North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association

Metzger has served as the Director of Communications for the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) for over two years. During this time, the industry has navigated some of the most significant challenges it has faced, from grappling with the Opioid epidemic to COVID-19 closures that saw thousands of hospitality businesses closed and employees furloughed – overnight.

Metzger’s most recent projects with NCRLA have included the Restaurant Worker’s Relief Fund, bringing together donors to launch a grant program geared toward immediate short-term financial relief for the thousands affected by COVID-19 closures, and Count on Me NC, a public health initiative that provides training for business owners and patrons to navigate the latest health recommendations as doors begin to open again. Both initiatives have been rapid response measures coordinated with multiple stakeholders and organizations, teamwork that Metzger expertly directs toward an efficient and effective launch.

As a lobbyist for the organization, Metzger has also managed the organization’s legislative push to modernize NC’s alcoholic beverage laws, successfully working with a coalition to pass 2017’s “Brunch Bill” and managing the ongoing Free the Spirits campaign. 

In her post with NCRLA, Metzger maintains clear communication through all website content, member emails, social media, and through the editing of the organization’s quarterly magazine At Your Service.