Joe Reinstein
Executive Director, Digital Restaurant Association
Joe Reinstein is the Executive Director of the Digital Restaurant Association (DRA). In this role, Joe is responsible for delivering value to the association’s members, partners and the restaurant technology ecosystem. Joe is the driving force behind the DRA mission to champion restaurants to thrive in a digital world through public policy advocacy, educational resources, and technology solutions to support restaurants in building and growing a profitable digital restaurant business.
Prior to joining the DRA, Joe was Global Growth Officer at Publicis Groupe’s Performics, one of the largest digital media agencies in the world. Prior to Publicis Groupe, Joe was Deputy Social Secretary at the White House in the Obama Administration, where he managed all arts and cultural events at the White House and produced the Emmy-nominated White House Music Series. The arts and culinary arts played a central role in delivering the President’s and Mrs. Obama’s vision to turn the White House into the People’s House with more access and diversity. Joe spent his early career in advertising, helping Taco Bell revolutionize the QSR category with the creation of the value menu. After 59, 79 and 99 cent tacos, Joe also worked on a myriad of food and beverage brands including PepsiCo, Aquafina, Quaker, Cap’n Crunch and Life cereals, Pepe’s Mexican Restaurants, as well as Wrigley gum and mint brands.
Joe is dedicated to social justice and is a founding board member of Cool Globes, a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of global warming and a board member of Skyart, a non-profit free visual arts center for youth on Chicago’s south and west sides. Joe’s stuffing and rosemary, thyme, basil, garlic and butter infused turkey is a Thanksgiving family tradition. Joe is an avid snowboarder, tennis player, contemporary art enthusiast and political junkie who married his college sweetheart and is a devoted father to their two talented and brilliant daughters.