The gavel has been passed.

After a hardworking and successful year as Chairman of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA) Board of Directors, Mark Dougherty, owner of Mark's East Side in Appleton, welcomed his successor with praise and a few words of advice.

WRA is a non-profit trade association that works to promote, improve and protect the state's foodservice and hospitality industry. With over 7,000 member restaurant locations, it is one of the largest per capita in the United States.

"Mark worked to re-invigorate our Board and get more members actively involved in the association," notes Ed Lump, WRA President and CEO. "He leaves a legacy of enthusiasm and hard work."

Incoming WRA Chairman of the Board is John Roherty of Roherty's Restaurant and Irish Pub in Janesville.

Roherty is only the fourth son to follow in his father's footsteps as WRA Chairman. Other father-son pairs include George F. Mader and Gustave Mader (Mader's Restaurant, Milwaukee); Karl Ratszch and Karl Ratszch, Jr. (Ratszch's Restaurant, Milwaukee); and Henry "Andy" Anderson and Gary Anderson (Andy's Restaurant, Kenosha).

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