History
Honoring the people who helped build NBBQA.
Since 1991, the National Barbecue & Grilling Association has brought together the people, businesses, and brands that help shape the barbecue and grilling industry.
What began as a gathering place for barbecue professionals has grown into a national association serving restaurants, caterers, food trucks, pitmasters, product makers, retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, media professionals, educators, competitors, backyard cooks, BBQ enthusiasts, and industry partners.
NBBQA’s history is rooted in connection, education, leadership, and service. Its future is focused on helping the barbecue and grilling community grow stronger together.
Our Beginning
The National Barbecue & Grilling Association was founded in 1991 by leaders who believed the barbecue industry needed a place to connect, learn, share ideas, and support one another.
From the beginning, NBBQA was created to serve the people behind the business of barbecue — the restaurant owners, caterers, product makers, suppliers, manufacturers, competitors, and industry professionals working to grow barbecue as a respected and thriving industry.
The association gave members a place to exchange ideas, build relationships, learn from one another, and strengthen the future of barbecue.
Built by Leaders Who Served
NBBQA’s history has been shaped by dedicated leaders who gave their time, energy, ideas, and service to help strengthen the barbecue and grilling industry.
Over the years, NBBQA Past Presidents, board members, volunteers, committee leaders, members, sponsors, and industry partners have helped guide the association through different seasons of growth and change.
Their leadership helped build the foundation that NBBQA continues to stand on today.
We are grateful for those who served before us, opened doors, created opportunities, and helped bring the barbecue community together.
NBBQA Past Presidents
Each NBBQA president brought their own experience, ideas, and love for barbecue to the role. Their leadership helped shape the association and support the people and businesses in the barbecue community.
| Years | President |
|---|---|
| 2021–2022 | Barbara Latimer |
| 2019–2020 | Patrick Murty |
| 2017–2018 | Mark Lambert |
| 2015–2016 | Linda Orrison |
| 2013–2014 | Roy Slicker |
| 2011–2012 | Kell Phelps |
| 2009–2010 | Joe Oaster |
| 2008 | Howard Miller |
| 2007 | Trey Dishner |
| 2006 | Mike Mills |
| 2005 | Steve Walker |
| 2004 | Debbie Butterick |
| 2003 | Nick Nicholas |
| 2002 | Ralph Taylor |
| 2001 | Andy Jepsen |
| 2000 | Rick Marshall |
| 1999 | John White |
| 1998 | Jim Burns |
| 1997 | John Bassimier |
| 1996 | Steve Ross |
| 1994–1995 | Joe Phelps |
| 1993 | Chuck Bates |
| 1992 | Clark Ellard |
| 1991 | Bob Freeman |
A Legacy of Leadership
Serving as president of NBBQA is more than a title.
It means helping lead an industry filled with hardworking people, family businesses, creative product makers, restaurant owners, pitmasters, educators, and barbecue fans.
NBBQA past presidents helped carry the association through different seasons of growth and change. Their leadership helped create connections, support education, and strengthen the barbecue community.
We are grateful for their service.
Growing With the Industry
As barbecue grew across the country, NBBQA grew with it.
The association became a meeting place for people from every corner of the barbecue world, including restaurants, caterers, competition teams, manufacturers, retailers, product makers, media, backyard cooks, and industry partners.
Through conferences, networking, education, awards, and member relationships, NBBQA helped connect people who may have never met otherwise — but who shared the same passion for barbecue, grilling, live fire, and business growth.
Over the years, NBBQA has helped members:
- Build stronger businesses
- Learn from experienced industry leaders
- Discover new products and services
- Create lasting friendships and partnerships
- Share ideas and solve problems
- Celebrate excellence in barbecue and grilling
- Promote the value of the barbecue industry
A Community Built on Relationships
One of the strongest parts of NBBQA’s history is the relationships formed through the association.
For many members, NBBQA has been more than an organization. It has been a trusted network, a business resource, a source of encouragement, and a BBQ family.
Members have found mentors, customers, vendors, business partners, lifelong friends, and opportunities through NBBQA.
That spirit of helping one another remains at the heart of the association today.
Barbecue News Magazine and the NBBQA Connection
The story of NBBQA is closely connected to the larger barbecue community, including Barbecue News Magazine.
Founded in 1990 by Joe Phelps, Barbecue News Magazine began as a newsletter created to share barbecue news, stories, and information with the growing BBQ community.
Joe Phelps was also a founding member and former president of NBBQA, helping shape the association during its early years.
In 2002, Kell Phelps took over Barbecue News Magazine and continued the family’s commitment to telling the stories of barbecue, promoting the industry, and supporting the people who make it special.
In 2022, Kell and Janet Phelps took ownership of NBBQA and began leading the association into a new chapter focused on member connection, education, digital access, live fire experiences, industry partnerships, and future growth.
A New Chapter for NBBQA
Today, NBBQA continues to honor the vision of its founders while meeting the needs of a changing industry.
The barbecue and grilling world now includes restaurants, caterers, food trucks, product makers, manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, media creators, live fire cooks, competitors, backyard enthusiasts, and fans who care deeply about the culture of barbecue.
NBBQA is building new ways to serve this growing community through:
- Special Interest Groups
- Educational calls and member resources
- National conferences and industry events
- Live Fire Experience events
- Awards and recognition programs
- Digital publications and media
- Youth-focused opportunities through Future of Q
- Partnerships with brands and industry supporters
- Member networking and business development
Looking Ahead
As NBBQA looks to the future, the mission remains clear:
Bring the barbecue and grilling community together.
The association is committed to helping members connect, learn, grow, and lead. That means honoring the people who built the industry, supporting those working in it today, and creating opportunities for the next generation of barbecue leaders.
From the early days of NBBQA to today’s growing live fire movement, one thing has remained the same:
Barbecue is built on people.
And NBBQA exists to serve those people.
Our Legacy
NBBQA’s legacy is found in the members who have shared their knowledge, opened doors for others, built businesses, served customers, fed communities, created products, mentored young cooks, supported the association, and kept the fire burning for future generations.
For more than three decades, NBBQA has helped bring the barbecue industry together.
Today, that work continues.
NBBQA honors the past, serves the present, and helps lead the future of barbecue and live fire cooking.
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