For the first time in its 88-year history, the National Restaurant Association has chosen a woman to lead the $53 million revenue trade group with about 50,000 members. Dawn Sweeney, currently the head of AARP’s for-profit arm, AARP Services, Inc. has been chosen as the next CEO of the industry group, joining barely a dozen woman in Washington who are at the helm of influential trade organizations. Sweeney will start on Oct. 1, 2007. In an interview with CEO Update, Sweeney said engaging the industry’s state associations and local level groups, where initiatives like New York City’s trans fat ban began, will be a priority. “From the perspective of advocacy, particularly… Read More