Meet Our Team

Pat Fontaine

Executive Director 

601.720.7924
​patfontaine@msra.org

Erin Buchwald

Member Services & ProStart® Coordinator

917.573.0456
erinbuchwald@msra.org

 Jessica Speights

Membership Manager

601.521.7312
jessicaspeights@msra.org
Pat Fontaine
patfontaine@msra.org
601.720.7924

Patrick Fontaine

Executive Officer

Pat serves as Executive Director of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association. He has worked for the MHRA directly, and indirectly, since 2004.

​Fontaine has an extensive family history in the hospitality industry in Mississippi. His grandparent's operated Allison's Wells Resort in Way, MS, near Canton, from the 1930s until it was destroyed by fire in 1963. Famed for hot sulfur baths and good food, it was the original home of the Mississippi Art Colony.

Pat grew up on the property of the La Font Inn, in Pascagoula, MS, which his family operated from 1963 until 1999. The La Font Inn was a 191-room property, with a restaurant, lounge, and banquet facilities. His knowledge of the restaurant and hospitality industries began at age 8, when he assisted with banquets, and carried forward to all duties, from the front desk clerk to room maintenance.

Pat graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1990. He also maintains his license as an independent insurance agent and is a member of the Mississippi Insurance Alliance. Pat and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brandon and attend Pinelake Church. They have three children, Wesley, Taylor, and Sydney.
Erin Buchwald
erinbuchwald@msra.org
(917) 573-0456

Erin Buchwald

Member Services & ProStart® Coordinator

Erin is our Member Services & ProStart Coordinator.

"I am very happy to be at Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association, and quite pleased with the ideas we have to grow and better our current ProStart Program® across the state. I will continue to travel to various program schools to connect with our educators one-on-one, and to learn how we can be more effective in recruiting and retaining students, teachers and schools for ProStart®.

Now more than ever, we need passionate, resourceful and driven people to enter the restaurant and hospitality industry. I believe Mississippi ProStart® can foster these traits already within interested students, and we as an industry need to do our best to support and promote the ProStart® program."
Jessica Speights
jessicaspeights@msra.org
(601) 521-7312

Jessica Speights

Membership Manager

Meet Jessica Speights. Jessica is our Membership Manager. She understands the needs of owners and managers better than most, as she has extensive experience in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Because of her time as a restaurant owner and caterer, Jessica knows the challenges currently facing our members.

"The benefits we offer business owners through MHRA are absolutely worth the membership. In addition to the discounts and money-saving opportunities, members have the backing of a dedicated MHRA team. If one of our members needs help with branding and marketing, customer service training, finding a reliable plumber, or whatever the case -- we will assist however we are able until the issue is resolved. I believe in our member businesses and their potential to grow and thrive, and I am happy to be a part of an organization that can facilitate their success."

About MHRA

Have you ever unlocked the front door to your business and felt as if you were carrying every business burden all by yourself?  Have you ever had questions that you simply could not find the answer to?  Did you ever wish you could find just another 1% to bring to the bottom line?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, you have uncovered a reason to be a member of the MHRA.

The Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association is the only trade association in the state that exists solely for the purpose of helping you become successful. 

We have a menu of training programs, many of which are free of charge to our members.  If it's hourly training you need, we have the program.  Need supervisory skills training?  Look no farther.  Allow MHRA to evaluate your financials free of charge. ​​
Our core of endorsed services is sure to bring more money to your bottom line.  From credit card processing and music licensing to health insurance and worker's compensation insurance, our programs and services will bring more money to your bottom line.

To add benefit, your industry is represented by a team of government affairs experts that are dedicated to protecting you from harmful legislation while promoting legislation that will benefit the industry.  We estimate that our Government Affairs victories have saved the average restaurant over $10,000 over the past 4 years.

But perhaps the most important reason for joining is that is simply the right thing to do.  Consider it your fair share contribution to an organization that is already acting on your behalf.  Your fair share contribution will help us expand our programs, services, and legislative presence so we can be of even more benefit to the industry. ​