 1525 Bethel Road, Suite #201,
Columbus, OH 43220-2054.
Disclaimer: All factual material is obtained from sources believed to
be reliable but is not guaranteed.
1107 Hazeltine Boulevard, Suite #350
Chaska, MN 55318
(800) 572-0011
Printed by:
in filling an $8 billion budget deficit without
raising taxes.
• Majority Floor Leader Barbara Sears (R)-
Sylvania:
Rep. Sears was the sponsor of HB
511, the ORA-initiated bill that addressed
the 25 vs. 30 hour disparity between Ohio
insurance law and The Affordable Care Act.
Barbara is not afraid to take on tough issues,
leading the charge to expand Medicaid
coverage and reform our state’s unemployment
compensation system. She has spoken at
several ORA events over the last few years.
• Assistant Majority Floor Leader Jim Buchy (R)-
Greenville:
Jim Buchy represents all that is good
about public service—he’s smart, principled,
consistent in his views about the limited role of
government…and he’s always a gentleman. In
his former capacity with Buchy Foods, he served
a term on the ORA’s Board of Directors.
• Majority Whip Mike Dovilla (R)-Berea:
Mike
is a veteran of Navy intelligence and one of
the most thoughtful members of the House.
The ORA first established a relationship with
Mike before he was even sworn into office.
ORA board member Ann Reichle serves as our
liaison with Rep. Dovilla on issues impacting
our industry.
• Assistant Majority Whip Dorothy Pelanda (R)-
Marysville:
A domestic relations attorney, Rep.
Pelanda has quickly established herself as one
of the most well-informed state representatives.
She creates a three-ring binder for the major
issues in which collects related fact sheets,
studies and position papers.
• Minority Leader David Leland (D)-Columbus:
David is returning to his old House seat and
has been involved in Democratic politics for
years. He served four terms as Ohio Democratic
Party Chairman and as Governor Strickland’s
campaign committee finance chair.
Senate
• President Keith Faber (R)-Celina:
Keith is an
attorney and has served in both the House and
Senate. He is one of the General Assembly’s
biggest supporters of small businesses.
ORA member John Irmscher’s CJ Highmarks
Restaurant is the reception host for Sen.
Faber’s annual golf event.
• President Pro Tem Chris Widener (R)-
Springfield:
An architect by profession,
Sen. Widener was recognized with our Good
Government Award for his service as chair of
the Senate Finance Committee.
• Majority Floor Leader Tom Patton (R)-
Strongsville:
Before joining the Senate, Tom
served in the House. He is one of those people
who has never met a stranger. His annual golf
event fills three 18-hole layouts and attracts
supporters ranging from neighbors, to labor union
representatives, to business owners, to lobbyists.
• Majority Whip Larry Obhof (R)-Medina:
Sen.
Obhof seems to be the “go-to” senator on
almost every issue. An attorney, he simply
makes it his business to be well-informed
and in a position to objectively analyze a
wide range of issues.
• Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D)-Boardman:
Joe, an attorney, has an open-door policy that
encourages discussion about the issues of the
day. His district is in the heart of Ohio’s oil and
gas boom. He’s been a thoughtful voice in the
political process for addressing how the state
should deal with this growing industry.
On a personal level, I am excited serve
as the new Director of Government Affairs
for this great industry. While there is
a learning curve in any new job, I hope
that you will not hesitate to contact
me if I may answer questions you have
about government’s interaction with your
business. If I don’t have the answer at
hand, I’ll find someone who does and get
back to you in a timely fashion.
By Joe Rosato
Director of
Government Affairs,
Ohio Restaurant Association
