2026 Education Program

Today’s restaurant operators are navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment—one that directly impacts profitability, staffing, and long-term sustainability. In this timely session, Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association, breaks down the most pressing national policy issues shaping the future of the restaurant industry.

Sean will provide expert insight into critical regulatory challenges, including the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform to support a stable workforce, growing efforts to rein in skyrocketing credit card swipe fees that erode margins, and the importance of preserving a strong U.S.–Mexico–Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) to ensure continued tariff-free access to essential food and beverage products for U.S. restaurants.

In addition to the national landscape, Sean will share his perspective on key state and local public affairs issues affecting restaurant operations in Massachusetts, helping operators better understand how policy decisions at every level of government influence day-to-day business and long-term planning.

Designed for independent operators, multi-unit leaders, and industry stakeholders, this session offers valuable insight into how advocacy, regulation, and business intersect—and what restaurant leaders need to know to protect their bottom line in an evolving policy environment.