Tony Abruscato

About Tony Abruscato

In 2022, I came full circle—returning to my roots in marketing, event strategy, and association leadership—by joining the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) as Chief Marketing Officer. Today, I lead brand development, event marketing, and major events for the $138 billion Texas foodservice industry, which includes more than establishments and 1.4 million employees, representing 11% of the state’s workforce.Across my 40+ year career, I’ve been guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, a passion for community impact, and a relentless drive to build meaningful connections between organizations and the audiences they serve.My journey began in public service—in 1983, I became the youngest elected official in Illinois history at age 19, chairing a $4 million government board. By age 20, I was already a member of a bank’s management team, honing my skills in marketing, operations, and client relations.In the mid-1990s, I transitioned to the world of event production and sponsorship strategy, recognizing the untapped potential for aligning nonprofits and corporate partners through experiential campaigns. This shift led me to a thriving career with one of the Midwest’s leading special event firms.In 2011, I acquired the Chicago Flower & Garden Show®, where I embraced the role of storyteller, educator, and community champion under the mantra: “Inspire. Educate. Motivate.”Over the next decade, I became affectionately known as “Mr. Green Chicago,” building a beloved annual event and expanding its reach through partnerships, community initiatives, and educational programming.Although the Flower & Garden Show closed in 2020 due to COVID-19, the mission lived on. I channeled that energy into the Get Growing Foundation, the nonprofit I launched in 2017 to support urban greening and horticultural education. This included launching the PLANT TRUCK Chicago, a mobile plant boutique, and producing the Get Growing! EXPO series—creative efforts that continued until the foundation’s closure in 2022.Today, I’m proud to bring this same spirit of creativity, resilience, and mission-driven leadership to the restaurant and hospitality industry through the TRA. Whether I’m building a brand, designing an experience, or forging strategic alliances, my goal is always the same: create impact, deliver value, and leave a legacy worth growing.

Experience

1. Chief Marketing Officer

   Texas Restaurant Association

   Jun 2022 — Present · Austin, TX, US

   The Texas Restaurant Association serves, educates and supports the restaurant industry in Texas. We ensure our members have the resources to succeed and grow. Since 1937, the Texas Restaurant Association has existed to help our restaurant members increase sales, reduce expenses and improve profitability. Membership in the TRA is an investment in your business and in this industry.

Skills

• Brand Development
• Press Releases
• Sales
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Online Advertising
• Time Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Strategy
• Market Research
• Leadership
• Negotiation
• Event Management
• Budgets
• Community Outreach
• Project Management
• Advertising
• Online Marketing
• Corporate Events
• Integrated Marketing
• Nonprofits
• Sponsorship
• Special Events
• Non-Profits
• Small Business
• Sustainability
• Marketing Communications
• Facebook
• Management
• Team Building
• Special Events Production
• Contract Negotiation
• Event Planning
• Account Management
• Public Speaking
• Newsletters
• Social Media Marketing
• Marketing
• Strategic Partnerships
• Strategic Communications