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New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association named current director of government affairs, Amanda Stone, temporary president.

The leadership changed came in a June 18 press release. According to the statewide trade association, Stone assumed the role after Dana Lancellotti resigned from her post as president and CEO to pursue other interests.

Stone will serve as interim leader until the selection of a permanent replacement, reporting directly to the group’s board of directors. She will also continue in her position as director of government affairs, NJRHA said.

Stone has served in that role since arriving at NJRHA in September 2021. During that time, she has been involved in several key initiatives and coalitions to protect business owners, operators and industry employees, according to the association. Her efforts include working to maintain fair market value of liquor licenses, protecting hotels from burdensome notification policies and preserving the tip credit, NJRHA said.

Prior, Stone was director of Monmouth County Tourism. Her career began as a news reporter, but she went on to transition into public service, working for state and county elected officials.

Looking for a leader

NJRHA Chairman Bob Wagner said the board of directors is in the process of forming a search committee to identify and evaluate potential candidates to lead the organization.

“We are confident in Amanda’s ability to hold the reins of our association during this period of transition, while simultaneously maintaining the restaurant and hospitality industry’s strong voice in Trenton and Washington, D.C. The Board of Directors and I look forward to working with Amanda in this interim role to ensure the NJRHA continues to pursue our important mission,” he said.

Wagner also thanked Lancellotti “for her service to the industry and the association.”

Lancellotti took on the role in March 2021 after Marilou Halvorsen left the organization to join the American Hotel & Lodging Association as vice president of state relations and government affairs.

For Lancellotti, the hospitality and tourism industries have played a significant role in shaping her career over the past 25 years, having held positions ranging from restaurant services to hotel sales management to multimedia advertising sales to Ocean County’s director of tourism.

As the state’s leading hospitality trade association, NJRHA represents over 25,000 restaurants and 1,500 hotels, as well as amusement parks, entertainment venues and other attractions. With a workforce of over 500,000 people, the hospitality sector is New Jersey’s largest private sector employer.