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NEW ENGLAND CULINARY GROUP CELEBRATES 15 YEARS AS A PREMIER SUPPORT ARM FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
Connecticut-Based Professional Organization Connects Restaurants and Hospitality Businesses with a Trusted Network of Industry Experts

October 8, 2026, Stamford, CT: For 15 years, the New England Culinary Group (NECG) has operated with a straightforward mission: connect restaurant and hospitality professionals with experienced, trusted experts who understand their business.

Established in 2011, NECG has evolved from a networking group into a 501(c)(6) professional organization and hospitality resource, bringing together specialists with the expertise required to open, operate, market, and grow successful hospitality businesses.

Today, NECG describes itself as the hospitality industry’s “powerhouse collective,” taking businesses from “Dirt to Digital”—from developing a concept and physical space through operations, finance, technology, marketing, and ongoing growth.

“Restaurants are approached by vendors and service providers every day, but there is an enormous difference between hiring someone who can provide a service and working with someone who truly understands the hospitality industry,” said Linda Kavanagh, NECG Director and owner of MaxEx Public Relations, LLC. “Our members understand the pressures, margins, timelines and moving parts involved in running a restaurant. More importantly, they are part of a network where their reputation and accountability matter.”

That accountability has been central to NECG since its inception, with membership built through industry referrals and proven performance.

“From day one, NECG has operated on a defining principle: one expert per discipline, with membership earned and retained through reputation, referrals, and proven results,” says NECG Co-Director Mark Moeller, founder of The Recipe of Success, a hospitality operations advisory firm focused on improving profitability through stronger systems, leadership, and hands-on operational execution.

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In 2026, NECG took a fresh look at its structure, membership, and future, resulting in a revamped website with enhanced member communications, lead-sharing opportunities, member-written industry news, and a Help Desk connecting restaurateurs with multiple experts at once. The organization continues to combine longtime core members with a growing network of new industry professionals.

“Restaurant owners don't need more people telling them what they should be doing. They need experienced professionals who can help them actually get it done,” said Moeller. “The strength of NECG is that we can look at a hospitality business from multiple angles and connect an owner with people who understand how their piece affects the entire operation.”

That interconnected expertise is a key distinction of NECG. When challenges overlap, members can collaborate, make trusted introductions, and identify solutions beyond their individual disciplines.

Kavanagh and Moeller represent two increasingly inseparable sides of the restaurant business: building a strong operation and effectively positioning, marketing, and growing it.

NECG’s newly launched website makes its resources more accessible to restaurant owners, operators, and entrepreneurs. Its Help Desk connects hospitality professionals directly with appropriate specialists, while its Dirt to Digital Restaurant Roadmap helps entrepreneurs navigate the interconnected steps of bringing a hospitality concept from idea to opening and beyond.

“Fifteen years ago, we recognized that hospitality professionals needed a network built specifically around their industry,” added Kavanagh. “That hasn't changed. What has changed is how complicated and expensive it has become to operate a restaurant. Having the right people at the table and knowing they are accountable to your business and to each other is more valuable than ever.”

As NECG celebrates its 15th anniversary, its founding principle remains clear: hospitality businesses are stronger when the professionals supporting them work together.

ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND CULINARY GROUP

Established in 2011, the New England Culinary Group (NECG) is a 501(c)(6) professional organization dedicated to supporting the hospitality industry. NECG brings together experienced professionals representing the services, products, and expertise restaurants and hospitality businesses need to open, operate, and grow successfully. Through its professional network, Help Desk, Dirt to Digital Restaurant Roadmap, meetings, and industry events, NECG serves as a premier resource for the hospitality community.

https://newenglandculinarygroup.com/

MEDIA CONTACT:
Linda Kavanagh
New England Culinary Group / MaxEx Public Relations, LLC
info@newenglandculinarygroup.com

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