RALEIGH — Robert Poitras has been elected chairman of the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association.

Poitras, the son of  Louise and the late Robert Poitras of Tarboro, owns Carolina Brewery, which has locations in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.

"I am very honored to serve our industry as chairman for this year," Poitras said. "These are certainly challenging times, but I also see them as times of opportunity.

“North Carolina is a great place to live, work and vacation. We are fortunate to have so many unique restaurants, hotels, breweries, wineries and locally produced foods. I plan to help the NCRLA both promote our industry across the state, and to protect our interests with the governments in Raleigh and Washington.”

Poitras, 39, opened the first Carolina Brewery in 1995 in Chapel Hill and the second location in Pittsboro in 2007. The handcrafted beers have won many awards, including a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival and also at the World Beer Championships.

The award-winning beers can be enjoyed in Tarboro at On the Square restaurant.

Sterling Webster was elected chairman-elect, Bart Ortiz treasurer and Christina Larson secretary.

Sterling Webster of the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk was pegged as the chairman-elect. Bart Ortiz of Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels was elected as the executive committee’s treasurer while Christina Larson of LongHorn Steakhouse in Greensboro will serve as the board’s secretary.

“We are very lucky to have such a great group of hospitality leaders on our board,” said NCRLA President and CEO Paul M. Stone, “Their expertise in the industry and dedication to serving our members is invaluable.”

The purpose and mission of NCRLA is to protect, promote, inform and improve the restaurant and lodging industries in North Carolina. NCRLA lobbies the state General Assembly and regulatory agencies to safeguard the interests of its members, protecting their business interests while ensuring the safety, health and enjoyment of the dining and lodging public.

 In addition, NCRLA provides a host of products and services – from discount training programs to group health insurance – that help its members stay ahead of the game.