headshot_placeholder

Shannon L. Meade

Executive Director

Shannon L. Meade is the Vice President of Public Policy and Legal Advocacy for the National Restaurant Association, the leading business association for the restaurant and foodservice industry. The industry is the second-largest private sector employer in the nation, representing more than 15.3 million employees, nearly ten percent of the nation’s workforce. Shannon leads the Association’s Government Relations policy team and advocates before the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch on all labor, employment, and workforce development issues. She also represents the industry on federal regulatory reform issues critical to the success of the restaurant industry, including drafting and filing formal regulatory comments. She is responsible for shaping public policy debates by developing and advancing strategic advocacy campaigns. Shannon also serves as the Deputy Director for the Restaurant Law Center in overseeing the planning and strategy of litigation, as well as the planning and execution of the Law Center’s annual Legal Summit. Additionally, she serves as the Executive Director of the Emma Coalition, in partnership with the Littler Mendelson’s Workplace Policy Institute. As a former chief of staff and legislative counsel on Capitol Hill and regulatory counsel in the private sector, Shannon is a seasoned government affairs professional.