IN MEMORIAM: MIKE CARPENTER

Mike Carpenter, a former NAFEM president and a name and face recognized by hundreds in the foodservice equipment and supplies business, passed away suddenly April 23 in Utah. He was 58.

Carpenter had been chief marketing officer for Cooper-Atkins Corp. for the past two years. His long resume in the E&S industry spans posts at foodservice manufacturers including Anchor-Hocking, Focus Brands, Hobart Corp. and Vollrath Co. He was president of the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers from 2002 to ’03, and throughout his long career, he maintained a steady presence with the group, including service on the NAFEM board, executive and finance committees. He was on the Trade Show Advisory Council, serving as vice chair of The NAFEM Show in Las Vegas in 1995, and as show chair two years later in New Orleans. Carpenter began his NAFEM board tenure in ’93, and sat on the Smallwares Committee, and just about every ad hoc committee within the organization. In addition to holding a seat on the Member Screening Committee, he oversaw the creation of the Customer Advisory Task Force in ’02.

Services were private. Donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 4742 N. 24^th St., Suite 400, Phoenix, Ariz., 85016-4862. (www.wish.org) A contribution will be made to Make-A-Wish from NAFEM. The family has asked that cards and notes be forwarded to Kandi or David Carpenter at NAFEM headquarters, 161 N. Clark St., Ste. 2020, Chicago, Ill., 60601, for distribution to the family.