Greater Kansas City
About the GKCRA
Members sit on regulatory and advisory boards holding interests of the hospitality industry in Kansas City. Members also regularly visit elected officials in Jefferson City and Topeka to advocate on behalf of the restaurant industry. The GKCRA works on behalf of members to educate them on changing regulations, resource development and operational issues that affect the restaurant industry’s bottom line.
The association also works to support the education of the next generation of service-industry professionals. Each year, the GKCRA awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving students seeking a career in the hospitality industry. Members and volunteers also work with 23 area high schools on their ProStart programs, a national career-building program for students interested in the culinary arts and food service management. In addition, the GKCRA annually awards over $20,000 in grants in support of high school ProStart programs.
Join the KC Restaurant Community
Interested in becoming a member of the KC Restaurant Association? Sign up for a membership today and join us for one of our monthly meetings at a member restaurant across the Greater Kansas City Area.
Attend One Of Our Events!
Inaugural
Each year in January, the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association honors its incoming president and newly elected slate of officers with the President’s Inaugural Ball. In addition, the event recognizes the restaurateur and company of the year award winners, two of the highest honors in the Kansas City hospitality community.
GKCRA Past Presidents
Each year in January, the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association honors its incoming president and newly elected slate of officers with the President’s Inaugural Ball. In addition, the event recognizes the restaurateur and company of the year award winners, two of the highest honors in the Kansas City hospitality community.
1916 - 18 • Guy Taylor
1919 • R.T. Smith
1920 • F. C. Templeton
1921 • H.E. Stiles
1922 • Myron Green
1923 - 24 • Frank Valerius
1925 - 26 • Unknown
1927 • H.L. Barth
1928 - 30 • Unknown
1931 • Watson Green
1932 • Tim Templin
1933 • R.G. Thomas
1934 • C.M. Hayman
1935 • S.L. Wolfberg
1936 • Joe Gilbert
1937 • Unknown
1938 • R.G. Thomas
1939 • Frank Lipari, Jr.
1940 - 41 • A.W. Bixby
1942 • Mrs. J.B. Dowd
1943 • Sydney Ginsburg
1944 • Marcel Compte
1945 • Fredd Ott
1946 • Anna Peterson
1947 • S.L. Wolfberg
1948 - 49 • J.W. Putsch
1950 • Harry Roe
1951 • R.L. Thomas
1952 • Ned A. Eddy, Sr.
1953 • Charles E. Glenn
1954 • Ray Shannon
1955 • Irwin Holzmark
1956 • Hugh Wallace
1957 • W.G. Fielder
1958 • Paul Robinson
1959 • James T. House
1960 • C.M. Hayman, Jr.
1961 • Richard Harman
1962 • Robert Keeney
1963 • Dan Sander
1964 • Jack Webb
1965 • Joe Ross
1966 • James Regan, Sr.
1967 • Al Cutcliffe
1968 • Ken Baker
1969 • John Foster
1970 • Lloyd Stephenson
1971 • Ned A. Eddy, Jr.
1972 • Kenneth Hill
1973 • Carl DiCapo
1974 • Steve White
1975 • Bruce McMullan
1976 • Richard May
1977 • Clifford Bath
1978 • Richard Arey
1979 • Dorothy Muck
1980 • Gary Berbiglia
1981 • Paul Sterner
1982 • Bill Rauschelbach
1983 • Steve Greer
1984 • Ron Regan
1985 • Vince Totta
1986 • Bonnie Kellenberg
1987 • Thom Bear
1988 • James Regan, Jr.
1989 • Avery Murray
1990 • Manny Lopez
1991 • Greg Hunsucker
1992 • George Cascone
1993 • Steve Cole
1994 • Clark Fletcher
1995 • Carl Brandt
1996 • Ron Barkley
1997 • Ed Holland
1998 • Forbes Cross
1999 • Todd Hulse
2000 • Solomon Melesse
2001 • Nassy Saidian
2002 • Avery Murray
2003 • John Geiger
2004 • Michael Bay
2005 • Victor Allred
2006 • Eric Parinello
2007 • Bill Birchfield
2008 • John Cassell
2009 • Jason Pryor
2010 • Al Hinman
2011 • Buddy Lahl
2012 • Bill Teel
2013 • Zach Doerfler
2014 • Bart Hickey
2015 • Dave Brown
2016 • James Eddy
2017 • Mike Garozzo
2018 • Kevin Timmons
2019 • Marty Elton
2020 • Jon Branstetter
2021 • David Lopez
2022 • Mary Jo Holland
Restaurateur of the Year
In 1976, the Board of Directors of the Missouri Restaurant Association voted to establish the Restaurateur of the Year award. Each of the MRA Chapters annually honor a local restaurateur who continually demonstrates their dedication to the industry and to their community. This award has become the most prestigious and meaningful honor given from the association:
1976 • Ned Eddy Jr. - Eddy’s Catering
1977 • Tom Gaul - Joe’s Barn
1978 • Bruce McMullen - Putsch’s
1979 • Carl DiCapo - Café Italia/Italian Gardens
1980 • Ken Hill - Gilbert Robinson
1981 • Gary Berbiglia - Joe’s Barn
1982 • Dorothy Much - Myron Green
1983 • Richard Arey - Plaza Inn
1984 • Bill Conklin - Oak Grove Truck Stop
1985 • Leona Yarborough - Yarboroughs
1986 • Clifford Bath - Harry Starkers
1987 • Jerry Gaines
1988 • Richard May - Gilbert Robinson
1989 • Vince Totta - V’s
1990 • Ron Regan - Whisker Riveys/Sunset Grill
1991 • George Cascone - Cascone’s
1992 • Paul & Pat Sterner - Village Green
1993 • Ron Rowland - White Castle
1994 • Steve Cole - Café Allegro
1995 • Greg Hunsucker - V’s Restaurant
1996 • Jack Fiorella - Jack Stack BBQ
1997 • Rod Anderson - Hereford House
1998 • Manny Lopez - Manny’s Restaurant
1999 • Ed Holland - Myron Green
2000 • Joe Bisogno - Mr Goodcents Subs & Pastas
2001 • Michael Garozzo - Garozzo’s Ristorante
2002 • Paul Khoury & Bill Crooks - PB&J
2003 • Ollie Gates - Gates BBQ
2004 • Doug Barnard - The Majestic Steakhouse
2005 • Tom Norsworthy - 54th Street Grill
2006 • John Geiger - Anderson Restaurant Group
2007 • Jimmy Frantzé - JJ’s
2008 • Richard & Theresa Ng - BoLings
2009 • Vic Allred - Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen
2010 • Steve Greer & Bill Teel - The Golden Ox
2011 • Jason & Shannon Pryor - Pizza 51
2012 • Chris Sutton - KC Hopps
2013 • Alan Gaylin - Bread & Butter Concepts
2014 • Bart Hickey - Seasons 52
2015 • Kevin Timmons - Nick and Jake’s
2016 • Mark Kelpe & James Westphal-BeerKC Restaurants, Inc.
2017 • Domhnall Molloy & Andy Lock - Summit Grill & Bar
2018 • John & David VanNoy - Jess & Jim's Steakhouse
2019 • Gregg Johnson - Minsky's Pizza, Osteria IL, Centro and eggtc
2020 • Rick & Kristi Ghilardi - Grand Street Cafe
2021 • Rick Renfro & Louie Riederer - Johnny's Tavern
2022 • Mary Montgomery Shatz - LongHorn Steakhouse
2023 • James Taylor - La Bodega
2024 . Kelly Magee - Q39
Company of the Year
In 2007, the Board of Directors voted to create the Company of the Year award. Allied companies are nominated by members of the GKCRA and then a committee of industry representatives selects the recipient. This annual Chapter award is given to recognize member companies for their selfless service and contribution to the community and association as a whole.
2007 • Osage Marketing
2008 • American Food Service
2009 • Boulevard Brewing Company
2010 • Liberty Fruit Company
2011 • The Roasterie, Inc.
2012 • Major Brands
2013 • AJ Goss Distributors
2014 • US Foods
2015 • Excel Linen Company
2016 • Pepsi Beverages Company
2017 • Hiland Dairy
2018 • Standard Beverage Corporation
2019 • Sysco Kansas City
2020 • C & C Produce
2021 • Heartland Payment Systems
2022 • United Beverage Company
2023 • Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits
2024. Heartland Coca-Cola