Ed Lump retires as President & CEO of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association on March 31, 2018 after serving as the Association’s leader for 36 years.

Ed has been a strong leader and a passionate advocate for the restaurant industry who has inspired the respect of so many. He truly embodies the spirit of the industry and leaves behind a remarkable legacy.

Notable Highlights of Ed’s Career:

• Defeating a restaurant only smoking ban bill in 1981 – this was a challenge that Ed was faced with right out of the gate when he started at WRA
  
  
• Creating the Healthy Lifestyles program
  
  
• Developing member education programs
  
  
• Establishing a political action committee
  
  
• Expanding and strengthening WRA’s statewide tradeshow which is now the Midwest Foodservice Expo
  
  
• Piloting WRA through four major recessions
  
  
• Establishing the WRA Education Foundation and the Foundation scholarship program
  
  
• Launching the ProStart program in our state – which now has 110 schools participating
  
  
• Increasing membership – WRA now has 15 times more members than in 1981 when Ed started at WRA
  
  
• Countless successful fundraising and networking events
  
  
• Orchestrating the September 1st school start victory
  
  
• Negotiating dual membership with the National Restaurant Association
  
  
• Yearly visits to our nation’s capital for NRA’s public affairs conference
  
  
• Providing valuable services for members including the HERO operations manual, model employee handbook for restaurant operators, WRA hotline, ServSafe training, educational programs and more
  
  
• Supporting a smoking ban that leveled the playing field for all businesses
  
  
• Also countless legislative victories that ensure a positive environment in Wisconsin for restaurants to do business – too many to list individually

Through it all, no one could mistake his love for the industry and his love for his job. Ed we thank you for your leadership, dedication and friendship over the past 36 years. We wish you well!