Restaurant Industry Changemakers Honored for Their Commitment to People-Focused Leadership
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~ Last week, four exceptional leaders in the restaurant and foodservice industry were honored with the 2024 Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards in Washington, D.C. These awards, sponsored by American Express, Ecolab, and PepsiCo, recognize individuals who are dedicated to creating community, promoting equity and advancement within the industry, and investing in the next generation of workers.

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) named a $2,500 scholarship after each award winner to support a student pursuing a post-secondary degree in the restaurant and foodservice industry. In addition to this recognition, the honorees also participated in a panel discussion during the NRAEF's fall board meeting where they shared their insights on leadership and advancement for future industry leaders.

According to NRAEF president Rob Gifford, "The Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards highlight some of the incredible efforts happening across the industry to lift people up and empower them to grow. Their stories show how they are giving back to the industry that helped fuel their professional journeys and building a strong future for the next generation of restaurant and foodservice leaders."

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One of this year's award recipients was Jerome Dees of Dees Partners who received the My Journey Award. Originally from Oakland, California, Dees funded his college education at San Francisco State through his self-made catering company. With nearly two decades of experience in directorial roles within various restaurant and foodservice organizations, Dees is passionate about creating mentorship opportunities and career paths for individuals from similar backgrounds as his own. He works closely with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NIFTE) to cultivate tomorrow's entrepreneur leaders.

Gary LeBlanc of Portsmouth, Virginia was presented with the Community Champion Award by American Express. As a New Orleans-trained chef and native, LeBlanc founded Mercy Chefs in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina with a mission to provide handcrafted meals to those impacted by disasters. To date, Mercy Chefs has served over 27 million meals and responded to more than 200 deployments across 33 U.S. states and 31 countries with the help of over 15,000 volunteers.

The Inclusion Innovator Award, presented by PepsiCo, was given to Warren Thompson, President and Chairman of Thompson Hospitality. As the leader of the largest minority-owned foodservice and facilities management company in the U.S., Thompson has been a trailblazer in creating an inclusive and equitable industry environment. He serves on multiple boards aimed at building career pathways and promoting diversity in corporate and education environments.

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Lastly, Dr. Tim Ryan, Chancellor of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), received the Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award from Ecolab for his lifetime of service to the restaurant and foodservice industry. With a distinguished career that includes multiple awards and over two decades as the longest-serving president of CIA, Dr. Ryan played a pivotal role in establishing the world's first bachelor's and master's degree in culinary arts at CIA. He also expanded continuing education programs for industry professionals and enthusiasts. Despite his success, Dr. Ryan remains dedicated to giving back to the industry where he started as a dishwasher, emphasizing the importance of education in shaping future culinary leaders.

To learn more about this year's Restaurants Advance Leadership Award winners, visit ChooseRestaurants.org. These visionary leaders serve as shining examples of how individuals can make a positive impact within their communities while advancing opportunities for all within the restaurant and foodservice industry.
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