Reginald L. Martin
Pearland,USA
Summary
Highly accomplished in hospitality, culinary management, and food and beverage service, focusing on business performance, eliminating waste, maximizing productivity, and building solid hospitality teams. Innovative professional with current expertise in aligning food and beverage services with the brands vision, quality, specifications, and product improvement processes. Demonstrated ability to analyze, develop, and implement strategic business plans that reduce operational risks, generate high rates of satisfaction, and maximize ROI. Resourceful leaders, skilled in managing P&L responsibilities and advancing new concepts.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Interim Executive Director
Houston Hospitality Alliance
07.2025 - Current
- Provide strategic leadership for a hospitality trade association representing 75+ member businesses across Houston’s restaurant, bar, and nightlife sectors.
- Lead advocacy efforts and external relations, serving as the primary voice of the industry with city officials, regulators, tourism partners, and community stakeholders.
- Develop and execute member engagement initiatives, events, and programs that strengthen member value, retention, and industry collaboration.
- Oversee association operations with full responsibility for a $500K annual budget, ensuring financial sustainability and transparent governance.
- Steward a $6.5M investment portfolio, exercising fiduciary oversight and aligning assets with long-term organizational goals.
- Drive entrepreneurial and revenue-generating initiatives, including sponsorships, partnerships, and industry programming.
- Manage organizational operations, policies, and staff to support a high-performing, member-focused association.
Chief Operations Officer / Managing Partner
Lemond Kitchen
01.2001 - 05.2025
- Spearhead all aspects of food and beverage operations for a full-service restaurant. Lead strategic planning, concept development, menu design, employee performance and training initiatives, P&L accountability, and sales and marketing functions to drive business growth. Provide vision, mission, and strategy for catering, restaurant operations, and facility management.
- Key Achievements:
- Guide hospitality teams through the proper execution of Front-Of-House and Back-Of-House operations during on-site and off-site catering events.
- Leverage keen negotiation skills to acquire catering and food service contracts with public, private, and educational institutions, resulting in $1M+ in revenue and P&L responsibility.
Culinary Director
Houston Independent School District
08.2008 - 07.2016
- Oversaw all aspects of budget administration, regulatory compliance, employee training, student performance, and the development of the Culinary Arts training program, curriculum, and training schedule. Held accountability for developing and implementing the concept for the buildout of a commercial teaching kitchen, including all aspects of design, budget, and curriculum of America and HISD to provide oversight in the design of educational curriculum and the buildout of a commercial teaching kitchen.
- Determined functionality and floor plan design processes, commercial equipment procurement, health and safety code compliance, technological integrations, and budget and workflow management.
- Improved program performance by evaluating the training needs of the students.
- Streamlined operations by collaborating with the staff to align culinary initiatives and promote the training of students in preparation for employment.
- Maintained compliance with accreditation and college standards.
- Facilitated instruction and leadership training to culinary assistants to ensure seamless operations.
Territory Sales Manager
Tennant Company
Regional Sales Representative
E.I. DuPont
Education
Master of Business Administration - Strategy and Management
Western Governor's University
01.2016
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Business Development
Texas A&M University
College Station, TXAssociate of Arts - Culinary Arts Certificate
Lenotre Culinary Institute
Houston, TXSkills
- Strategic Planning
- Project Management
- Industry Networking
- Sales & Marketing
- Budget Administration
- Revenue generation
- Partnership development
- Strategic planning
Affiliations
- American Culinary Federation
- American Association of American and Consumer Sciences
- Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce
- Houston Community College
- Lenotre Culinary Institute
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Certification
- ACF Certified Executive Chef
- ACF Certified Culinary Educator
- ServSafe, Instructor and Proctor
- Certified Hospitality, Nutrition and Food Science Instructor
Timeline
Interim Executive Director
Houston Hospitality Alliance
07.2025 - Current
Culinary Director
Houston Independent School District
08.2008 - 07.2016
Chief Operations Officer / Managing Partner
Lemond Kitchen
01.2001 - 05.2025
Territory Sales Manager
Tennant Company
Regional Sales Representative
E.I. DuPont
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Business Development
Texas A&M University
Associate of Arts - Culinary Arts Certificate
Lenotre Culinary Institute
Master of Business Administration - Strategy and Management
Western Governor's University
Board Interaction Experience
- Chair of the Board, Houston Hospitality Alliance, January 2023–2024, January 2025–July 2025
- Board of Directors (Sales and Marketing, Operations, Co-Chair), Houston First Corporation, 2019 – 2024
- Board of Directors (Chairmen of the Board), Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, HHA, 2014 – 2023
- Past-President, Executive Board Member, Government Affairs Committee, Greater Houston Restaurant Association, 2014 – Present
- Executive Board Member, Texas Restaurant Association, 2013 – 2018
- Board of Directors, Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, 2012 – 2022
- Board of Directors, The Rise School of Houston, 2019–2021
- Chapter Director, Houston, Texas Chefs Association, 2018 – 2020
Awards
National Champions Healthy Schools Meals Competition, 2015, Texas Restaurant Association Educator of the Year, 2014