James Kramer
Senior Vice President of Beverage Operations
Fertitta Entertainment
Texas Restaurant Association
James Kramer is senior vice president of beverage operations at Fertitta Entertainment, where he leads beverage strategy across a portfolio of restaurant and entertainment concepts. His work spans high-volume cocktail programs to rare and collectible wines, with a focus on consistency, quality, and innovation across all venues.
The Texas Restaurant Association named Kramer as a board member in 2025, recognizing his leadership and commitment to the hospitality industry in Texas.
He began his career in hospitality in 1992 as a bartender at Landry鈥檚 Seafood House in Kemah while attending junior college on a physics scholarship. What started as a part-time job became a career spanning more than 30 years. He has since led complex beverage operations and built partnerships across the industry, including work connected with organizations such as the Houston Rockets, and he is known for developing scalable programs, building lasting relationships, and enhancing the guest experience through beverage strategy. Kramer credits much of his success to the teams he has worked with and led.
He and his wife, Karyn, have been married for more than 20 years and live in the Houston area, where they are raising their daughter, Emma, who keeps them busy with her high school activities and sports. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors and with his family.