Today, the Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA) named Gary Callicoat, founder and president of Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, as the next chair of the Board of Directors.
Callicoat is a long-time industry professional who began his career as a restaurant dishwasher at age 15 and quickly ascended to operational roles within multiple restaurant groups, including Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.
He has served as the leader of the Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern since April 2002 and vice chair of the ORA Executive Committee since June 2020. As founder of Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, Callicoat has grown the brand from a single restaurant in Dublin, Ohio, to 22 locations in five states.
“It’s hard to imagine anyone more qualified to serve as the ORA’s next chair,” says John Barker, president & CEO of the ORA. “In addition to his restaurant career, Gary has served on nearly every committee of the Board and has a deep-rooted passion for the restaurant industry.”
Callicoat succeeds Sheila Trautner, president of Taste Hospitality Group, who served as chair from 2020 through 2022. Trautner’s leadership played an integral role in helping Ohio’s restaurant and foodservice industry navigate the pandemic, and she will continue to serve on the ORA Executive Committee as the past chair.
Callicoat and Trautner will be joined on the Executive Committee by Adrian Adornetto of Adornetto’s Selected Italian Foods in Zanesville as vice chair, Mike Haunert, formerly president of Sysco Cincinnati, as treasurer, and Doug Fahrenholz of the Wasserstrom Company in Columbus as secretary.
Additionally, the ORA announced the election of two new members to the Board of Directors: Allison DeRoberts and Adam Rammel.
DeRoberts is the manager of government affairs for Inspire Brands, a global restaurant company, with brands such as Dunkin’, Arby’s, Sonic, and Buffalo Wild Wings. She previously worked in government relations for Cardinal Health and The Ohio State Medical Association.
Rammel is co-founder of Brewfontaine and The Syndicate in Bellefontaine. He is also vice president of sales and marketing for Small Nation, which develops places, spaces and dreams for small towns and small-town entrepreneurs across the country.
“Allison and Adam are two fantastic additions to the ORA Board of Directors,” says Barker. “Each brings significant talent and expertise to our Board and represents the vast range of our industry, from globally recognized brands to an independent operator.”
In addition to new members, four current Board Members were re-elected for three-year terms commencing June 30, 2022. Representing ORA members statewide are Paul Belle of Firehouse Subs in Dublin, Gus Mancy of Mancy Restaurant Group in Toledo, Jeff Fix of RDP in Columbus, and Mike Sylvester of Hideaway Buffalo Grill in Canton.
