PRIDE Unveils New Leadership, Honors Suppliers

PRIDE Marketing and Procurement, the dealer/shareholder-owned buying group, had a busy agenda for its April 8-13 Spring Conference in Denver. New board members were elected, preferred suppliers were honored, and new executives were appointed to helm the New Orleans-based group.

Demetre Selevredes II has been named President and interim Chief Executive Office in the wake of Robert Autenreith’s departure as CEO. Selevredes is a founding member of PRIDE, which got its start in 1989 as one of the first buying groups in the foodservice equipment industry owned by its members. It now has more than 125 dealer members.

After 10 years as PRIDE’s director of member vendor relations, Catherine Ellickson has been appointed Chief Operations Officer. “Coming out of the PRIDE conference this week, I am renewed with a sense of energy and optimism. We have a newly elected board and a cohesive group that is committed to seeing that PRIDE is vibrant and healthy,” said Ellickson. “The passion, collective presence, and next generation representation at conference was more exciting and positive than I have seen in the past 10 years. It’s about the dealer’s business and their bottom line.”

Those four newly elected board members are: Ellison Berlin, Berlin’s Restaurant Supply, North Charleston, S.C.; Tod Firotto, San Diego Restaurant Supply; Seth Rosborough, 1^st Choice Restaurant Equipment & Supply, San Antonio; and Jim Strickler, American Energy Restaurant Equipment, Springfield, Va.

“PRIDE has always been counted on as an innovator in its industry,” Selevredes said. “This board will certainly build on PRIDE’s work and ensure that our team continues on its acclaimed trajectory of buying-power strength and IT innovation.”

In addition, PRIDE recognized its Preferred Suppliers for their outstanding performance and support of its dealer/shareholders in 2015:

• Equipment Supplier: True Manufacturing

• Smallwares Supplier: Cambro

• Light Equipment Supplier: Vollrath

• PRIDE PEAK Trainer of the Year: Erica Motes, Beverage Air

• PRIDE PEAK Training (Live Training): Vulcan

• PRIDE PEAK Training (Best Tour): T&S Brass