Building Skills That Go Beyond the Kitchen: Restaurant Academy Highlights from American Express and Resy, in Partnership With the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
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Running a successful restaurant in 2026 requires more than great food and standout service. Owners and managers oversee everything from marketing and expenses to staff recruitment and development. Around 80% of restaurant owners and managers started in entry-level roles and developed their careers through hands-on experience, according to data from the National Restaurant Association, and many seek formal business training tailored to the realities of running a restaurant.
Restaurant Academy, a partnership of American Express and Resy, and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, was designed to provide that training. Recently, 29 restaurant owners, managers and leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for two days of mentorship, workshops and networking focused on building strong teams, enhancing guest experiences and driving business growth.
Participants ranged from first-time restaurant owners operating a single location to veterans with multiple restaurants and decades of industry experience. Their businesses encompass everything from a raw bar in New York to a Senegalese and West African spot in Chicago to a taco shop in Los Angeles.
“It was wonderful to watch firsthand as Restaurant Academy equipped leaders with practical knowledge to help them lead through challenges, build for the future and learn from each other,” said Jennifer Skyler, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at American Express. “I’m excited to see them bring that experience back to their restaurants — strengthening their businesses, creating opportunities for their teams and helping the communities they serve.”
Investing in the next generation of leaders
In a joint panel, Gregory Gourdet, award-winning chef and founder of Kann in Portland, Oregon, and Victoria James, sommelier and partner at Gracious Hospitality Management, discussed the importance of creating opportunities for staff to grow.
It’s “critically important” to invest in your team, Gourdet said. “If we’re not building these leaders, we’re not going to have our chefs and our managers.”
James emphasized the importance of ongoing development. “You have to keep opening the next door,” she said.
In another panel, Mashama Bailey, award-winning chef and co-founder of Grey Spaces restaurant group, and Nok Suntaranon, award-winning chef and founder of Kalaya in Philadelphia, shared how supporting their teams has made them stronger leaders.
“I want people to feel empowered,” said Suntaranon, who makes a point to check in with restaurant staff personally. “I want them to feel like they get treated well because that’s what they deserve.”
Bailey recalled the questions she asked herself while building her team: “‘How am I leading the business? And what kind of support do I need?’” Her answer: people who brought out her best and could help grow the business.
Bringing back new skills and connections
The program offered participants advice on the realities of running a restaurant, from managing finances to streamlining day-to-day operations, plus opportunities to connect with industry peers.
Rhodney Lloyd, owner of Chick N’ Friends Restaurant Development Group in Columbia, Maryland, has worked in the business for decades, but “things have changed a lot since I began,” he said. At Restaurant Academy, he could learn from and alongside fellow restaurateurs.
Bruce Haupt, owner of The Landgrove in Landgrove, Vermont, is less than one year into restaurant ownership. He came to the Academy looking to “level up and gain skills.” He left with a list of changes he plans to make, from establishing regular operating meetings to creating a system for inventory management.
Haupt had previously signed up for virtual training, but Restaurant Academy offered something different: the chance to learn in person alongside other restaurant leaders. For him, those connections were just as valuable as practical lessons.
“The community, the relationships that you form in a place like this — it’s really powerful,” he said.
Restaurant Academy builds on the American Express Leadership Academy, a global program now in its 19th year. To date, Amex has invested more than $100 million in Leadership Academy to empower leaders and drive purposeful change.
