Often dubbed the most important three feet of the house, in normal times, the tabletop communicates the restaurant’s brand promise and it starts establishing guest expectations even before customers take their seats. While much has changed in restaurants and foodservice operations thanks to steps aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, the role of the tabletop has not. It just looks a lot different for the time being.

The Wasserstrom Company has expanded and remodeled its Phoenix facilities.

Ursula Vermillion will retire from her post as executive vice president of national smallwares for The Wasserstrom Company effective June 28. The Columbus, Ohio-based foodservice equipment and supplies dealer hired Cathy King to fill Vermillion’s role.

After starting her foodservice career as a server and working her way up to overseeing new restaurant openings, Debbie Burke switched gears and tried something new. “I went into training and recruiting, writing management training manuals for several years,” she says.

After serving in operations at California Pizza Kitchen, Pei Wei Asian Diner and Cheesecake Factory, Nikki Roughley wanted a change of pace. “I started a family and wanted to get out of operations, so I moved over to the facilities side at Pei Wei Asian Diner,” she says.

Leveraging its core values of integrity, accountability and consistency keeps Columbus, Ohio-based Wasserstrom flexible enough to adapt to the ever-changing foodservice industry landscape while remaining true to the company’s 112-year history.

With 1,500-plus employees working in 20 locations, Wasserstrom is a large and diverse organization that continues to maintain a small company feel. Wasserstrom does this by balancing the strengths of its past with an understanding that the company needs to remain flexible in order to adapt to changing market conditions.

Wasserstrom to accept this year's award on May 17.

Josh Cohen broke into the foodservice industry working in restaurant operations. And about eight years ago he made a career change by joining The Wasserstrom Company. Cohen has been in his current role for six years.

Once she got started in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry, Wasserstrom's Becki Pretzer wasted little time in establishing the foundation of an excellent career.

In his three decades with The Wasserstrom Co., John Sweeney has created a solid reputation in the industry as a traditional sales rep with street sales skills.