Joe Reinstein is Executive Director, CEO and Acting Chair of the Board of Directors 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. Under Joe’s leadership, the DRA launched in pursuit of becoming the premiere restaurant industry resource for profitable online revenue generation, innovation, public policy and growth. 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 managing over $5 billion in digital media globally. Joe delivered over $70 million in new revenue, created Intent-based Marketing, putting consumer intent at the center of strategic planning. He also created the Intent Lab, a research partnership with Northwestern University responsible for the Digital Satisfaction Index, a quarterly survey of the digital attitudes and behaviors of consumers.

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. Joe worked closely with White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and White House Pastry Chef Susan Morrison creating memorable, mouth-watering and event specific menus for hundreds of White House events. Joe partnered with Rick Bayless to create a Mexican-inspired menu for the State Dinner with Mexico, as well as Bobby Flay for a White House BBQ on the South Lawn launching President Obama’s My Brother’s Keepers initiative. 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 is dedicated to social justice and has worked to change perceptions of the United Way and the Anti-Defamation League. Joe is a founding board member of Cool Globes, a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of global warming. Joe led digital strategy for Know Tomorrow, Cool Globes’ campaign to unify, amplify and synchronize Millennial voices demanding action on climate change. Additionally, Joe is a board member of Skyart, a non-profit free visual arts center for youth on Chicago’s south and west sides.

Following his education at Oberlin College, with study abroad at the London School of Economics and the Lake Forest College Program In Greece, 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’s summer job in high school was making chicken salad and running the kitchen for a charity design house.

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.