Mixing it Up: FER Redefines Industry Awards Celebration

More than 250 professionals from every segment of the foodservice equipment-and-supplies industry came together for the Foodservice Equipment Reports Industry Excellence Awards Mixer on Sun., May 19. The special event, filled with great food, music and cheer, honored and celebrated the 18 winners of the FER 2019 Industry Excellence Awards as well as 25 recipients of the National Restaurant Association’s Kitchen Innovations Awards.
Instead of a long sit-down ceremony, the mixer featured an exciting new format, comprising a brief awards presentation and plenty of opportunities for the impressive mix of attendees to mingle and make connections. Previously held biennially during The NAFEM Show, the now-annual event took place at a new location, Chicago’s Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, following the close of the day’s NRA Show.
“The goal here is to have some fun and get a chance to talk to as many different people as possible,” summed up Kelly Killian, FER editor-in-chief and chief content officer, during the awards presentation.
The FER Industry Awards include the Young Lion Awards, recognizing young, rising stars who’ve already had a meaningful impact on the industry, and the Industry Service Awards, honoring individuals who have made substantial, career-long contributions to the industry. The program also includes the Management Excellence Awards, acknowledging excellence in the management of unit and facilities development, design, equipment-and-supplies purchasing and maintenance functions in foodservice operations, among other qualities.
FER extends a special thank you to ITW Food Equipment Group and Welbilt, the event’s platinum sponsors, and to all our sponsors listed below. Their support makes this event possible. Be sure to mark the calendar for the 2020 Industry Awards Mixer, set for Sun., May 17.
FER Industry Awards Mixer Sponsors
PLATINUM:
-
ITW Food Equipment Group
- Welbilt
GOLD:
- Ali Group
SILVER:
- Advance Tabco
- Continental Refrigerator
- Heritage Parts
- Jackson Warewashing Systems
- Vollrath Co.
ASSOCIATION:
- CFESA
- MAFSI
The 2019 FER Industry Award Honorees are as follows:
Young Lion Awards:
- Commercial Operator: Brian Gill, Five Guys Enterprises
- Noncommercial Operator: Maya Vincelli, University of Richmond
- Dealer: L. Gene Clark, Clark Food Service Equipment
- Manufacturers’ Rep: Mike Klosterman, Apex Commercial Kitchen Co.
- Consultant: Joseph Schumaker, FCSI, SCG FoodSpace
- Service Agent: Dan Dibeler, K&D Factory Service
Industry Service Awards:
- Dealer: Brad Pierce, Restaurant Equipment World
- Consultant: Eric Norman, FCSI, Clevenger Associates
- Manufacturers’ Rep: Mike McGuire, Zink Foodservice Group
- Service Agent: Wayne Stoutner, Duffy’s-AIS
- Operator: Jeff Cook, McDonald’s Corp.
Management Excellence Awards:
- Large Commercial Chain (more than 250 units): Bloomin’ Brands
- Small Commercial Chain (fewer than 250 units): Shake Shack
- Noncommercial Operator: University of California San Francisco Medical Center
- Large Dealer (more than $40 million in revenue): TriMark USA
- Small Dealer (less than $40 million in revenue): Burkett Restaurant Equipment & Supplies
- Consultancy: SSA Foodservice Design + Consulting
- Service Agency: Hawkins Commercial Appliance Service

FER Industry Excellence Awards Mixer
Ted Speck & Simon Maple, Welbilt; Sean Cusick, Brinker Int’l.

Cathy Ellickson, PRIDE Centric Resources; Faith Osborn, Continental Refrigerator; Kelly Cain, SEFA LLC.

Paul Glowacki, Duffy’s-AIS, Dan Dibeler (Young Lion Winner), K&D Factory Service; Charlie Bruno, Duffy’s-AIS; Gary Potvin, Pine Tree Food Equipment.

Andrea Cocchi, Carpigiani/Ali Group; Tom Hotard, Electro Freeze/Ali Group; Bob Wolters, Specifi LLC.

Sally Ray, Hoshizaki America, NRA Kitchen Innovations Award Recipient.

Allison Rezendes, Foodservice Equipment Reports; Stacy Turek, ITW FEG; Alison Cody, MAFSI; Deb Hanson, Roxanne Holt, Danielle Teach & Jennifer Monnin, ITW FEG.

Laura Martinez & Vanessa Foden, Chicago Bar Shop, NRA Kitchen Innovations Award Recipient.

Jameel Burkett, Burkett Restaurant Equipment & Supplies (Management Excellence Winner), Kelly Killian, Foodservice Equipment Reports; Christina Collins & Crystal Rinker, Burkett Restaurant Equipment & Supplies.

Jeff Michael, Welbilt; Mike McGuire, Zink Foodservice Group (Industry Service Winner); Maribeth Kelly, Welbilt.

Jerry Hyman & Kimberley Gill Rimsza, TriMark USA (Management Excellence Winner), Cliff Baggot, Cres Cor.

Kelly Killian, Foodservice Equipment Reports; John Schwindt, Hawkins Commercial Appliance Service (Management Excellence Winner).

Eric Norman, FCSI, Clevenger Associates (Industry Service Winner); Jan Ashton, Foodservice Equipment Reports.

Wayne Stoutner, Duffy’s-AIS (Industry Service Winner); Allison Rezendes, Foodservice Equipment Reports.

Brad Pierce, Restaurant Equipment World (Industry Service Winner).

Robin Cook with Jeff Cook, McDonald’s (Industry Service Winner).

Andrew Hutner, Advance Tabco.

Peter Nordell, Edlund Co./Ali Group.

Greg Stak, Vollrath Co.; Lisa Kartzman & Sheri Stanchfield, Shake Shack (Management Excellence Winner); Stefano Pavesi, Vollrath Co.

Dan Henroid, UC San Francisco Health (Management Excellence Winner); Kelly Killian, Foodservice Equipment Reports.

Mason Earley, Ken Schwartz, FCSI & Ava Flamish, SSA Foodservice Design + Consulting (Management Excellence Winner).

Jeff Michael, Welbilt; Matt Morel, Bloomin’ Brands (Management Excellence Winner); Joan Salah & Maribeth Kelly, Welbilt.

Young Lion Winners: Joe Schumaker, FCSI, SCG FoodSpace; Mike Klosterman, Apex Commercial Kitchen Co.; Dan Dibeler, K&D Factory Service; Gene Clark, Clark Food Service Equipment; Maya Vincelli, University of Richmond; Brian Gill, Five Guys.

Tiffany Helton & Ela Davis, Heritage Foodservice Group.
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