The Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association held its 2020 conference remotely September 24-25. As part of this event, FEDA held an awards ceremony, with FEDA Chairman Green and Zoomba Group CEO and FE&S Publisher Maureen Slocum serving as masters of ceremony. Here’s a summary of the awards handed out.
FEDA recognized six companies for celebrating significant membership anniversary milestones. The following companies were recognized for 25 years of FEDA membership: Berlin’s Restaurant Supply, Sam Tell Companies, Equipment Plus Total Facilities Solutions and Oswalt Restaurant Supply. Culinex was recognized for being a part of FEDA for 50 years. And FEDA recognized Krebs Brothers Restaurant Supply as the organization’s longest active member.
The following is a summary of a variety of first-time awards FEDA presented to three individuals in 2020.
Volunteer of the Year: Gene Clark, CEO, Clark Associates
This award is presented to one individual from a member distribution or manufacturing company who has made exceptional contributions to advancing FEDA’s strategic goals, through committee or project leadership. Gene Clark received this year’s award for his contributions to FEDA as the first chair of FEDA Young Industry Leaders, a group that was formed in 2018 to support the development and elevate the status of young professionals in the association and the foodservice equipment industry.
Spirit of Giving Award: Jamie Arguello, principal/CEO, Grady’s Foodservice Equipment
The Spirit of Giving Award was created in 2019 to honor Ray Herrick, former executive vice president of FEDA, and is awarded to a person or company that has demonstrated exceptional kindness and support for others through community or volunteer efforts. Grady’s has been chosen to receive this year’s Spirit of Giving Award for its work with ReHire Colorado, a transitional employment program that helps former inmates or others who face barriers to securing a job re-enter the workforce.
Industry Recognition Award: Jerry Hyman, chairman, TriMark USA
After 17 years transforming TriMark USA into a $2 billion-plus company serving more than 85,000 customers, Jerry Hyman stepped away from the CEO role earlier this year. His nearly four-decade long career leaves behind an impressive legacy of service and growth that has shaped the entire foodservice equipment and supplies industry. In appreciation of those contributions, FEDA is honoring Hyman with the Industry Recognition Award.
Subhead: Performance Awards
The member performance awards honor FEDA distributors, dealers and manufacturers that lead by example and set the standards for service, workplace environment and talent development that all companies in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry aspire toward. The following is a summary of the distributor and manufacturer recipients of each award and a brief description of this recognition.
Extraordinary Service: United Restaurant Equipment (distributor) and Alto-Shaam (manufacturer)
This award to honors companies whose customer-service program provides an extraordinary experience for operators, suppliers or dealers, and service reps and has contributed to the company’s success.
Model Workplace: Tundra Restaurant Supply (distributor) and Hatco Corporation (manufacturer)
This award to honors recognizes companies that have created a dynamic and unique workplace culture that attracts and retains talent and develops future industry leaders.
Champion for Young Leaders: Stafford-Smith (distributor) and Metro (manufacturer)
This award to honors recognizes companies whose model leadership and achievements have promoted the attraction and retention of talented young professionals.
In addition, FEDA presented Ascending Young Leaders Award to two young distribution professionals who have demonstrated growth in leadership ability in innovation; project management; professional or employee development; or community impact. The inaugural recipients of this award are Linda Tell, Sam Tell Companies and Eric Santagato, Singer Equipment Co.
FEDA’s Accomplished Young Leader Award is presented to one young distribution professional, age 34-46, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and accomplishments in: innovative company initiatives; research; product, services or systems development; employee development; or other unique accomplishments that have contributed to the company’s success. Marcus Lyon, Hotel & Restaurant Supply, was the recipient of this award.
FEDA also recognized the contributions of five of its volunteer leaders. Mason Greene of Hotel & Restaurant Supply received the FEDA Outgoing Chairman Award. FEDA also thanked four outgoing members of its board of directors for their service and leadership to the association, and for lending their time and experience to strengthening the foodservice equipment industry for distributors and dealers. Those individuals include:
- Joe Schmitt, president, Chain Restaurant Solutions and Rapids Foodservice
- Gene Clark, CEO, Clark Associates
- Gawain Guy, principal/vice president, C&T Design & Equipment
- Andy Wueste, president, Mission Restaurant Supply
