FER Announces Winners Of Young Lion Awards

Foodservice Equipment Reports, with the assistance of industry associations and the magazine’s Awards Selection Advisory Boards, has named six accomplished individuals to receive the magazine’s first Young Lion Awards. The awards honor talented professionals aged 40 or younger who have already made a significant contribution to the foodservice equipment and supplies industry. The winners will be honored at the magazine’s 2013 Industry Awards Dinner, Feb. 8, 2013, at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Fla., in conjunction with The NAFEM ’13 Show.

The 2012-13 winners are:

• Dealer—Brad Pierce, Restaurant Equipment World, Orlando, Fla.
• Manufacturers’ Rep—Chris Folz, The Redstone Group, Englewood, Colo.
• Consultant—Eric Norman, MVP Services Group, Chicago, Ill.
• Service Agent—Dan Farmer, Fixxbook Inc., Albertson, N.Y.
• Commercial Operator—Ryan DeSimone, Bloomin’ Brands, Tampa, Fla.
• Noncommercial Operator—Steve Cerullo, Geisinger Healthcare, Danville, Pa.

The selections for dealer, consultant, manufacturers’ representative and service agent were made by the boards of directors of the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association, the Foodservice Consultants Society Int’l.-the Americas Div., the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry and the Commercial Food Equipment Service Association. The selections for the operators were made with the help of the magazine’s Awards Selection Advisory Boards for commercial operators and noncommercial operators and consultants. The boards are made up primarily of manufacturers.

“We’re very excited to recognize these talented and dedicated young industry professionals,” said FER Publisher Robin Ashton, in making the announcement. “They set a wonderful example for other young people entering the E&S business.” Ashton also thanked the associations and the Advisory Boards for their help.

FER also will announce the winners of the magazine’s Industry Service Awards and first Management Excellence Awards in the coming weeks.

For information on sponsoring and/or attending FER‘s 2013 Industry Awards Dinner, call or write Ashton at 800/986-9616 or rashton@fermag.com or Meetings Coordinator Christine Palmer at 847/336-2049 or cpalmer@fermag.com.

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