A transformational business leader with decades of P&L responsibility, Dawn Sweeney has built top-line revenues, served in senior leadership roles on corporate and nonprofit boards, and led legislative and regulatory advocacy for one of the nation’s largest business associations. Widely recognized for operational excellence, innovative strategic thinking, and integrity, she has earned a reputation as a collaborative, high-impact leader committed to achieving lasting results.

As the longest-serving and first woman President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association, Sweeney advanced and protected the interests of the nation’s one million restaurants and 15 million employees. She oversaw a historic governance restructuring, more than doubled membership, engagement, and revenues, and led the negotiations for an equity partnership with Winsight Media. That transaction—selling operational ownership of the National Restaurant Association’s Show, the largest foodservice and hospitality trade show in the Western Hemisphere—was the single largest financial deal in the Association’s 100-year history. She also positioned the Association as a technological and data-driven leader during a period of industry disruption, ensuring the $863 billion restaurant sector had the insights needed to thrive. She retired as CEO in December 2019.

Prior to joining the Association in 2007, Sweeney served as President of AARP Services, the organization’s taxable subsidiary, where she drove revenue growth from $185M to $790M and launched new product innovations for the 50+ market. From 1999–2002, she was Group Executive for Membership at AARP, expanding and diversifying membership by more than 30%, relaunching the brand for greater relevance, and creating the organization’s first knowledge management capability. Earlier in her career, she was Vice President of Market Development for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, where she launched Touchstone Energy, a national consumer brand adopted by more than half of America’s electric cooperatives within its first two years, reaching 18 million consumers.

Currently, Sweeney serves as Executive-in-Residence at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where she develops industry-driven solutions to challenges such as food insecurity, food waste, and obesity through cross-sector partnerships. She is also Senior Advisor for EndCAP Venture Partners, a venture capital and growth equity firm focused on innovation in retail and restaurants.

Her current board service includes:

• Chair, SITE Centers Corp. (NYSE: SITC): Audit Committee Financial Expert and Chair of the Compensation Committee.
• Lead Independent Director, FLUENT (CSE: FNT.U | OTCQB: CNTMF): Governance & Compensation Committee Chair.
• Chair, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital: Board leadership for one of the nation’s premier rehabilitation networks.

She previously served nearly 15 years on the Board of Save the Children US, including as Interim Board Co-Chair and Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee, where she led a governance task force that reshaped the structure of one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations. In addition, she has held leadership positions with The Economic Club of Washington, DC, the International Women’s Forum, and the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Sweeney has been twice named Trade Association CEO of the Year (2017 & 2019) and was recognized by Washingtonian magazine as one of the Most Powerful Women in Washington (2015–2019). She earned a B.S. in Government from Colby College and an MBA in Marketing with honors from The George Washington University. A graduate of Harvard Business School’s inaugural “Women on Boards: Succeeding as a Corporate Director” program, she has guest lectured at Harvard Business School, Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. She is also an NACD Certified Director.